Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1895-05-23

I
firm.
Carl did not despair. however. but.
| after repeated efforts on his part to
show Nell those little attentions so dear
to every womans heart, and repeated
squelchings from her, his philosophy got
the best of his ardor and he treated
Miss Nell with a dose of her own cool
ness.
Then she began to realize how much
she had learned to care for him.
She suffered many a heartache and
/ cried herself to sleep many night with
sheer longing for him. But she was
brave little woman, as plucky as she
was proud. ana she kept up ner old
gayety so well that she deceived her
mother and all her friends. They said:
/ Nell never cid care anything for Carl
Merritt. She couldn't care anything for
any one; she's too light-hearted and
/ Independent. Her fairy prince has NOT
/ yet come"
And only poor little Nellie knew that
! her fairy prince had come and been
sent away.
Six long weeks Of rehearsaIs crawled
/ by and Nellie worked herself into
fever of excitement as the night for the
entertainment drew near Carl was al
ways beside her. helping and assisting
/ her in so many ways, with so many
good suggestions that Nellie became
more and more dependent on him at
4 every rehearsal
Al length the great night came The
han was crowded and the play went
/ Off smoothly Then came the living pic
lures They were pretty aud graceful
and such novelty in the little town
that the audience was delighted and
demanded an encore for every picture.
The last thing on the program was the
minuet. Nell dropped her prompter's
camp chair fled to the dressing room,
and. with the aid OF her mother, began
hastily DOMINIC her costume.
Nell. dear" said her anxious mother,
as she powdered the pretty curls cluster
ing round her daughters fair face,
you look so tired. / shall be so glad
when this evening is over. 1t has been
such strain on you.
Nonsense, mother mine, cried Nell.
who was rapidly getting into her pink
hrocade frock, with its old-fashioned
| cut and air
Now, my fan and M handkerchief.
IN SO dizzy ] can't see whether ! look
right or not. Is my halr ray enough?
How's my train?'
You are all sweet and correct said
Mrs. Gray
But couldn't you sit down for just
moment? You are so flushed and /
know how tired ana dizzy you must
be"
"Oh, no. dearest. don't worry about
me. | must hurry Go out in front at
once SO you can see the dance"
And she picked up her long brocade
train, threw 1t over her arm and went
away. Half way down the stairs she met
carl He looked so handsome in his be-
coming colonial costume that Nell al
most gasped at sight of him. II made
her heart beat faster than ever and her
head swim Il trihe more to have Carl
regard her SO admiringly for moment
lie gazed at her as If he would never
set his flll and then whispered;
oh, Nell, you are SO lovely!"
Come! we've no time for comp1-
ments, said Nell. family wondering
II she were going to tumble downstairs
from that queer dizziness in her head.
A moment later they were on the
stage with the group behind them. get
ting position for the rise Of the curtain,
Nell never did know how she got
through that minuet. They told her aft
erward that she had never danced so
well in her life. As the last bar of music
ended she reeled slightly, then regained
herself and saw the curtain go up again
and knew that that meant an encore
She felt better then. Her excitement
had taken new phase. She kept say
ing to herself;
Its All a great success and this is
the end Of It, and then no more re-
hearsais and now l shall not see Carl
again
Courtesy. advance. retreat. bow. Nell
went through the stately measures in
dazed manner Then the curtain fell
again for the last time as she thought
to herself with a sigh oC relief. The
dancers al scattered to their dressing
rooms or ran out TO greet their friends
in the audience and receive their con-
CALCULATIONS and compliments
Nell stood for a few moments after
the curtain fell with her hand TO her
head. Then she reeled slightly and she
heard a voice saying, tenderly
Poor little girl, YOU are all used up,
Come here and rest a moment ana lot
me take care 0T YOU.
she was conscious Of somebody's arm
around her and a minute later il seemed
the most natural thing in the world for
her g be sitting ON the little. dark de-
serted stairway, with carl at her side,
her head en- his shoulder and his arms
around her Il didn't seem startling or
strange. either. Is be addressed as lit
tie sweetheart, and she found herself
saying, very meekly,
Yes, | viii I'll set tho day Just az
soon as possible No. not less than a
month. Carl. Give me four weeks; such
haste Is positively indecent. We must
have four weeks for rchearsals, you
/ know"
| And Carl answered joyu1ly:
What nonsense, W ny. we are In per-
/ Cect practice now and he emphasized
1 That with kiss n don't have to re-
heafse loving You. I'm absolutely per-
/ feet in my part now