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

calling on Ncttic, and you will have a
chance to make up your quarrel and see
this formidable Frank MS well "
So we made a morning call. We were
ushcrcd into the tiny reception room and
waited patiently for Miss Ncttic's answer,
which was long in coming
81 want to show you Ncttic's portrait"
said Fred, rising. 81 think I may go into
the parlor without invitation" There
were three pnrlors and conservatory in a
line, and the little room in which we sat
stood at one side of the first of these, sep
arated only by sliding door, which Fred
pushed aside as he spoke.
He paused for n moment aghast and
! pointed spccchlcssly toward table which
stood in the center of the room There
upon lay hat of the kind yclcpt sailors,
at that time much in vogue among young
men, jaunty cane of the most dandincd
description, two pairs of gloves one tiny,
plainly Ncttics own.
Beside these lay white card l darted
forth to seize it. Frank held my arm.
All's fair, said l. in love and war"
and turned it over in my hand.
On one side read, Frank Lawrence"
on the other:
DEAREST NErTIE-What am I to believe?
Can it be that you think more Of some one
W
with me today. If l can break my cunning
little LOUIS heart, you can certainly consent to
give +. w. the slip.
A low murmur of voices came from the
conservatory.
They are in there, Fredl" l cried in
great excitement. Let US wait here and
confront them"
'Nonscnsc" said Fred I've done with
her forever" And he turned on his heel
and stalkcd out Of the house. and l after
him, never waiting for the servant who
had taken in our names.
Then what Il time l had with Fred He
shut himself in his own room day after
day on the prct.xt Of study, and the even
ings which tx had used to spend with
Nettie Lee, were passed in the same seclu-
sion.
Over his meals he was silent rs a mute
Our parents knew nothing of what had
happened, for Fred had forbidden me to
speak of it on pain of his displcasure, and
Ncttie must have kept all quiet by some
excuse. AT all events a week passed by
without any communication between the
families, and | wondered and wondered
when the denOucmCnt would come, and
what every one would say, and whether
that dcccitful Ncttic would really clopc,
and whether Fred would die of broken
heart. This last thought troubled me most
of ALL for the Door fellow was growing
thinner and palcr and more woebcrone
day after day.
At last, one bright, sunny afternoon,
coaXed him to walk out with me.
You do love me a little sis?" said
Fred in such a pitiful voice that l cried
on his shoulder.
| cheerod M a LITTLE for the first time
that week when 7 had cot him ont If
doors and was inst thinking that nerbans
l could save his life bv all sorts of sisterlv
kindnesscs. and that l would live and die
a spinster for his sake. when. as fate would
have it, who should we meet face to face
but Nettie Lcel
Hateful little hvDocritc - said to nv
self. but the Thought had hardly crossed
nv mind before I noticed that she was as
pale and thin as Fred. and then. right
out in Broadway regardless of passersby.
utterly forgetting everything else in my
surprise. screamed out is that Frank?p
For. crowned with the sailors hat which
had caused us such annoyance and jaunty
cane in hand. walked n fair damscl side bv
side with the misiudpcd and slandered
Nettic. This individual was plump and
jolly, some inches taller than brother Fred,
who is by no means dwarfish wore her au-
burn hair in q bush all around her head
and shoulders and was dressed in the ex-
trcmest extreme of everything.
Fred stared at me as if he thought me
mad, but in a moment more saw that he
had taken in the situation at a glance
Surprises were not over vet, however.
A gentleman, who had been walking close
behind the two girls here presented him
self to the assembled group.
LOU" screamed the auburn haired
damsel and broke into historical gipglc.
The strange gentleman. and he alone.
seemed quite equal to the emergencies Of
the occasion. He waved his hand toward
a confectionery close bv. where. around a
mnrblc table covered with refreshments,
all parties succeeded in coming to mu-
tual understanding
Fred and Ncttie retired to n window.
Frank proceeded to make away with I'M
limited pastry and cream at n astonish-
ing rate, talking and laughing vociferous-
now TO the oentlcmanlv stranror
l could scarcely rcprcss a smile as