Year: 1869

her least caprice, and again "on high thoughts
intent,'' he scarcely noticed her coming in,
and had no words for her sarcasms. She
grew to be actually meek in these days, and
her first look when she met him asked plain
er than words, ''How will you treat me this
time ?"


and Abdallah ought to have been wiser if
not better horse for the various interviews
at which he assisted. If horses have any
preferences, it seems to me they must lean to
young lovers above all others; for they drive
SO slowly, and at critical moments have been
known to stop altogether, while their steed
uses his opportunity to take a short repast
from the grassy roadside.


But if Nellies mind was tossed and fretted
with doubts about Freds feeling for her, she
had none at all about Mr.. Gray, who followed
in the beaten track of the rest of her admir-
ers with all soberness and good faith. If Mel
lie went to ride with Fred in the morning,
she came home from meeting with Mr.. Gray
in the evening, and so balanced her account
with her two lovers.


I think Mr.. Gray is charming in conversa-
ton, don't you?" I said to her one day, when
she seemed restless and out of sorts.


eyes [ suppose so but sometimes he is
actually silly. To tell you the truth, your



no nonsense about him. can speak my mind
to him without having a compliment sprung
on me about my hair, OF eyes, or something
else that | was born with as if | were a wax
doll and had nothing else to recommend me.
1t is an immense refreshment to me when Mr..
Olney implies in the most distant way, that
don't talk like parrot, or that play the pi-
ano passably we'll"


Erred is born woman-hater. I long to
see the one who will convert him."


"If Nellie had the same longing, she did
not say 80, but sat long time studying the
flowers on my carpet.


'sHe is to sail in fortnight" said I, steal
ing a look at her face.


All at once she was down on her knees
with her head in my lap, and heard a sound
strangely like a sob.


"Why, little one what has come over you?"
| said, stroking her bright hair.


At last she got it out.


IL want to ask you ii your cousin cares the
least bit for me p"'


''How should know? | am not the keeper
of his thoughts. He said one day that he
thought you were very pretty, but something
of q firt"


''Did he ?" she said, looking up brightly in
my face, as if had given her much comfort.
"And you say he is going away in two
weeks?''


Yes Will he take your heart with him?'


''Flirts are not supposed to have any, you
know don't know what is the matter with
me. | think every day will 60 away some
where and never speak to him again, and
then he comes, and the first word he says
puts all my strong resolutions to flight


'But why not love him, Nellie? He is a
good fellow enough only a little cynical about
women, and if you make yourself very meek
and charming, he may come to love you at
last"


* love him, indeed" she burst out, with
all her old wilfulness, s'When he treats me
like child, and has never 50 much as hinted
he liked me- You are p Jobs comforter, and
you don't understand my case at ALL I'll 60
home and fight it out alone" And she die
60 home, and l saw her no more for week
She would not see Fred when he called
and that ungrateful boy actually turnet
against me in his trouble, and declared i
was all my fault for making him behave like
a brute to her. His low spirits made him sucl
poor company that at last betrayed Nello
confidence, and raised him again to his usua
level Of hope and impudence.
| Nellie was very constant at evening meet
ings at this time, and Fred did not try to SCI
her, though he pretended to discover Ger
lttIil pdltntSS ABOUT Hcl
which no one perceived but himself.


81 shall try my fate tonight" he said OF
the last night of his stay. "Is my crava
straight"


"Does a man ever forget his cravat?"


"Not when he is going under fire of a wo
mans eyes"


"Only behave as well as you look don
be too humble, and remember what DR.
| Holmes says, that the whole science of love
making may be found in any cyclopeda un
der the head of Fortifcation.' "
! / saw Fred disappear in the house over tn,
way, and felt almost as nervous as if some
body were about to offer me the refusal of hi
heart and hand Fred came back very lat
and went away in the early morning train
but | found little note tucked under my
door when got up in the morning:


Dear old Cousin-Youre not only trump but
whole suit of them. took your advice and wa
not too humble, and that lovely little craft sool
struck her flag. I came home too late to see yol
last night. because Mr.. Clifton put me through
catechism as long as the moral law, in answer t
! ray plain question whether he would give me hi
laughter. And then there were more last word
! in the small hours. You must keep lookout TO
any piratical minister on Nellies horizon, ant
warn me in time.


''Your happy cousin, FRED
| made it up with Nellie that afternoon
| IHa tollIISoti lii IL WultC liCo. oHc was y
radiantly happy, that she would have for
given the 'gunpowder plot" if had aimee
it against her peace.


At the gate, in the very spot where she hat
first seen Fred Olney, she met Mr.. Gray fac
to face.


81 am going to your house when l hav'
made my call here. Can see you alone 70
4 few minutes ?" said the minister in low
distinct voice.


Certainly" said Nellie, ready to do any
thing for anybody just then. And then. q
his meaning flashed upon her, she gave me
beseeching look as sat at the open window
and then went away across the street.
/ Have you heard the news, Mr., Gray 2
said l, hardening my heart for the shock
knew it would be to him.


Mot any special news, madam"


"Nellie Clifton has just become engaged
to my cousin Fred Olney, Lieutenant in th'
navy. The young people are SO happy tina
we all feel as if something good had happen
ed to each of u.s."


He took it harder than l expected II,
grew even paler than his wont, and took hole
of chair SO hard that the veins in his hand
stood out


d wish-t them all = the happiness =
they-deserve, he said, as slowly as if h,
were trying to cure himself of stammering
And without word more he made his bow
| and danarted