Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1836-08-24

scribable malady, commonly called bashful-
Mesa worse nullifier than any ever heard
of in Carolina. Should you see him in
company, you would really suppose him
ashamed of his remarkably handsome per.
son and cultivated mind. When he began
to speak, you felt tempted to throw open the
window and offer him smelling bottle, he
made such distressing affair of it; and as
to speaking to lady! the thing was not to
be thought of.
When Kate heard that this 'rara avis
was coming to her fathers, she was unac-
countably interested to see him, of course
because he was her cousin, and because
a dozen other things too numerous to men,
| ton.
| lie came, and was for one or two days
an object of commiseration, as well as adj
miraton, of the whole family circle. After
a while, however, he grew quite domestic;
entered the room straight forward, instead
of stealing in sideway-talked off whole
sentences without stopping-looked Miss
Isabella full in the face without blushing-
even tried his skill at sketching patterns, and
winding silk-read poetry, and played the
flute with the ladies-romped and frolicked
with the children--and, in short, as old John
observed, was 'as pleasant as psalm book
from morning till night
Divers reports began to spread abroad in
the neighborhood, and great confusion was
heard in the camp of Miss Isabella's adj
mirers. 1t was stated with great precision
how many times they had ridden--walked--
talked together, and even all they had said.
In short, the whole neighborhood was full of
That strange knowledge that doth come,
We know not how--We know not where
AS for Katy, she always gave all adj
mirers to her sister, er o0icio, SO she thought
that of all the men she had ever seen, she
should like cousin Edward best for a brother,
and she did hope Isabella would like him as
she did; and for some reason or other, her
speculations were remarkably drawn to this
point; and yet, for some reason or other
wise, she felt as if she could not ask any
questions about it.
AT last, events appeared to draw toward
a crisis. Edward became more and more
'brown studious' every day, and he and Isa-
bella, had divers solitary walks and confa-
bulations, from which they returned with a
peculiar solemnity of countenance. More
over, the quick-sighted little Kate noticed
that when Edward was with herself, he
seemed to talk as thoughhe talked not, while
witlii Isabella he was all animation and in
terest; that he was constantly falling into
frances and reveries, and broke off the
thread of conversation abruptly; and, in
short, had every appearance of person
who would be glad to say something, if he
only knew how.
'So,' said Kate to herself 'they neither
of them speak to me about it-Ishoud think
they might Belle | should think would,
and Edward knows | am good friend OF
his; know he is thinking of it all the time
The might as well tell me, and he SHALL
The next morning Miss Kate was sitting
in the little back parlour. Isabella was
gone out shopping, and Edward was-she
did not know where. Oh, no, here he is
coming book in hand into the self same little
room; 'now for it, said the merry girl, men,
tally, 'I'll make a charge at him. She
looked up; master Edward was sitting dia.
gonally on the sofa, twirlng the leaves OF
his book in very unscholarship manner
he looked out of the window, and then he
walked to the sideboard and poured out three
! tumblers of water; then he drew chair
up to the work table, and took up first one
J ball of cotton, looked it all over, and laid il
down again; then another, then he picked
up the scissors and minced up two or three
little bits of paper; and then he began tc
pull the needles out of the needle book, ant
put them back again.
do you wish for some sewing, sir = sale
the young lady, after having very compos
, edly superintendent these operations.
How mann, whatP said he
starting, and upsettng box, stand and all
! upon the floor. v
'Now, cousin, I'll thank you to pick W
that cotton said Kate, as the confused col
legian stood staring at the cotton balls roll
ing in divers directions. 1t takes some time
to pick up all the things in a lady's work
box; but at last peace was restored, and witt
{ it came long pause.
!, well, cousin,' said Kate, in about ter
r minutes, if you can't speak, 1 can; you
, have something to tell me, you know you
{ have
. well, knoac | have said the scholar
: in tone Of hearty vexation.
D There's no need of being so fierce abou
4 it, said the mischievous maiden nor o
a tangling my silk, and picking out all m,
!, needles, and upsetting my work-box, us pre-
It paratory ceremonies ~
: There is never any need of being foo
Kate; and / am vexed that | cannot say
Ia pause.
: well, sir, you have displayed rea
: sonable auency so far, don't you feel as
you could finish Don't be alarmed
: should like, of all things, to be your con
o fident.'
8 But Edward did not finish: his tongu