Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-07-27

fellow could live no longer without tell
ing her that he loved her he met with a
refusal that was as emphatic as II was
firm
Carl did not despair. however. but,
after repeated efforts on his part 20
show Nell those little attentions so dear
TO every woman's 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 heartache ana
cried herself to sleep many q night with
sheer longing for him. But she was
brave little woman. as plucky as she
was proud. and she kept up her 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 Tor
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 rehearsals crawled
by and Nellie worked herself into a
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 50 many
| good suggestions that Nellie became
more and more dependent on him at
every rehearsal
At length the great night came. The
hall was crowded and the play went
/ of smoothly. Then came the living pic
lures. They We're pretty and graceful
and such a 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
I minuet. Nell dropped her prompter's
camp chair, fed TO the dressing room,
and, with the aid of her mother. began
| hastily donning 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. II has been
such a strain on you"
Nonsense. mother mine" cried Nell.
who was rapidly getting into her pink
brocade frock. with its old-fashioned
cut and air.
Now. my fan and my handkerchief.
I'm so dizzy 1 can't see whether l look
right or not. Is my hair gray enough?
How's my train?''
You are all sweet and correct" said
Mrs. Gray.
But couldn't you sit down for just
a moment? You are so flushed and
/ know how tired and 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. It made
her heart beat faster than ever and her
head swim a trifie more to have Carl
regard her so admiringly for a moment.
He gazed at her as IL ne would never
get his fill and then whispered:
"Oh, Nell. you are so lovely"
Come! we've no time for compli-
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 50
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 great success and this is
| he Cf nj
hearsals and now 1 shall not see Carl
again"
Courtesy, advance. retreat, bow. Nell
went through the stately measures in a
dazed manner Then the curtain fell
again for the last time as she thought
to herself with a sigh of relief. The
dancers all scattered to their dressing
rooms or ran out to greet their friends
in the audience and receive their con-
gratulations 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 and let
me take care Of you
She was conscious of somebody's arm
around her and a minute later II seemed
the most natural thing in the world for
her to be sitting on the little, dark, de-
serted stairway. with Carl at her side.
her head on his shoulder and his arms
around her. 1t didn't seem startling or
strange, either, to be addressed as Git
tie sweetheart" and she found herself
saying, very meekly:
Eyes, will. I'll set the day just as
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 rehearsals, you
know"
And Carl answered joyfully:
What nonsense! Why, we are in per-
, feet practice now" and he emphasized
that with a kiss II don't have to re-
: hearse loving you. I'm absolutely per-
feet in my part now"
ODDS AND ENDS.