The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-09-04
TATTOOED.

Nelly Goodeve had nursed Cap
tain Dawson through a serious ill
ness, not for a wage, but out of pure
neighborly feeling and kindness of
heart. From this he had only just
recovered when his favorite nephew,
BERTHE Page, second mate of the Fal-
con steamship, came to pay him a
visit after a long voyage. At that
time Nelly was thin, awkward
girl of II, with no figure to speak
of, and scarcely good feature, ex-
cept her brown eyes, which were
very large and lustrous. But the
grateful old fellow introduced her
to his nephew as 'just the right sort
of gal for seafaring man to moor
alongside Of To the mariner fresh
from sea every woman under 40 is
goddess. And that is how the en-
gagement came about.
Nelly was delighted. She did not
pause to consider whether she loved
the young sailor, but accepted him
offhand. Simple seventeen often
does that sort of thing and almost as
frequently regrets it. Mr.. Goodeve,
who, should explain, lived next
door to Captain Davidson and was
on very intimate terms with him,
raised no objections. 1t was under
stood that Bertie did not wish to
marry until he had command of a
ship. In due course he went to sea
again, and Nelly named him in her
prayers morning and evening and
kissed her engagement ring great
many times every day.
1t is always interesting to watch
the ugly ducklings" putting on
plumage, but none of the Goodeves
seemed to be aware that their own
particular "duckling" was develop
ing into ''swan" until the young
fellows of Stillboro, ignorant of the
engagement SO hastily entered into,
began to swarm round her like bees
about honey pot.
Captain Davidson, however, was
quick to notice the change which
time was bringing to pass and to
perceive that Dick Goodeve, Nelly's
brother, had of late been much
sought after-not on account of his
own merits. Being particularly
wide awake, as will presently be
seen, the old fellow wrote a warn
ing letter to his nephew. But the
sailor was not his own master.
Nearly two years passed before he
was able to visit Stillboro.
Nelly was then 19 and as pretty a
girl as one would wish to see. Pret-
ty, by the way, hardly describes
her She had grown tall and state
'ly. Her cheeks were rounded, dim
pied and tinted like the rose. Her
eyes were not as timid as formerly,
but full of conscious power. BERTHE,
who had put ON flesh, which had
not improved his personal appear
ance, was amazed at the change.
Her beauty tied his tongue, and he
did not shine.
At the very first interview after
their long separation she could not
help contrasting him with more
than one of her brothers new
friends and greatly to his disadvan-
tage. Captain Davidson, who was
present, watched her closely, and it
was after that meeting that he trot-
ted out his little plan.
"Well, " said he when the girl had
gone home to make her fathers tea,
what dye think of your sweet
heart2"
BERTHE, who seemed nervous and
fiustered, pulled his fair mustache
as if seeking inspiration therefrom.
"She's splendid" he said at
length. Who would have thought
it! Inez at Barcelona isn't a patch
on her.
Who's Inez2" demanded the old
salt quickly. Some girl you've
been carrying on with9''
She's Spanish girl that all our
fellows swear by" he answered,
coloring under the old mans keen
gaze. II haven't had much to say
to her, not being free, but thought
she was jolly good looking until
saw Nell. +"
Il expect you're no wiser nor no
better than most youngsters when