Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1854-08-24
Story Of a Courtship.

"Come-come, said Mrs. GRAY, "you have
been moping there long enough, nephew, for
getting manners and everything else. Here
are the apples waiting and nc one 10 hand
them around, for when once get settled in
this easy chsr"-here the good woman gave
an ample survey Of her ample per on, which
certainly overfowed the chair at every point
leaving sll but ridge OF the back and the
curying arms quite inviSible-"it isn't a very
easy thing 10 get up again. Now, hustle about,
and while we old women rest ourselves, you
and Julia, there, can Try your luck wita the
apple-seeds."
al remember the frSt time ever surmised
that MIR. Gray had taken a notion o me was
once when we were at an appecutting to-
sether down in Maine. Somehow MI. Gray
got into my neighborhood when we ranged
around the great basket of apples. felt NY
cheeks burn the moment he drew his chair
close TO mine, end took out his jack knife to
begin work. He pared and qusrtered. |
never looked up but Once-then his cheek was
redder than mine, and he held the jack-knife
terribly unsteady. By and by he got a noble,
great apple, yellow as gold, and smooth as a
baby's CHEEK. was looking at his hands
sidewise from under my lashes, and saw that
he was pairing il carefully, as if every round
Of the skin was a stripe of gold. AT last he
cut il Off At the seed end, and the soft rings
fell down over his wrist and took the apple
from his fingers.
"Now," sail he in a whisper, bending his
head little, and raising the spple-peel care
! fully with his right hand, "'m Just as sure
this will be the first letter Of the name | love,
as am that we are alive"
| lie began swiftly whirling the apple pc 81
around his head; the company were all busy
with one another, and was the only person
who saw the yellow links quiVenng around
| his head, once, twice, three times. Then
| he held il still moment, and sat lookins
right into my eyes. held my breath and sc
did he"
"Now," says he, and his breath came
out with quiver, "what if ii should be you
name?"
"l did not ans wer and we both looked bach
at the same time. Sure enough it was let
ter S." No pen ever made one more beaut
fully.
"Just as expected" says he, and hi
eyes grew bright as diamonds, "uSt as | ex
pected!"
"And what answer did you make him
auntf" asked Robert OTIS, who had beef
listening with flushed face. "What cid yoI
sayl'
81 didn't speak word, but quartered OF
Just as. fast as could As for Mr.. Gray, h,
KEEP: pairing, and pairing, like all possessed.
thought he would never stop pairing or speal
aIword more. BY and by he stuck the point
Of his knife into an apple, and unwinding thc
skin from around it, he handed ii over to me
Il was red skin, | remember, and cut q
smooth as ribbon"
al shouldn't bit wonder if thot droppet
into letter G," says Mr.. Gray "Suppos
you try it."
"Well, took the red apple-skin, an
whrleG 1t three times round my head, an
down it went on to the floor. and curied u
into the incest capital G that you ever Sc
eyes on"
"Mr. Gray looked at the letter and then sol
of sideways into my face.
rs and g." says he taking up the apple
skin, eating it az il it had been the first mouth
full of a thanksgiving dinner. "How woul
you like to see them two letters on a set {
silver spoons"
al really believe you could have lit
candle at my facet burned so-but
couldn't speak more than if I'd been tongue
tied"
"Bat didyou ever answer about the spoons'
asked Julia.
"Well yes, l belicv did, the next Sur
day night" said the ole lazy, smoothing he
apron.--From "Fashion and Famine," byMr'
Ann s. Stephens.