American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-03-07

John, desperately. 1t is true / am
/ John Peters, but not the John Peters
{ you take me for. and as for having red
hair, l never have had that honor, |
| assure you.
4 twas now Bella's turn to look sur.
eiprised. s t
/, And who are you then if you are not
Peters of Baltimore? s.
: On the contrary / am. John Peters
OF Connecticut, a graduate from the
Mercantile College, and at present in
search of u situation. / am not your
cousin, and never saw you to my know
ledge until to day. Though / must
confess youarc the pretticst girl ever
did see, and beginto envy the gem
uino John Peters your cousin, for L
cant help liking you a great deal al
ready.
You do? Indeed how funny! Then
You are not my cousin from Baltimore
1, u what is better still, my father thinks
you are. detest u cousin for hus-
band whether he be cousin or no, but
how did it all happen that papa made
such an odd mistake? ag
i Well the factis, the whole thing was
! a mistake from the beginning, 4 was
attributable to an advertisement in the
4 morning paper. t
Il Your father wanted book keeper
and advertised. l saw the advertise
inent, and applied directly for the stu
alton. Before stating my business
introduced myself as John Peters
whcreupon yourfather forgetting there
:: might be another John Peters in the
world, bundled me into an omnibus, &
hurried me here before / could offer an
explanation.
| How odd! exclaimed Bella. And
you are not my cousin then after all?--
but l rather like you and am not lit
tic pleased ait the adventure because
we can both laugh over fathers mis-
take, and the absent John Peters red
hair. u4f .,... ..,......
But [ must explain the matter i'm
modiately, though l dislike the idea of
! giving you up to the absent John Pc
; tors, answered our hero, with tho same
: winning smile, especially as you have a
natural ,antipathy tored hair. astI oaji
| don't see the use of explaining,
Suppose we both keep quiet and let it
} so for granted that we are couius---
what harm can there be in it. r< 49,.
) And then, supposing he, thinking
me Cousin John Peters should insist on
our being married before the genuine
John Peters comes from Baltimore.
Oh it would be delightful! I do so
hate to marry my cousin John, besides
+ | like you thousand times better
There isn't the least romance in mar.
rying one 5 couslon, especially such Il
: cousin as John Peters of Baltimore.
Here Bella laid her pretty white
HAND on lis arm and said
: But you don't care for me; of course
: you wouldn't like to be married lust
$ to please me. | don't blame you ci-
Z. ther, for | wouldn't marry cousin if
could helpit.
On the contrary, cried John claspina
> the little hand warmly, would give
, the world for that happy privilege.
,, Then you must promise me to keep
: still and Ict.thc matter rest as it is
You will do it won't you?
Most certainly, answered John, if it
!. pleascs you
* *
y On his return, and to his no little
I delight, Mr.. Mcirs found Bella deeply
! interested in Cousin John. | thought
/ that you would come round said he.
These girls are always peryorsc when
their lovers arc out of sight but nigh
ty warm hearted and a9roeable when
they have got together. Ilowbcit /
fancy there is a slight vein of dupici-
ty III the best Of them, / do.
!! Oh, no papa, you should not be so
hasty in you conclusions, for have mt |
, told you all along that cousin John S
hairwas red, audtItat my principal OBJ
lection was bascd upon the fact. But
YOU see there is Slight mistake some
where, for his hair, pointing to the
3 counterfeit cousin's) is quito dark and
glossy. | must really confess, papa,
that ! like John very much; great
deal more than | expected. do in.
decd.
Then, said Mr.. Moirs exultingly, if
/ were in Johns place, j would just
, take the liberty to strike while the iron
! is hot.
Il There is nothing gained by delays,
and week hence you might be as far
oil the handle as you were a week ago.
!, Oh, no, am not so tickle; but will