The Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1852-1853, 1852-12-08


from the widower, made an errand to the
fire, an excuse for hitciing it back again.
''Nice young man, Mr.. Keeper" observed
the widower, glancing at Lucretia over his
dickey, and laying his arm On the back of
her chair. ..... .......- .-.... .-.... ..
May" said Lucretia, STOPPING to place a
stick on the andirons. ......... .....
Mr.. Brooks perceived that the glow ofthe
FIRE made her face very red.
"Used to be pretty neighborly, l under
Stand?" ....-.E
"Ye-yes-quite!'
Lucretia was crimson. ...
Nothing but friend, suppose!"
"Oh, no! no!' ... ....
"Aheml and if should-that is, if any
one else should wish to marry you, he
wouldn't be in the way?" -.e-
The widower's arm supplied from the back
Of the chair, and fell somehow by accident
around her waist, and the widower being
an absent minded person, neglected to put
it back again! .t.. .# ,..... 5...
"And would anything else be in the way,
my dear?''
That's according"-(how the fire did
glow in Lu,retia's face! -'according to
who the person is"- ..g .. ...r.... ....
The clasp of the arm about her waist
tighten ed. .r. ................
"Ah! Them! and if-and if-ifit was me-
"You! ha! there's no danger of that |
guess!" said Lucretia, trying to laugh it
off.
| Another movement of the ARMAND Lu-
creta's head lay on the widower's shoulder.
"But | am in earnest" exclaimed Mr..
| Brooks.
"Oh!I didn't suppose-If that's the case, 7"
Stammered Lncretla, pretending to struggle
little.
This afforded the widoner an excuse for
clasping her waist still closer. He laid his
whSkers against her wet cheek, to the i'm
minent peril of Sampson Keepers happiness,
and the smo1thness of his own dicky. Then
you might have heard kiss.
"There!now say you'll have me" +" ex,laim-
ed the widower.
"1fyou--want me to-
Lucreta thought of Sampson, and hesi-
tated. She had lingering affection for that
young gentleman, but then, he had exhaus-
ted her patience. Sampson was certainly
a desireble man, But Lucretla was twenty
three. 1t was sweet to become Mrs. Keeper,
but it was awful to think of becoming an old
maid. The widower's affections at this mo-
ment struck Lucretia a happy medium-a
comfortable certainty, although they prom
Used no uncommon happiness, and she mur'
INJURED,
81 will"
And this is the mannerin which Sampson
through habit otto much caution and in
decision. lost the fairest maiden in Grass
borough, after courting her five years.
Mr.. Brooks took his young bride home tc
fill the place of mother of three children
and Sampson, who had married sister
with small family, in strengthened circum
stances, resolved to give his poor relations
home in his house, and live with them a.
an old bachelor, to the end of his days. Or
losing Lucretia, Sampson, in despair, hac
made VOW never to marry.
! Eight years afterwards, however, Mr.. KEEP
per had occasion TO reconsider his vow. Mr.
Brooks died suddenly, having Lucretia the
mother ofas many more. Sampson was font
of children, and Lucretia was more of angel
in his eyes now than ever. He visits her
carried presents to her children, and did ev
erything in lis power to console her in hel
atliiction, and the young widow dried hel
tears, planted some delicate flowers on the
grave of the lamented Brooks, and smiled
encouragingly on her old lover.
People began to talk again. Sampson
and Lucreta were going to be married now
at all events, said the gossips. But two
years passed; every body was puzzled; and
the fact that Mr.. Keeper was a bachelor a
forty, was mystery. . -
The truth is, Sampson had not been curet
Of his old habit Of procrastination. 10 mar
ry the mother Of six children, and take he
and them home for Sampson could never
have made up his mind to settle down OF
the Brooks estate--wou!d be to disturb thu
peace of his sisters family, who had beer
living on him nearly ten years. Besides
Jane, his sister, and Mr.. Bunker, his broth
! er-in-law; who had great irresolute mind
discouraged him rom assuming such a re
Sponsibiity, as the matrimonial. station oc
cupied by the late lamented Brooks
IL should like to see you married ant
happy, DEAR" Mrs. Bunker would say, "fo
notwithstanding all our affection for you,
am afraid You are something dis atisfec
with your present way Of liyingw
"Ob, assure you again, sister, Samp
son would reply, ~ appreciate your atten
tons a7' '' .'5.' DIV Hf'.
"And / an, sure we delight in doing fo