Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1894-04-27
QUARRELED.

and loved each other dearly, | am sure,
but when Nettie came back from boarding
school Fred fell in love with her in true
| lovers fashion. L never saw any human
being so distracted about another. 1t was
Nettic, Nettic from morning till night,
and did think n woman could be pretty
without blue eyes and golden hair?' My
own were black, and l thought myself not
so very bad looking, but l let Fred have
his own way 1t was not enough for him
to go into raptures himself, but 1 must
help him along.
She was little beauty; there is no de-
nying the fact. And she had the sunniest
face and sweetest temper of any girl | ever
knew. She seemed the very picture of con
stancy and gCntlCncss changed my mind
about that later on, but she was not so
very much to blame after ALL as you will
see when my story is told
Fred went to see his little sweetheart
about seven times week, on an average,
danced with her at all the parties, hunted
out notices of tcndcrcst meaning for her,
which Ncttic, with many smiles and blush
es, socreted, after eating the sugar plums
incloscd. All parties concerned approved,
and they were regularly engaged" They
were to be married as soon as Fred got
through with his law studics-which, by
the bye, he managed to do II short time aft
err, by adopting the easy method of aban
donmcnt.
All went smoothly, dcccitfully so, for
awhile But one evening Fred came home
from Nettie's with n troubled countcnance
and acted just like Il bear. At least, l can
not say that | ever saw bear out of tenn
per, but what l mean to signify is Fred
was certainly very cross and gloomy. He
threw things about at great rate, kicked
the cat saVagCly and sat down before the
fire with his hat drawn over his eyes and
apparently in the brownest of brown
studies.
l had been waiting up alone for him. 1t
was rather late and mother and father had
retired, so l made up my mind l would
know what was the matter before l went
to rest.
l laid my hand on his shoulder coaxing-
ly. He moved away, with an impatient
gesture. That l expected, and SO took no
notice whatever
Come, Freddie" said 1, "you might
as well tell me first as last. You know it
always comes to that in the end"
cts nothing" he said rather gruffly,
but l saw he was glad had spoken, and
persisted.
"Well, Fan" he said at last, 81 sup
pose-I know it must be some mistake. 1
don't know what to make of it, but L
found note in Ncttie's workbaskct, and
if did not know NCttic | should think -
"Oh, Fred, you didn't read It'll Let me
see it, said ], all in breath. 1t quite
shocked me to think of Fred reading some
thing not intended for his eyes, and yet l
did want peep.
81 did not intend to, " stammcred Fred
"Tm sure did not. Ncttic saw me play
ing with it. l only kept it by accident. 1
read it before l knew what l was doing,
but it would not be honorable to show it
to any ono else. y
"Ics, yes, Fred" l coaXod. LET me
see it. 1t can't do any harm now, and
maybe it Is nothing dreadful after all ="
So he placed in my hand with sigh of
relief, littlc slip of paper upon which
was written in large, llourishing hand;
When shall see my darling Nette againt
| have heard about +. W., and | am getting
jealous l begin to fear you have forgotten
your ever constant FRANK.
l stared. Was it a sham? We had left
off writing sham billcts doux before Net
tie went to boarding school.
"What do you make of it?' said Fred
impatiently. at is man S writing, is it
not;'
NO." said decidedly. cts inform
ed and ignorant"
l had just accomplished fine imitation
of "A coppcrpate inscription reading, "a
specimen of my improved penmanship"
and considered myself good critic and
judge of manuscript in those days sit is
some schoolboy's, Fred
My brothers countenance fell. 1t had
frightened considerably when began.
"What business has some schoolboy to
! call hAp j. ln Mi 81,
ed angrily.
We talked it over and puzzled over it
long time and at last persuaded Fred To
| go straight to Nettie with the enigma, and
so he did the very next morning and re
turned radiant
It's all right, Fan. Frank is a girl"
shouted he
Mother looked little curious for she
was present ut the time, but we did not
explain, and SO the matter dropped for
awhile.
Soon followed more INVESTIGATIONS Fred
found that his morning calls were not al
ways acceptable; that his invitations were
sometimes declined; that this mysterious
Frank, this former schoolmate of Nettie's,
who was never visible was still always in
his way. He chafed over it perceptibly.
But, after all +" said he, Zone can't be
| jealous Oh BlIl, ana NeUUle VIII get over
this infatuation in time"
Yet he was jealous-that l saw-and
very uncomfortable, and finally his feel
ings eliminated into wrath.
Ikncw something worse than usual had
happened when / missed Fred's mellow
whistle as he neared the house. was sure
of it when saw his face. 1t was only with
the greatest difficulty l discovered the
facts of the case. This was the summary:
Fred had invited Ncttie to a matinee
Nettic had declined, with thanks and apol-
| ogies, but declined positively Reason-a
| previous engagement with Frank Fred
had suggested transfer of the apologies
Nettie had declared such transfer impos-
sible. Sequel-rage on Fred's part and
tears on Nettie's.
81 am sorry for it now," said Fred
"but this must end. l can't submit to DO
the victim of some silly schoolgirls ca
prices If Nettie loves me at ALL she must
give up this Frank for me- If not, as well
know it first as last"
1T is not SO bad as that, Fred, said l.
1--WE will 20 round there together in the