The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-07-08
The Game Of Checkers.

"Why, certainly, child, l heard your
uncle Charles pop it,"
"Oh, yes, of course" said Fanny, =" but
one dosn't often tell their own experience
I mean, did you ever hear any one else 7"
Well, yes," replied aunt Molly, slowly,
did happen to once"
"Oh, please tell me all about it," cried
Fanny. al would so like to be a little
mouse in the wall on such an occasion"
Fanny was just turned fifteen and it was
very natural that she should want to be
posted.
"very WE'LL" said aunt Molly, get your
work, then, for l don't like to talk to an
idle listener"
Fanny established herself, and aunt Molly
began.
at was about ten years after was mar
ried and housekeeping, that cousin Will
Morris, Uncle Benjamin's son, came to live
with US that is he was q partner in your
uncle Charles store, and boarded with US.
You never saw Will, did you!"
Fanny nodded her head and aunt Molly
went on. He was whole.souled, straight.
forward, substantial young man, not lacking
in polish either, but very bashful, SO much
so, that used really to pity him sometimes
when We had young company. Annie
Evans was an old schoel-mate OF mine, and
Just after went to housekeeping, her pa
rents moved to Oxford, and lived only a
short distance from US. Annie used fre.
quently to bring her work, and spend the
evening with me, and uncle Charlie would
90 home with her. Those were rare tines
Fanny, and we enjoyed them fully. Annie
was real woman; none of your nonsensl'
cal, love sick girls, whose heads are so full
Of beaux that they won't hold anything
else."
Fanny blushed as aunt Mollie Gaid this
but aunty looked very demure, and contln'
ued: I" And knowing her und loving her as
I did, l felt particularly anxious that she
should be we'll settled in life."
"That means with good husband" re.
marked Fanny, roguishly.
"CertainIy, said aunt Molly, "and after
Will came, and became acquainted with
him, l took it into my head that he and
Anne would make capital match. But
somehow, after he came, Annie did not
come SO often; and Will, who was very en-
tertaning in his conversation when we
were alone, in her presence, was silent and
awkward in his manner as if under re-
straint; and Annie took but little notice OF
him, only as far us politeness required and
requested me privately to so arrange it that
uncle Charlie should still 60 home with her.
that is, il he had no objections. So the
young peoples acquaintance progressed
slowly. Time and habit arrange these
things beautifully, and gradually they came
to be more familiar, 80 as to call each other
by their Christian names. brought about
that, though, for could not bear the formal
tiles of Mr.. Morris and Miss Evans. Just
as expected. Will became very much in
terested in Annie; for that matter he had
admired her from the first, but he was mod
est in oil his pretensions, and seemed to re-
gard her as beyond his reach. At any rate
+ he could not summon courage enough tt
speak on the subject nearest his heart"
"How do you know that, aunt Molly =
. asked Fanny.
8 "Oh, from observation" replied aun
( Molly: =" and Annie did not help the matter
any. for though she was quite friendly ant
, social in his company, yet there was moth
! inc in her manner that betrayed the slight
5 est interest in him. Well, one evening
: Annie had been spending the afternoon witt
, me, and we we're about talked out, Wher
/ Will came home from the store, and pro
, posed their playing checkers. Uncle Char
D lie had gone to political meeting. lsa
/, some distance off, sewing, and with one ey'
D watching the game. They were both goo'
. players, and for long time moved silently
9 each apparently intent on the game. A
9 length as If conscious that her chance wa
+. homeless, Annie remarked, as If identifyin!
). herself with the man she was moving,
Q see YOU are after me, WILL"
It I" II catch you," spoke viii, with sud
s den energy, " will you leave me in indis
. puted possession 7"
Q "Annie looked up, startled by his manue'
- L
It and seeing in his eager face the meaning h
had placed upon her words, paused, blushe
deeply, hesitated, and presently replied
perhaps SO; if you and Mary will prOmis
= never to tell any body that | popped tn
,. question
"Will rose hastily, dropped the board
the checkers ran all over the floor, an
taking Annie by the hand, led her to mi
saying Cousin Mary, do you think de-
!. serve this happiness 2
:, "Certainly, WILL Ireplied, 'and COZ
:, gratulate you most sincerely, and now,
) you will come out Of your happy state, ar
pick up those checkers, will be muc
: obliged to you.'
= +" will and Annie laughed heartily, al
began picking them up with alacrity, and
- Will picked up the board to put it away,
remarked -'that was the pleasantest gan
" Of checkers ever played in my liie.'
II Annie said nothing, but looked We