Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1858-08-21

IL
stood before the parlor mirror. putting the
last touch to his Nell-oiled hair, "if I let
this night pass without 6uding out Just how
! stand with Melinda Martin, then / am a
COW The critters always acted SO pesky
skittish that there's no getting around her.
like her, aud she knows Il. and I'm iu-
clined to think that she likes me but she
likes more thau one string to her bow. aud
amt cure bat she'd ship me any minute
If she could make a better bargain. May
he I'm doing her an injustice, and /
hope ! am but she acts sometimes 'tarual.
ly like a real coquette, aud l don't know
what to make Of her But tonight" be
added, fitting an immensely wide.brimmed
hat upon his shining bead, tonight III
settle the matter III cross the Rnbicon,
if ! get my boots full of water. Melinda
amt a bad spec, and might do worse most
anywhere else"
"Do tell il it's come to that !" exclaimed
old Mrs Chickwecd, who had entered the
room unnotieed by her son, in time to hear
the last sentence. "Well, Pve all alcng
had a notion that you was ainin' in that
ere direction"
Joe turned red from his eye-winkers to
his ankles, and looked very sheepish. He
worked very busily, too, for few seconds
with brushing some imaginary dust from a
place between the shoulders of his coat,
which he couldn't reach, but be said 10th
ing
There ain'C nothing to be ashamed on,
Joe" continued the loquacious old lady, ap-
parently greatly pleased at making the dis
cOyery she had aud you spoke gospel
truth when you said YOU might do worse
elsewhere Memda's nice galp
We'll" said Joe, gaining some courage
from bis mothers manner, I'm bouud to
make her my wife if--D
IF what,n asked the old lady.
"Wel, if nothing's agin it.n
You just do your duty, oe, aud Melin-
da's yourn. Remember the farm"
"Its fine farm, no mistake = said the
young man, earnestly
mo better farm of it's size in the whole
country than the Widder Martin's," said
Mrs. Chickwccd in an emphatic tone
NO, think notp
"And then see how it's stocked two
yoke of the best steers in all these parts,
besides her two horses, saying nothing of
the rest Of the critters And, of course
they'll go with Melinda when the widder's
dead, and before, too, for you will go right
on the farm as soon as you marry, aod take
charge Of everything"
It's good operation, that's fact, y
said Joe "but put higher value on
Melinda than all the properly"
And well you should, though the farm
and fixin's amt 10 be despised"
"Oh, amt one to despise cu"
Joe laughed and left the room, and soon
after he left the house, and made his way
ms expeditiously as the gloom of the even
ing would permit, towards the residence Of
the Widow Martin A light was burning
in the front room, but the window curtains
were closely drawn, SO that be could not
get view into the apartment as he passed
along the yard. lie knocked at the door,
and was admitted by the widow in person,
who, after inquiring benevolently after his
health, usherCd him into the parlor.
1t was already occupied by two persons
Melinda and Reuben Sparks, the latter
young man who had recently returned to
Springyille from California, who was looked
upon with especial disiayor by the young
farmer
Joe was welcomed by the young lady,
but not so cordially, as formerly, aud by no
means SO cordially as Joe thought his due.
He was greeted by Mr.. Sparks in sort of
joking, condscending way that raised his ire
nwardly. However the conversation that
followed was apparently agreeable to all
parties, and the evening wore away till the
widow retired, when Mr. Sparks intimated
that it was perhaps time for him to be re
firing, as it was quite little walk to the
village. Melinda at once asserted that it
was very early indeed, and he should not
think Of leaving so soon whereupon Mr..
Sparks was induced to remain q while long
er, and Mr. Chickweed was secretly enrag-
ed that Melinda should be SO taken up with
the young sprig.
California became she topic Of converse
tiou and Reuben Sparks shone brilliantly
in bis descriptive accounts of the country,
and what be had done there.
"Then you warent in the diggin's 7" in
quired Joe, ia response to something his ri
val had uttered.
"By no means" replied Sparks, loftily.--
Il left the digging to those who were used
to it l had no taste that wayn
"Oh, then, you stopped in town 2"
Certainly
Business. s'pose irst rate there 7"
Yes. A young man Of talent will soon
engage himself in profitable employment" I"
''Ihen l 'speet you must have done ex-
traordinary well, said Joe, in tone he in
tended should ha sarcastic
"Oh Y replied the other, laughing in a
meaning way. and winliDg with one eye at
the young lady. who appeared to take and
enjoy il accordingly Us for that matter
can't complain. think / improyed my
chanee--I rather think l did No don't
complain by 10 means.n
''fhen, why didn't you stay longer p
You weren't gone bat a short time ; you
should have Stayed year or two more, and
made yourself independent"
Perhaps | am independent already
say perhaps. OF course, can't tell You
the exact amount made---that, / think, Is
quite unnecessary"
'Oh. quite"
And perhaps, too, there were attrac-
tions in this mart Of the world as allpriug