Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-06-12
The Game of Checkers, OF Popping the
Question.

uncle Charlie pop it, as you call it,"
ooh, yes, of course" said Fanny, "but
one doesn't often tell their own experience.
l mean did you ever hear any one else ?'
"Woll, yes" replied Aunt Molly, slow.
ly, "l did happen 10 once"
80 please tell me all about it," cried
Fanny, "I would so like to be little mouse
In the wall, on such an OCCASION"
Fanny was just turned of fifteen, and Il
was very natural that she should want to be
posted.
"Ycry we'll" said Aunt Molly, "get YOUR
work then, for don't like to talk to an idle
listener"
Fanny established herself, and Aunt
Molly began: "It was about ten years af-
ter was married, and house keeping, that
cousin Will Morris, uncle Beniamin's son.
came to live with us, that is, he was part
ner in your uncle Charities store, and board
cd with us. You never saw Will did you?"
Fanny nodded her head and Aunt Molly
went on.
f" He was whole souled, straight for
ward, substantial young man, not lacking
in polish either; butvery bashful, SO much
so that ] used really to pity him sometimes
when we had young company, Annie Ey-
ans WAS an old schoolmate of mine and af-
ter went to housekeeping, her parents
moved to Oxford, and lived only short
distance from us. Annie used FREQUENTLY
to bring her work and spend the evening
with me, and uncle Charlie would 90 home
with her. Those were rare times, Fanny.
and we enjoyed them freely Annie was
real woman; none of your nopsensical love-
sick girls, whose heads arc so full of beaux
that they won't hold anything else.
Fanny blushcd, as Aunt Molly said this,
but Aunt looked very dcmure, and contin
ued. "And knowing her and loving her
as did, felt particularly anxious that
she should be well settled in life"
"That means with good husband" re-
marked Fanny, roguishly.
Certainly" said Aunt Molly; "and af
ter Win came, and 1 became acquainted
with him, l took it into my head that he
and Annie would make capital MATCH
But somehow after he came, Annie did not
come 80 often; and Will who was very enter
tanning in his conversation, when we were
alone, In her presence was silent and awk-
ward in his manner, as if under restraint;
and Annie took but little notice of him,
only as far as politencss required, and re-
quested me privately to arrange it, that
Uncle Charlie should still go home with
her that is, if he had no objections. So
the young peoples acquaintance progressed
slowly. Time and habit arranged these
things beautifully, and gradually they be-
come to be more familiar, 80 as even to call
each other by their Christian names. I
helped it about though, for 1 could not
bear the formality of Mr. Morris and Miss
Evans. Just as [ cxpected-Will became
very much interested in Annie; for that
matter he had admired her from the first,
but he was modest in his prctensions, and
seemed to regard her as beyond his reach.
AT any rate, he could not summon COURAGE
to speak on the subject nearest his heart"
GLOW did you know that, Aunt Molly?"
inquired Fanny.
ooh, from observation" replied Aunt
Molly, "and Annie did not help the matter
any, for though she was quite friendly and
social in his company, yet there was nothing
IN her manner that betrayed the slightest in
terest in him. Well, one evening, AMMO
had been spending the afternoon with me,
and we were abouttalked out, ,whonWill came
home from the store, and proposed their
playing game of checkers. Unole Char
lie had gone to political meeting. sat
some distance off, sewing and with one eve
watching the game. They were both good
players, and for long time moved silent
ly intent on the game. AT length, as if
conscious that her case was hopeless, Annie
remarked, identifying herself with the man
she was moving, H1 sec Won are oftor mo
Will"
off ! catch YOU" spoke VIII with sud
dGn energy, will you leave me in undisput-
ed possession 2"
Annie looked up, startled by his manner,
and seeing in his eager face the meaning
he had placed upon her words, paused
bIushed deeply, hcsitated and presently re-
piled:
perhaps so; if you and Mary will prom
Use never to tell anybody that popped the
question"
WIN rose hastily, dropped the board
the checkers ran all over the floor, and tax
ing Annie by the hand, led her to me saw
ing "Cousin Mary do you think deserve
this happiness"
"Gertainly, WILL" Ireplied "and I con-
gratulatc you most sincerely, and now, IL
you will come out of your happy state, and
pick up these checkers, l will be much OBJ
liged to you"
Will and Annie laughed heartily, and
began picking them up with alacrity, and
as VIII took up the board to put it away, he
remarked:
"That was the pleasantest game of check
ers ever played in my life"