The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-09-03
QUARRELED

ttHbDl Il Teu lBll III love Win nFr IN true
lovers fashion. l never saw any human
being so distracted about another. II was
NetJie Nettte, from morning till night,
and did | think woman could be pretty
without blue eyes and golden hatrt" My
own wero black, and thought myself not
30 very bad looking, but | let Fred have
his own way. 1t was not enough for him
TO go into raptures himself, but L ust
help him along.
She was little beauty There is no de-
nyipg 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 gcntlcness. Ichanged my mind
about that Inter 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 Mottoes Of tendercst meaning for her,
which Ncttie, with many smiles and blush
>cs, secretcd after eating the sugar plums
inclosed, All parties concerned approved,
and they wore regularly engaged " They
were to be married as soon as Fred get
through with his law studcs-which, by
the bye, he managed To do II short time aft
or, by adopting the easy method of aban-
dOnment.
All went smoothly, deceitfully SO, for
awhile. But one evening Fred came home
from Nettie's with troubled countenance
and acted just like u bear. AT leust, can
not say that ever saw bear out of tenn
per, but what / mean TO signify is Fred
was certainly very GROSS and gloomy. He
throw things about at great rate, kicked
the cat saragely 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 fat her had
retired, SO made mp my mind would
know what WAS the matter before | went
to rest.
/ laid my hand on his shoulder coaxing
ly. He moved away, with an impatient
gesture. That l expected, md SO took no
notice whatever.
'Coinr, Freddie" said l, "you might
as well tell me first rs last You know it
always comes to that in the end"
"lts nothing" he said rather grufIly,
but l saS hr was glad ! had spoken, and
persisted.
"Well, Fan, he said at last, ~ sup.
poso-I know il must I've some mistake
don't know what To make Of it, but
found a note in NetiiC's work kbtskct and
u l. hlil litlt kll''N ANii'li Niplllt liliilh
"0h, Fred, you didn't read IL Let Inc
see it, said J. all in a breath 1t quite
shocked me tothink of fT-d reading some
thing not intended for his eyes, and yet
did want Il + cp.
Il did npt intend to, " stammered Fred
"I'm sure did not. Nrttie saw me play
ing with il. | only kept it by accident, l
read it before know what | was doing
but it would not be honorable to show il
to any ono else.
"Se7, yes, Fred" / coaxed "Let me
see it " can't do any harm now, and
maybe il is nothing dreadful after all "
80 hG placed in my hand, with a sigh Of
relief, II little slip OF paper, upon which
Wa written in IA large, flourishing hand:
When shall see my darling Nettie ugain2
have heard rbout F. W, and | am getting
jealous. be-. II 10 fear you have forgotten
your ever cone!ant FRANZ.
l stared Was it sham2 We had left
of writing sham billets doux before Net.
tie went to boarding school.
What lO YOU mako Of it, said Fred
impaticHtly lit is u man writing, is it
not"
No, = said decidedly "It's Uniform.
ed and ignorant -
had just accomplished fine imitation
OF coppcfplatc ins, riptiOn reading "a
specimen of my improved penmanship''
and considered myself good critic and
judge OF manuscript in thusc days. "It is
some schoolboy's, Fred"
My bruthuls counteuunce fell Ii had
frightened considerably when | began.
''What business has some schoolDoy TO
call her his darling Ncttie them he ask
ed angrily
We talked 1t over and puzzled over II n
long time mud al last | persuaded Fred to
go straight 70 Nettie with the enigma, and
SO he did the very next morning and re-
turned radiant.
Its all right, Fan. Frank Is girlv"
shouted he
Mother looked n little curious, for she
was present at the time, but we did not
explain, and the matter dropped for
awhile
soon followed moro mystflcatons Fred
found that his morning calls were NOT al
ways acceptable; thut his Invitations we're
sometimes declined; that this mysterious
Frank, this former schOplnato Of NettIu's.
who was never visible was still always in
his Why. He chafpd over 1t pcrreptibly
But, after all " said he, "one can't be
Jealous Of 4 girl, and Ncttie viii got over
this infstuation in time. "
Yet he was jeaious-thnt I saw-and
very uncomfortable, and finally his feel
ings culmSatcd into wrath
knew something worse than usual had
happened when ] missed Fred ) mellow
whistle ss he nearcd the house was Suro
oi it when saw his face. was only with
tho greatest difficulty | discovered the
tacts of tho case This was The summary:
Fred had invited Nrttlr to a matinee
Ncttie had dealTued, With thanks and npol
ogies, but declined positively Reason-a
previous engagement with Frank Fred
had suggested transfer of the apologize.
Nettio had declared such transfer in.pu,-
slblc SeQurl-rago ON Frcd's part and
tears on Nettir's
Il avn sorry for it now" said Fred,
"hnt th, must end | can submit to BE-
thu victim Of some silly schoolgirls Gu
prices II Nettie loves me at all, shr must
give up this Frank fprmc. II hot, as we'll
know il first Us last
II is not SO bad as that, Fred - said |.
I'VE viii 20 round tharg together in tic
morning I can invent good excuse tor
caiilnS on Nrttle, md you will have =
e,aiRe 10 i17ke mp your quGIltl and ses
thi' formidable Frank as we'll ''
20 We iuhde morning roll We were
ustef"d into tie tinE RECEPTION r55!.l and
waited patiently for Miss Nprl!e's answer.
winch was long in caming ..
wanl TO show Ynu Nct,ir's portrait" "
said frd, rising, i think / may 70 into
the parlOr without invitation - There
were thien pi.I'a's and n conservatory in
line, and ttc little room in which we sat
sto9d Ut one side Of tho fret OF these, sep.