The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-07-08

: for know shall; and mean to purchase a,
interest in some cemetry, preparatory to you
wedding, for am convinced that I shall no
survive it. Don't mock me in my misery, i" h
added,as she laughed merrily, 81 know you hat,
me, and despise me, aud laugh at me for sil
ly old beothen, as | am, for thinking that
sweet, dear, beautiful maiden like you woul,
be content to lnger out her days with an IAN
tiluuted bachelor like me, though am onl,
thirty-six, but feel as if | was veneraLl,
grandfather ever since you thought of marry
ing that whiskerless young clerk"
Here he was obliged to pause for want
breath, and Mary. looking out of the corner.
of her now rogush eyes, said,
,"What If do not think Of marrying that whis
kerless young clerk! never said did,"
"You don't? Then shal conclude not tc
get that interest in cemetery just yet, unt
perhaps some time-but no, you won't know
you will not, so might as we'll do it now al
bye and bye, for you will never have me, and
some one else will come, and shall have to
come TO it eventually; and he sank back into
his former collapsed state, like balloon with
a hole in it.
/ lOOhGu NCIJ NlOhtu dS Sic EII COntefn-
plating him, and at last turning away her
head to hide deep blush, she said,
"Why Ned, you do not know whether |
would have you or not, for you never asked
me.'
Ned started briskly up, and holding out his
hand with a trag-comic look, said,
"Well, Mary, will you take me! can't pop
the question in the latest style. the way dan.
dy clerks do, for an not accustomed to the
thing, but will you,ake me! Do not say no; for
ifyou do, you must answer for the consequent
ces; and if you say cs, shall 60 crazy with
joy"
Mary hesitated, not wishing probably to
make him desperate, or drive him crazy; but
she chose the latter alternative, for she slid
her soft little hand into his, and sad smiling.
archly.
"You do not deserve it, but | am afraid of
the consequences"
We do know what happened after that, for
history does not make any mention of what
passed during the rest Of the interview, and
we do not think Ned could tell for his con-
duct was not very sensible for some time.
The next seen of him, he was cordially en-
bracing the clerk, and begging his pardon,
while that astonished functionary thought Sc
riously of sending word to his friends that he
did no; consider it proper that he should be
allowed to GO at large.
A few months after, Tom Stanton ard wife
were summoned to the wedding, and instead
of congratulating him as the rest did, he lied
a piece of black craperound his arm, and in
q very dolorous tone, said,
81 really pity you, Ned, and as the only way
of expressing my sympathy, have assumed a
badge of mourning on this heart rending
occasion"
"Pshaw! Hold your tongue, Tom: and by
the way, please never mention to Mrs. Will
son that exceedingly foolish affair, that's dear
fellow, for it was all ajoke, nothing shorter,
assure you"
Tom thought it joke, too, and though he
promised secrcsy, yet somehow or other, it
leaked out before the evening was through;
and some suspected that Toms wife did the
deed, but no certain knowledge on the subject
was ever obtained. Poor Ned was excessive
ly teased for a long time by all his friends, q
even mary would join them. He was too hap
Py, however, to notice trifles, and bore it all
with the most exemplary good nature,
though he stoutly asserted that it was "all
joke" and no one discovered the fact.