The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1908-06-23
The Whistlins Girl


Etlio httF oPoht IL 10 6ooh a.
they became OF age, sweet Nellie
Rose wasted her sweetness upon
transient lovers.
Joshua Jones, the most apprecia-
tive OF these, had remarked TO his
mother
Naow. nanny, | don't believe
there's thing wrong with Nellie.
like her mighty we'll"
Gracious, JOSH" said she, hold
Ing up her hands In horror. III
you're a-gittin struck on that gal.
you had just better git over It, az
quick AS possible. My grief, A whis-
tin gal In the Jones family! Ugh"
II can't see why Nell can't he like
other gals" said her Aunt Dorothy,
who didn't believe in old maids.
Cant you stop this pesky whistlins.
Mellie?" she asked her one day.
Got new minister. They say
he's young man right smart too.
Guess I'll invite him In, No tellin' he
might but no, OF course not! Well,
I'll invite him. anyhow" said Aunt
Dorothy.
A week or two after this, she was
bnsying herself making the little
parlor look 'spry," when a knock
sounded on the door. She ushered In
a fine looking young man with de-
cded clerical air, but pleasant and
kindly withal.
I'm call Nellie as soon az she fin
ishes her Chores" Aunt Dorothy was
saying, when horrors! there arose In
that young lady's clear, picolo-like
whistle, the familiar notes of "Old
Hundred"
Aunt Dorothy turned red and then
white; fidgeted about, and finally,
when the assortment of noises
stopped. went into the kitchen, say
ing as she vent
Excuse me, Mr.. Havlland, and
I'll tell Nellie to come In"
The new minister's in here.
Come In and be introduced.
Nellie followed the irate lady.
MT, Hayiland, my niece, Miss
Rose"
When Mr. Hayiland said, In an
amused tone, Your brother 10 a fins
whistler"
II have no brother" she re-
piled honestly; SO the evidently pain
full subject was dropped
So the feeting summer days found
the reverend Haviland often at Aunt
Dorothy's house, or. In Mellie's COM
pany wandering upon the rocky
banks OF Little River.
Gimptown In general saN II was
almost scandalous that 10 fine q
young man should be took In" by
pretty face. when every one knew
that that face was dishgured by a
whistling mouth.
Miss Smith, whose age was an un-
known quantity between twenty and
forty, and who had set her cap SO
often that that article was badly
frayed around It's figaratiye edges.
said.
NO, he sha'nt be bamboozled.
not ii | have To warn him myself"
And 1t Is on record that she did warn
the daring man.
One bright September day he
walked over TO Aunt Dorothy's little
cottage, intending to invite Nellie to
accompany him upon an errand OF
mercy. As he reached the gate he
stopped moment. The front door
was wide open. Nellie. dressed In
pink calico. with cap Of the same
material only partly concealing her
fluffy brown hair. WAS busily engaged
with broom and dust brush In the
hall There was a happy look upon
her innocent face. When, as IT, blsd-
like. she could not restrain her Ny.
the ruby lips pnckered kewitchingly.
and the notes of hymn trilled forth
with startling clearness and truth
Suddenly the unconscious war
bier was electrified into silence by
the sharp Words a N
Perfectly shockin' amt it?"
CHANGING up, she saw Aunt Doro-
thy standing with watering-can In
hand She was staring at Mr.. Hsvi-
land, who leaned upon tbs gate with
a pugzling expression upon his face.
Not waiting TO hear his answer
Nellie fed to her own room, where
she INDUCED In that which seldom
spoiled her happy faces good
"cry." For she doubted not that She
had forfeited her place in the min
fsters esteem.
But Nellie was surprised when her
aunt handed her q note from Mt.
Haylland containing his request TO
accompany him to the house OF some
poor people, who lived several milss
away,
Shall | go?" she asked her aunt
"Of counsel No use maxim mat
ters worse than they be by refusin'."
So Nellie said she would accom-
pany the minister. though her SEN
sitlve nature rebelled against the
trial
What Is the matter with you to-
day?" asked the minister, as they
trundled through the green fields.
Nellie trembIed at his kindly tones:
but she could not be drawn nto con-
versation until
But there, no matter! What right
have we to intruder Suffice It to say
that the next day Mr.. Haviland
asked Aunt Dorothy for Mellies