Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-06-29

descriptive accounts of the country, and what
he had done there.
"Then you wern't in the diggins?" en-.
quired Joe, in response to something his rival
had uttered.
"By no. MEANS" replied Sparks. lotily.
~ left digging to those that were used to it.
hadn't'a taste that way"
aoh, then you stopped in town."
Certainly"
aBusiness, spose, first rate there 2"
eyes. A Young man of talent will soon
engage himself in profitable employment"
nThen spec you must have done extra
ordinary WELL" said Joe, in q tone he intended
should be sarcastic.
"Oh," replied the other, laughing in a
| meaning way, and winking an eye at the
Young lady, who appeared to stake" and en-.
Joy it according, "as for that matter, I can't
complain. Think improved my chances
1 rather think I did. No, 1 don't complain,
by no means"
'"Then why didn't you stay longer? You
warnt gone but short time; you should have
staid year or two more, and made yourself
independent"
"Perhaps am Independent already. say
perhaps. Of course can't tell you the sx.
act amount I made-that, I think, is quite
unnecessary"
"Oh, quite"
"And perhaps, too, there were attractions
in this part of the world as alluring as gold"
He looked knowingly at Malinda as he
spoke, and he gave her another wink, which
that young lady seemed to relish, though she
blushed and appeared wonderfully embar-
rassed for moment. Joe noticed what oc.
CURED, and didn't at all fancy the course at:
fairs seemed to be sitting. He knew that he
should feel and appear peculiarly savage, if
he remained much longer, and so he limited
that it was about time for him to be going,
and what served to enrage him more than
aught else, Malinda appeared to be Of the
same mind, for she offered no objection. So
he took his hat and departed, with 6rmness
in his step and bitterness in his heart.
~ don't like the looks of things at ALL" he
muttered to himself as he walked on through
the dark "she's altogether too tender with
that chap, to be agreeable to me. If he has
not turned her head. then there's mistake
somewhere. don't believe he has brought
money enough from California to buy q rope
to hang him. He's after the widder's farm
now, to make it up, I'll bet my hat. Yes,
sir, he means to catch Malinda, and I've been
fool enough to wait all this time before com.
ing to final point. But perhaps it amt too
late yet" he added, after few moments re-
Election "maybe she'll consent to have me
yet, if lose no time in asking her-Tll try it,
+ VOW will. I'll 60 over again tomorrow,
and have the thing settled"
And having come to this conclusion, he
hurried forward, and soon after was dreaming
of Malinda Martin, the widow, himself, and
an infinite number of Reuben Sparks, who
were endeavoring to chase him up steep
hill, and beating his brains out with bars Of
California gold.
Mrs. Chickweed was most anxious next
morning to learn from her son the result of
his mission to the windows, but Joe was silent
and pensive avoiding his mothers eye, and
keeping away from the house as much as pos
sible. Late in the evening, he carefully dress.
ed himself in his best suit, and with look of
determination stamped upon his features he
once more set out to visit the flckle Malinda.
He found her at home and alone.s
"Hope you spent an agreeable evening
yesterday" remarked Joe, after he had pass
ed the usual compliments, and seated himself
near the young lady.
"Oh, yes, did, 1 assure your was the
"Mr. Sparks I should say is very enter
tanning young man."
Joe didn't think any thing Of the kind but
quite the contrary.
+" He is, indeed" responded Malinda.
Joe looked anything but pleased at this
encomium on his rival, and sat for some mo.
ments in utter silence. AT length he turned
to the young lady and spoke:
=" came here last evening"" he said, "with
the intention Of speaking to you on q particu.
lar subject, but ] found you so engaged that I
determined to call again tonight and So
so"-
"Here you are" said Malinda, smiling at
his embarrassment.
"Yes, here am. And now that I'm here,
III tell you what have come for. You know
I love you. told you as much more'n once,
and I've fattered myself that wern't indifer-
ent to you. But now I wish you to tell me
ifyou really love me in return, and if l may
hope to make you my wife. VIII you marry
me 2"
Joe, having arrived at this important ques.
ton, looked tenderly appealingly into her
face, and breathlessly awaited her reply. She
colored slightly and bent her eyes to the
ground.
"You are quite right" she said, in sup.
posing that you were not Indifferent to me,
for regard you very highly.
"Then all my fears have been groundless,"
.,&korod TX, axn1tipn1,,
"But," continued the lady, q q / cannot very
we'll grant yeur wish regarding"-
"WhatI' cried Joe, his couAtenance sud-
denly changing.
II cannot very well marry you."
"Aud why can't you2 I'd like to know
what's to hinder your marrying me if you
think enough of me |"
"There is one reason in particular
"What is it?''
"rm engaged to another"
Joe turned pale.
"Sparks," he cried-"tell me, is it Sparks ??
"Well, and if it Isl
II know it. Blast him ! know what he
was AFTER"
II don't know that Mr.. Sparks has acted
in any way as Le should not" remarked the
young lady, warmly.
He's chestin' william" replied Joe in
dignantly.
You don't know him !; he's nothing Of the
kind"
+" It's you that don't know him; but you
will, beforelong. I've been deceived, and aint
afraid to say so" continued he, sDatching up
his hat; it's the money he pretends to have
that's lost me q wife but when Won want to
touch it, just as like as not you won't be able" !"
He rushed from the house as he uttered
these words, and hurried homeward. He
found his mother still up, and was eagerly in
terrogated by her as to the luck he had met
with. He told her all and little coincidence
WAS she enabled to offer him return.
For two Or three days following, Joe Chick