Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1856-08-21

At length Pops proposed a promenade,
and ice cream Clarissa declined both, add
ing:
Il wish to stay at home for have some
thing particular to tell YOU
Indeed ~ said Popps; what is it, dear:''
"You expect our wedding to take place
in three weeks, don't you? %
''To be sure | don'
''Well, am sorry to disappoint you, but I
must do it. [ cannot marry
Good heavens, Clarissa what are you
saying 2"
ssDon't interrupt me- l mean l can't
marry just yet awhile-not for some months
to come"
"Why, Clarissa, what's the meaning Of
all this? You gave me your positive prom
ise and said nothing stood in the way.
am all ready, and worried with waiting
Why do you put it off, dear p
s'That you will have to excuse my telling
you. [ have good reason for it have
thought the matter over well-and my mind
is made up. Will that satisfy you?'
Popps muse while Clarissa kept her
fan going. Finally, Popps spoke.
s'No, Clarissa, it wont satisfy me. You
postpone our wedding, and refuse to tell me
why. If you have reason for it you ought
to let me know it, and may be it would sa-
tisfy me. But [ won't be satisfied without
the reason"
"Well, then, you'll have to remain un-
satisfied. | tell you [ have reason, anda
good one-what more do you want p
Il see how it is-Pve courted you too
long-I didn't strike while the iron was hot
you are tired of me, and wish to get rid
Of me. Well, if that is your wish, go "a
head"
"Mr. Popps, you're dunce-you're
fool!'
''Maybe I am, and maple I amt" said
Popps, rising with his temper s'but this I'll
say, Miss Clarissa-if you don't tell me why
you postpone the wedding for few months,
you may postpone it forever so far as I am
concerned. Tell me, Clarissa else I swear
that when [ leave this house tonight, [ will
never set foot in it again %
1.Well, then, you'd better co., o!,u-.-,.-..-.
cried to him to stay. Pops came back
Clarissa put her head on his shoulder and
cried. Popps melted. Pops spoke first.
:.Wcll, dear, what's the matter?"
ooh, I think you're so unreasonable and
cruel Indeed, indeed, [ have good cause
for putting off our marriage-but cannot,
must not tell you what it is. Oh, dear
Mr.. Popps, do excuse me" And she cried
little more.
"Well, Clarissa, tell me this. Do you
put it off to please your father or any of your
relations ?"
"No-they know nothing Of my determi-
nation"
':Do you put it eff on account of anything
concerning me 2"
! "No."
'sDo you want to go anywhere, or do any
thing particular, that will keep you from
marrying?"
"No."
s:In Gods name then Clarissa, what do
you want? Why keep me in this sus-
pense p
ooh, Mr.. Pops, you're so cruel -
Maybe ought to tell you the obstacle-but
[ can't, indeed | can't.
sJust as you please Miss Collier" And
Popps again picked up his hat.
'Oh, Mr.: Pops, pray don't go-don't
60 yet awhile"
s:Then, Miss Clarissa, tell me the obsta-
, cle,"
Popps was evidently determined. Claris
sa put her head on his shoulder laboring
!, under strange agitation. Several time
! she essayed to speak. At length she breath
. ed into his ear these fearful words:
] "THe reather's too hot ''
y Popps wilted. When our sprite left, h
}, was advocating trip to the Allegany Noun
: tains.