The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-01-24
AN APOLLO IN BRONZE.

NANSAAO lOAlhnblC lCnutHCltN.
She had been named Nancy, but as she
entered upon her sixteenth year she de-
cided TO call herself Nannette, and finally
abbreviated il to Ninette.
Her mother called her Ninette when
she could remember to do so, but her
father insisted upon plain Nancy.
Her father also favored young George
Smith, a young farmer, as one of MIN
cites suitors. George was a tall, strong,
industrious fellow, with plenty of COM
mon sense ana not a particle OF romance
about him. Because of his lack Of the
latter Ninette treated him in a way which
sometimes made his heart ache.
u shall never marry George Smith. /
look higher than a farmer" she said to
her father one evening when he was ex-
tolling Georges good qualities.
Then guess you'll look higher than
you will ever be able to tilt your little
nosel" replied her father angrily. 81
see what you are after. You have read
so many o. them trashy novels / s'pose
you expect to get one o. them ere city
chaps-all shirt buzzom an perfumery!
But warn We now, Nancy, Pm agin it
from the fust! You'd better axe George
with his decent ways and his good
farmip
Ninette did not think so. She began TO
get discontented and to wish she could
get away from home. She wanted to go
To the city.
She conided this desire by letter to
Mrs. Elkins, who had once boarded for
the summer near them. Mrs. Elkins i'm
reply wrote: 1--WE are going to a seashore
resort very soon. IL you will go with
us and take charge Of little Sadie we may
hQ ahla 70 An1 .
the summer season IL you s~tilI'desire it,"
Ninette at last gained her fathers con-
sent TO go. He said he had been pes
tered long enough"
The journey was made. The Elkins
family were established in a suit at 1.-THE
Golden" situated on a 'way-down coast
of Maine.
Ninette would have been quite lonely
but for the company of Mary Duncan,
the young woman who was Mrs. Elkins's
maid.
Mary was romantic, also, with a dash
OF something worse about her, n quite
Mortified Ninette by relating some of her
escapades. Ninette was thoroughly good,
but silly.
p" Mary" said Ninette, one morning,
when they were alone, a. have not vet
seen my hero, but i think 1 have heard
him!"
"Why, how is thatg"
Well, last night l was sitting by Miss
Sadie while Mrs. Elkins was ENJOYING
herself at the dance, and l heard a piano |
In the next room, and oh, such glorious
singingi don't know what il was, but
ii was grandi have heard him once be-
fore, and | am sure he must be splendid
to sing like that!"
How do you know but he is already
married." asked Mary, who was seldom
practical.
"ldon't believe he is. l watched to
try and see who came from the room.
But you know Mrs. Elkins does not allow
us to keep our doors open, so / don't have
a very good chance"
"If you hear him again lust let me
know, will your will come to listen IL
! have time"
That night no melodious sounds issued
from the room, but on the following even
ing the grand voice broke forth and MIN
cite and Mary listened with breathless
attention.
81 just wish I knew who has that
exclaimed Mary; but / don't
dare ask anybody. 1t would cost me my
place IL Mrs. Elkins knew that l was pry-
round anything or anybody"
|" We must watch all the time. I feel
sure he is my hero!" and foolish Ninette
,hought OF the unknown singer while she
oasted Miss Sadie's %ruffies. Day after
lay passed and Ninette fed her romance
the snatches OF song which came
rom the room of her hero.
One morning Ninette was passing
through the corridor. The door OF her
lornfQ rn0pt nnpnpA and .La
,ass out. She could not see his face. but
lie was till, admirably proportioned, and
arried himself gracefully. Ninette
her breath in suppressed admira.
ion.
cob I've seen him! I've seen him, ~
he whispered excitedly to Mary.
what does he look like?r asked Nary
.uriously.
COIL didn't see his face, but he ,s
cry tall and dark. He is splendid
erfect Apollol" and Ninette ran back TO
er duties, and to think about her
Apollo" as she continued 70 call him.
Meanwhile George Smith was growing
cart hungry. He wanted to see Ninette.
lie suddenly decided "to go down the
past a spell.'
HIS old mother looked astonished. She
new George did not need sea breezes.
was THAT Nancy Brown he was after"
George arrayed himself in his best and !,
ent TO the hotel where the Elkinses were I"
aging. There was more OF affectionate u
'monstration in his greeting than
lnette cared to see. She responded very -
Jolly, How are you, George?" and
tied her little nose n little higher. I
George followed Ninette down on the i
zach, where she had gone with Miss
Idle.
" Ninette," he said, and his face was
ny white. "give me my answer to-day.
have always put me of on one pre-.
xt and another, but / can't be put of =
" longer. You know you arc the only
ri ] ever cared for. / will do NV best
make you happy IL you will marry
Then my answer is no, il you must
I'VE IL, George
= Very well; no ID IL, then. VIII you 4
swer me one question, Ninctteg' N