No Gentlemen
Clara L. ] [Burnham
(Henry A. Sumner & Co., Jan. 1, 1881)
Excerpt: ...I feel it as a personal reproach." "Then I am glad, for your sake, that they do not look so forbidding as Nettie does," says Kenneth, pleasantly, while he strokes the girl's hand. "Don't!" she says impatiently, snatching it away. "Come with me," he says shortly, but not unkindly, rising from the ground and slapping his sleeve with his handkerchief. Nettie, looking very sulky, rises also. "Where is your hat?" The girl picks up her sun-bonnet. "You do not suppose I can walk with a young lady who wears that kind of thing?" M "You'll have to, if you walk with me." "Oh, no; I 'd rather sacrifice myself," returns Kenneth, drawing the shaker on his own head and placing his flapping hat on Nettie, who laughs in spite of herself. "If Nettie and I may be excused, I think a short walk will be conducive to her health and happiness," says Mr. Dart, then he moves away among the trees beside his companion, the gingham cape of his headgear hanging over his broad shoulders. " Well, he is the easiest man I ever saw," laughs Ruth, " one would believe that he had known us all his life." " Poor Miss Nettie! I suspect she is about to be lectured," says Jean. "Lectured! Mr. Dart never lectured or reprimanded anybody in his life," declares Mrs. Erwin, " No?" Jean elongates the interrogation with, a significance peculiarly comforting to herself, and incomprehensible to every one else. Meanwhile Mr. Dart has relieved his chafed ears from the sun-bonnet. "What is the matter, little girl? Tell us all about it," he says, as soon as they are out of hearing, but immediately regrets the question, for the uncontrolled child bursts into tears, and walks blindly along until she strikes her foot against a tree root, and would fall but for the arm that catches her. "Never mind...