gid asked me to spend that evening with her and her sister, Flor
-6. Ce. , I was to get Harry Harvey to go with me, and the girls
told me to expect a grand time.
"About eight o'clock Harry and I hitched our horse at their
block and were about to go into the house when we heard someone
playing a waltz on the piano and several figures glided past the
windows. We hesitated and wondered what was going on, but
pretty soon the music ceased and everybody gathered around the
piatio. There seemed to be a discussion as to whether another
selection should be played or not.
"The group gradually broke up and I saw Nellie come to the
window and looked out. To attract her attention I waved my hand
kerchief, when she came to the door, but motioned for us to keep
out of sight. A poor excuse was given for her being unable to
entertin us that evening, and we were politely but coolly told that
she had forgotten she had invited a crowd of young' folks from the
village to spend the evening when she had invited Harry and me
down. Then we were informed in well chosen words that our
room would be more acceptable than our company.
"We bowed, wished her 'good night' and withdrew. Let me tell
you it was a pair of very highly' disappointed boys who drove home
that night, sadder and wiser by our experience.
"The next day we each received a note asking us to call that
evening. It was couched in the most polite and formal way possi
ble, and Harry and I answered in the same way declining the in
vitation. That was the first break between Nellie and me.
"The second happened about two weeks later, when no one was
home but Nellie and her mother and two visiting cousins from
Baltimpre. We were sitting in the hammock, three of us, Nellie,
the doctor from Baltimore and myself, while Mr. Blakely was
seated.on the grass nearby. We were talking on general subjects
until the Doctor began speaking to Nellie in a way that I thought
highly offensive, but she did not offer any objection and, of course,
I did not. When I was about to leave that evening she never left
him, and even called 'good-bye' to me across the lawn. Then and
there I declared to myself that I would make her sorry for her