Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-07-08
hours in company, why then
What then. father?"

hours in company, why then"
What then. father?"
Why, then, you are no sailor that's
all.
But sir, aver if | should find myseli
captivated at the frst interview, it does
not follow that this young lady will smile
upon my suit. She may dislike me as
much as | fear | shall dislike her. There
are such things as mutual antipathies, SIR
Don't talk of antipathies. Frank,
know you will sympathize with each 9th.
er. You are a good looking fellow, Frank.
There's no denying it-almost as good
looking as your father, when he was Of
your age, and all the girls in the country
were striving to gain his favor. She can.
not help liking you, unless some NEEDLE
some ~jackanape has been beforehand with
you, which | don't believe, for her father
told me she had never had a Irritation in
her life, and surely he ought to know
But there is no time to be lost. You!will
be her first dove, you dog, and such a
prize All the young fellows in the
neighborhood will be ready to cut your
throat. wish you joy, Frank, with all
my heart"
What at the prospect of having my
throat cut ~
"Pshaw go to your mother. Get all
ready to start for K~onigston tomorrow
in the stage. Put up at the "Indian
Belle" and I'll give you a letter to my
old friend, the Colonel, that will doyour
business, and secure a warm welcome"
From him. | dare say. But what will
his daughter say ! She may cry out in
her gentle musical tones. I" Avast hauling
my lad, Delay that" Oh I cannot but cut
a foolish figure in her eyes, travelling
through the country in quest Of a wife,
and making love to a girl whom l have
never seen !"
But you will see her before you make
love to her, Frank, And I'll answer for
it, tina. she is dying Of curiosity to see
you. Her father has undoubtedly told
all about our Intentions long before this,
and she'll be ready to jump into your
arms. the moment you say the word"
II hope not" exclaimed Frank, with a
sudden start, I'D sooner encounter a
water spout. At any rate, | hope she
will not throw her grapnells aboard until
| say the word"
Don't be a fool, Frank. She'll suit
your taste, I warrant you. | consider
myself a good Judge of a pretty girl
Trust to me, if you are not eager to board
her in the smoke the moment you range
alongside, you will deserve to be strung
up at the yard arm
Well. las you are so bent on seeing
me married, | consent to visit Konigston,
see the lady, and examine the cut of her
lib. But if | shoHld not like her very
much, l give you fair warning, I'll sheer
off from along side, without firing a gun,
without giving a salute, and marry the
first pretty girl | can find. l won't be
made the laughing stock of the communi-
ty."
ooh, go along. You'll like her well
enough-no doubt Of that. And if you
are not married to her-wedded hard and
fast-within a month after you have seen
her, you'll sadly disappoint your old faith
er, Frank, you'll moi be a chip of the old
block"
The next morning Frank Roscoe enter
ed the stage coach that was to convey
him to Konigston, in search Of a wife,
To judge from his appearance and de-
meanor, which we're particularly sad and
solemn, a person would not have supposed
him bound on a mission of joy. He said
but little to his fellow.passengers, replied
in mo~nosyllables to the questions which
were propounded to him, and rebuked
with a majestic frown a wagish traveller,
who with offensive familiarity, and aIfec.
ted sympathy, inquired if he had lost all
his friends I"
II am bound on a fools errand,p quoth
Frank to himself. What could have in
duced my father and Col. Hartwell to Law
their venerable heads together, and con
spire against the peace and comfort of
two young persons, who never dreamed
of injuring them. Match making, indeed,
at their agel they ought to be ashamed
Of themselves. | blush for them BOTH
1t is a bootless voyage on which / am
sent, for / feel confident that I can never
fancy Emily Hartwell as a wife, and we're
it otherwise, If I should happen to be
charmed with her beauty, accomplish
ments and good humor, she would not
she could not under such circumstances,
receive mi as her sutton. How can | pop
the question. How can I frame it to in
sure a favorable answer2 | am in an
awkward scrape. / had better been
scraping the barnacles off the ice wales
Of a deep laden ship at sea, in a gale Of
wind, than travelling throughthe country
in a stage coach in this fashion after a
wife,"
Thus communed the poo fellow with
himself. The magic word WIFE, as ut
tered by his father, had transformed the
usually gay, lively, free-hearted and rail
ing Frank Roscoe, into a staid specimen
OF mortality as grave as a mermaid and
as mute as a stock-6sh. His stage com.
panions who seemed somewhat socially
inclined and whose advances were re.
ccived with cold looks and monosyllable
evidently regarded him with dislike.
1t was about three o'clock in the after,