Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-11-25
5clette0 Gale.
POPPING THE QUESTION.
BY CHARLES J. PETERSON.

We have dear little cousin-half rose and
half lily who leases US, whenever we meet,
totellher how thequestion ispopped. Sheis but
fourteen, but in these days, between boarding
schools and balls, girls of that age are as know
ing as their grandmothers were at twenty -
We suppose she wishes 10 learn In time, so
as to be ready for the first chance that offers.
Dear girl she little lmagines that the question
usually pops itself Young FOLKS require no
aid IN such pleasant emer gencies-only give
two lovers fair play, and send your match ma
king aunts and the chsllgep TO a Coventry
and our word for it. some evening when, least
expected, the question will pop out like a
cork from champagne bottle. We would
give our fair cousin some instructions If we
could but she would probably forget them all,
and find her heart in her throat besides, when
the question came to be popped to herself
So we will content ourselves with a story,
which she may think true or not, as she likes.
Kate Spencer was one of your delicious lit
tie vixens that steal away the heart with a
merry laugh, pair OF brigh, eyes, or an hour
Of playful raIllery. She was bit of flirt,
as indeed what girl named Kate is not2--
There's fatality about their eognomen. Ev-
cry Kate have known has taken TO coquet-
ting, as natural as a ca: 10 canary birds.
Kate Spencer was witchlng creature. If
you had seen her bounding across the lawn,
or gathering wild flowers 10 adorn her hair or
heard her warbling some merry lay in the
morning, you would have worshIpped her as
you would worship RossoInd, or an Ariel,
for she seemed a compound Of both. At love
she laughed, sit was trap for fools, she said.
But people who make traps, sometimes are
the first 10 fall into them.
Kate was in her eighteenth summer when
her bosom friend, Lucy Wharton was mar
Iied and Kate was bridesmaid. Her part
ner Harry Neville. was tine dashing fellow,
with pretty estate, and commission IN the
army. He and Kate were well matched
He cared no more for her raillery than for a
Mexican battery and in fact, her wit was 10
his, like the trumpet TO the waT-horse. ltdid
one good to see passage of arms between
them. But being bridesmaid and groomsman
is dangerous recreation. Marrying, hkethe
yellow fever is an infectious disease, and one
never catches it SO quickly as at anolher's
wedding. II was u young bachelor, and
wished TO remain one, | would 60 10 the
worlds end rather than wait on pretty gnl.
You may pic mic with a seIaph, or sleigh with
an houii, but be no groomsman with sensl-
BILE girl like Kate Spencer was. Harry Ne
vile, however, was bomb proof 10 such things,
at least he considered himself 50 and had been
hitherto. Besides he had been told Kate was
flirt and was on his guard.
And how was it with Ka,el Dear coz
have you ever seen filtration begun in fun
and ended in earnest? Kate was hattered by
having a partner like Harry Neville and put
forth all her powers Of pleasing, resolute 10
bring the filtration 10 a close before there was
danger; but iliriaiious, like thorough breds,
sometimes run away with you and so, at a
weeks end, what belween the customary at
tentions Of groomsman and something pc
culiar to Harry, Kate began to be interested in
her companion more than she chose TO con-
less.
The wedding was held in the country, in
the midst Of rich district and for several
weeks the young couple were involved IN
round oil entertainments. Give me country
wedding after ALL There are the long rides,
tete-a -tete, BY moonlight--the spending dull
hours in Irritation with your parner-the boat
ing parties, the rambles through the wood, the
summer evening beneath the arbor in the gar
den, and hundred other things which town
folks, who get married at daybreak, and then
race over half the States for month, have no
more idea Of than lap dog has of moon
light
And SO, insensibly, love stole upon Kate
Neville was not mere wit, any more than
herself. and often laying aside his raillery, he
would indulge the natural enthusiasm Of his
character until be paused finally at his own
impassoned words. Al such times. Kate
would sit long after going to her chamber, I'M
consciously gazing up al the calm, still sky
but her thoughts would be upon Neville; and
these reyeries usually ended with sigh,
A woman in love, whether firt or not, is
often blind; nor could Kate discover il Ne
vile loved her or not. AT times there was
that in his tones made heart thrill; but if the
most ordinary acquaintance would approach,