The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-04-19
QUARRELEU.

dren, NettIe Lee ana DrObnef FREQ anu L,
and loved each other dearly, / am sure,
but when Nettie came back from boarding
schkol Fred fell in love with her in true
lovers fashion. I never saw any human
being SO distracted about another 1t was
Nettie, Nettie, from morning till night,
and Ibid I think a woman could be pretty
without blue eyes and golden hair?'' My
own were black, and thought myself not
SO very bad looking, but 1 let Fred have
his own way. 1t was not enough for him
to go into raptures himself, but l must
help him along.
She was little beauty; there is no de.
nying the fact And she had the sunnlesS
face and sweetest temper of any girl ever
knew. She seemed the very picture OF con-
stancy and gentleness. Ichanged 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 sweethear5
about seven times week, on an average,
danced with her at all the parties hunted
out notices of tenderest meaning for her,
which Nettie, with many smiles and blush
es, secreted, after eating the sugar plums
inclosed. All parties concerned approved,
and they were regularly engaged. They
were to be married as soon as Fred got
through with his law studies-which, by
the bye, he managed to do short time aft
er, by adopting the easy method OF aban-
donment.
All went smoothly, deceitfully so, for
awhile. But one evening Fred came homo
from Nettie's with troubled countenancs
and acted just like bear AT least, can
not say that ever saw bear out OF tenn
per, but what mean to signify is FRED
was certainly very cross and gloomy. lie
threw things about at great rate, kicked
the cat savagely and sat down before the
fire with his hat drawn over his eyes and
apparently in the brownes5 OF brown
studies.
had been waiting up alone for him. 1t
was rather late and mother and father had
retired, SO I made up 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 I expected, and SO took no
notice whatever.
"Come, Freddie said I, "you might
as well tell me first as last. You know 1t
always comes to that in the end
''It's nothing" he said rather gruffiy,
DuU i SAW uc Was Slc0 l. Afcse oEOAASAAj S"AAN
persisted. ur
pose-I know it must be some mistake.
don't know what to make of it, but I
found a note in Nettie's workbasket, and
if did not know Nettie should Think
ooh, Fred, you didn't read It'll Let me
see it,, said 1, all in breath. 1t quite
shocked me to think of Fred reading some
thing not intended for his eyes, and yet I
did want peep.
1T did not intend to, !" stammered Fred.
"I'm sure 1 did not Nettie saw me play
ing with it. 1 only kept it by accident. l
read it before knew what was doing,
but il would not be honorable to show it
to any one else"
Eyes, yes Fred" coaxed. "Let me
see it. It can't do any harm now, and
maybe it is nothing dreadful after all. -
So he placed in my hand, with sigh OF
relief, a little slip of paper, upon which
was written in large, Furnishing hand:
When shall / see my darling Nettie agains
I have heard about F. W., and am getting
Jealous. I begin to fear you have forgotten
your ever constant fhANk.
I stared. Was it a sham? We had left
off writing sham billets doux before Net
tie went to boarding school.
"What do you make of its" said Fred
impatiently. cit Is mans writing, is it
not?"
sNo," said decidedly. "It's UNIFORM
ed and ignorant.
I had just accomplished line Imitation
of copperplate inscription reading, "A
specimen of my improved penmanship"
and considered myself good critic and
Judge of manuscript in those days. 1T is
some schoolboy's, Fred"
NV brothers countenance fell. 1t had
frightened considerably when I began.
''What business has some schoolboy to
call her his darling Nettie them" he ask
ed angrily.
We talked it over and puzzled over it a
| 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.
cts all right, Fan. Frank is girl!'
| shouted he.
Mother looked little curious, for she
| was present at 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 S,
who was never visible, was still always in
his way. He chafed over it perceptibly
"But, after ALL " said he, lone can't be
| jealous of girl, and Nettie will get over
this infatuation in time"
Yet he was jealous-that I saw-and
very uncomfortable, and finally his feel
ings eliminated into wrath.
Iknew something worse than usual had
happened when 1 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 I discovered the
facts of the case. This was the summary:
Fred had invited Nettie to matinee.
Nettie 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,
:tbut this must end. I can't submit to be
he victim of some silly schoolgirls Ca
prices. If Nettie loves me at all, she must
give up this Frank for me. Ii not, as vel
know it first as last. p"
IL I