Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-05-25
4 Select Gale.
From Godey's Lady's Book
THE WAGER;
OR, THU TWO WEDDING RINGS.
CHAPTER I.

above you, Charley ?-no, not bit -
What should put such ridiculous idea into
your head Why, you are mere boy :"
81 am not, Ellen, assure you. l have
not bcyish feeling about me and, as for
my appearance, | am sure do not look
like boy in the least. Have I, indeed,
cultivated this moustache with so much
pains for nothing7 Am not nearly twen-
ty:one and, above alIj do ] not love you
devotedly -
The rdguish little Ellen made no an
sWer, but began to sing
"a little boy went ont to shoot ono day.
And carried his arrows and bow;
For guns they are dangerous things for play,
In the hands Of little children you know"
"Nonsense, Ely"
"a little bird sat cherry tree
And whistled and said you can't shoot me >"
"And neither can you, Mr.. Charley"
said Ellen, laughing.
81 don't know about that" said Charles,
saucily. 81 think, little maiden, that you
are more than half IN love with me alrea-
dy, and I will see if cannot make yoh
quite So"
"tust hear how the song goes or;' said
Ellen
'Ohiy wait said the boy, till get close enough
And see il don't shoot you through;
DO you think said tn. bird, Pm not up to snan
To sit and be shot at by you p"
Charles laughed in spite of himself, but
returned To the charge.
"But tell me seFiously, ELY; why you
4 u. r i
earth to be more agreeable to you: Tell
me what you desire and wish for In a
lover"
"Well; Charles, in the first placeI my
lover must be handsome man, six feet
high at least (you want full an inch of the
stdndard,) then he must have great bushy
beard (excuse nr, dear Charles, but your
title moustache is rather a miserable substi-
lute,) then he must waltz divinely, sing
enchantihgly; and love me as well or bet
ter than you do;"
"Pshaw i'' said Charles, impatently, ''if
you had such a lover, you would not like
the grizzly bear one-half so we'll as you do
me. | would bet you your wedding ring,
that if such an one as you describe were to
appear, which is not very likely, you
would, after all, tell me that you would
take me in preference"
"Tell you so, indeed! =" said Ellen; In
dignantIy 'that will | never do, and !
willingly accept your wager"
every well, ELY; see that you have
some vague; romantic dream of some cor.
sair of lover, and, for the present, | stand
but poor chance but you know am to
set out on my travels Tomorrow; and
dMy low, she's but a a,sie yet,
| My love she's but lasse yeti
| I'll leave her for year or two,
And she'll nae be 50 saucy yet"
Pardon me, Ely, you are fond of old songs
-good-bye!" So saying, the gay and
handsome young man left the apartment.
The next day Chatles came TO take lrave
of Ellen, previous to going to South Amer
ica, where he expected TO sojourn for two
or three years. They were both sadder
than the day before, and Ellen's eyes look
ed very much as though she had been hav-
ing "good cry" before he came.
swell, Ely" said Charles after while,
with an effort to be gay, "do you still per.
sist in what you said yesterday don't you
love me one bitw
"Not much," said Ellen family.
Sand do you still want that whiskerandc
of yours to Come and WOO and win you o.
"Not much," said Ellen again 'that il
to say"
"PShaw, Ellen see very plainly how
the matter stands with you," said Charles
"You are in love with me, ! tell you"
I y nd
nantly.