The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-09-26

to.have son he can put confidence in. al
ways tell you my important secrets, for you are
generally sensible in your advice and discreet
in your conversation
Except when Miss Bates is concerned, -
suggested Jack with bitter sarcasm. gass.7
5"Oh, hang Miss Bates! you had seen her
you would never mention--"' ~. ez ..... *
"But who is ber?'' interrupted Jack.
"Why the charming creature that has Just
been to see me, and visited me, also, day before
yesterday, the most charming young lady /
ever saw. The joke is a capital one-capitalr'
and again the judge joyfully rubbed his hands
together.
s'But what is the joke?"
Il will tell you all about it. Day before
yesterday, while you were absent, and was
looking over some papers in the library, the
servant brought me word that a young lady
was in the parlor, who had called to see me on
important business charming creature! Wv
II told Maggie to show her to my room.
Well, up she came. tripping up stairs like a
fairy, delicious fairy! and knocking softly on my
door, and tmidly too, just as if she were. pat
tirg Cupid on the head. knew she was lady,
true lady, lady Of taste and refinement,
none of your Miss Bateses, by the very rustic
of her dress WE'LL in she same, timdly, but
gracefully, with a slight blush upon her fea-
tures-and such features! You never saw the
like-so beautiful, SO classical and intelligent
in their beauty, so expressive of free and in
nocent mind-wonderful creature! -......z
Her eyes were full of smiles, and each
smile was enough to light universe! You
never saw such eyes in your life, nor such a
dimpled chin and richly tinted checks
-a" Gracious! you are getting poetical!'' ejacu-
lated Jack. II hope you didn't fall in love
with her?'' .:.--.s ...r, ..,.. ...s. nIas
TLovely fairy-it's a capital joke" proceed
ed the Judge. 'Iinvited herto be seated, and
waited to hear what had procured me the honor
of such delightful interview. She spoke and
such a delicious voice! Talk about the war
bling of birds, the best Of them are bull frogs
in comparison with the warbling voice of this
visitor @..,.s ...... ........ ...-. ...- ,.... =
''She said she had come to see me on deli
cate matter and one in which her feelings were
intimately concerned, not exactly to ask my
legal services, but my advice on a matter that
appeared to have great and important bearing
upon her future career Her name she said
was Miss Ellen Norton fl. ...s
"Miss Ellen Norton?'' ....... ...-... ....
Such was her name. She is of medium
height, very bright eyes, black hair, lovely
features-and such exquisite grace in every
one of those. characters. Do you know her?''
II will not be certain,'' said Jack obviously
but with a very singular look upon his features
AS if certain of more than he cared to express,
but believe have seen her. .-..
"If so you could never forget her, if you had
your eyes and ears about you. Well this love
ly young creature was in love with young
man, and very deeply and devotedly in love, il
there was anything in Judging by her words
She was poor, almost friendless, her lover was
the son of richman, heir expectant to Large
fortune. He had asked her to become his wife
and she had accepted him. and since that time
she had learned that his father never woulo
consent to their union, ard this information hae
made her very Wretched.' z--..ss ...-.... aF
"And what did she want of you?" asket
Jack . .. s~ -.- s... ..
my advise of course. Advice from NAL
that is capable of giving it-advice from judg
James Punderford!'' z... .. e@
"And you gave it?'' said Jack eagerly.
"Ofcourse I did. She did not know whether
to marry the object of her choice Or not, il
view of the fathers opposition. From all tina
|
after your pattern, a graceless young scamp
you rascal, but good hearted and well meaning
and in this case, very much devoted to my eli
ent-that is to Miss Norton-and really sin
cere in his desire to marry her. You know
that | have never advised resort to extremi
| ties, in any case, as the best course of proce
dure-my practice was always againstit, but il
this instance, after conversing an hour or sc
with Miss Norton, concluded that the young
scamp's father was heartless old reprobate
not to appreciate her charms and her worth
and my advice was to this point, that she marry
her lover as soon as she could lay hands or
him, finding she felt convinced Of his sincerity
and that he was able to support her indepen
dently of assistance from his father"
''That was an extraordinary proceeding 70,
YOU said Jack, gravely. .5. .-.r .-y.r =.
Extraordinary! you must bear in mind that
Miss Norton is an extraordinary woman.
have never been so well pleased with the man.
ners and conversation, not to speak of personal
beauty, Of one of her age, in all my life. De-
licious creature! was only too glad to cham
pion her cause, should it prove that any is
needed in the end. | advised her to marry by
all means, and told her would use my int1u-
ence, after twas all over, to pacify the old
sinner of father. He must be an awful old
curmudgeon, if he can long resist her beauties
and entreaties.'' ..n .. .t,5.z, ~. .....-.
.'And SO she has married"" ~. -..-,:r.a. t-.,.-
'*Not yet--but the ceremony is to be perform
ed tonight. And that isn't the best of it,
there's another item to be considered, ha, ha!
it's a capital joke capital! The ceremony is to be
performed here, in this house-in fact in my
library!" -.5 -..'sS s.>' "a @.2
-..s'sY ou don't say So" 7aaa zr:5g s=ss las5:
"But it's fact-I can assure you. took
the whole management Of the business into
my own hands-loyely creature! She said
there might be efforts made to interrupt the
affair, unless everything was kept quiet, and
So offered to procure a clergyman, and have
the happy couple made happier here--capital
joke? Won't the old sinner swearp'' ss~tts
.'Who-the clergyman?" . -... ,....z
'No you rascal the lovers father, of course
the frozen hearted old sinner. shah send for
our own minister, Mr.. Carsons, and have every
thing conducted in a secret manner. The happy
couple are to wear masks on their arrival, and
until after the ceremony is performed, and no
one is presumed to know what Miss Norton the