, 1859-02-11

"Just little bit; about as much as that, and
the rural coquctte measured of the first joint Of
her little finger as the amount Of her affection
for the ardent young mason. r.. ...f
"lts beginning, Lima. II will be the whole
hand soon;" and John looked not dissatisfied.
"Don't be over sure, John. Didn't tell you
I'd no thoughts Of marrying yetr o, it's dull,
ever 50 dull, to get married when ones young !"
and the lively maiden lifted up her hands in hor-
riicd depreciation of such weariful fate Johns
countenance fell.
"But not II you like me, Lina9" insinuated he,
impvisoning the little hand again; "don't be un.
kind" ...... .
"I don't like you much, John, you know-you
are over old for me; do believe you're thirty,
at least!"
"Nay, Lima, I'm not so old as that neither. I'm
only eight-and-twenty;" replied John, earnestly.
And I'm cighteen-there's ten years between
US. No, no, John; you're too old, you're too
old!" and Mistress Lima shook her head, and look
cd seriously bewildering out Of her blue eyes.
81 always knew you were famous scholar,
Lima, but did not think you'd learnt ciphering
either;" said John with feigned surprise. A
clever little wife like you would be the making
Of me, you would, indeed. Why, If ever got
to be master builder, you could help me with
the books" -. -...t
"I hate books, and hate summing worse than
anythingl" retorted the perverse damsel, pouting
John looked down at her, half grieved and half
admiring. She looked pretticr than ever when
she vas rebellious. snow, Lima, that's just to
plagde me" said he; "as IL l were ot bad enough
without Just give me one smile before GO
here's your father coming"
ala, John, how silly you arci Well, Tn
going to Bartinglas feast on Thursday, and you
may go with me il you hke-does that please
youp John showed by his face that 1t did, and
then, as Lina's father reeled round the hedge, he
darted; for old Fernie was quarrelsome In his
cups with friend and foe, but especially with q
friend. a.. .a.T
CHAPTER II. ...-
To Bartinglas feast together went John and
Lima, it being generally understood now by the
friends and relatives Of both parties that they
were keeping company. But II John anticipated
that he should keep Lima to himself all that day
Of tho feast, he was woefully mistaken. The ad-
miration Of one was by no means sufficient to
satisfy her craving, and she gadded about from
place to place in search Of other acquaintance,
letting John see that he was Ear from necessary
to her. But his greatest grievance was, that
when It was decent time to 60 home, Lima an
nounced her determination to stay for dance
that was to take place in the long room Of the
public house. John was not q frcquenter of
public houses, and the idea that Lima should
wish to enter such place, and Join in such rev
elry as these rustic dances are, equally mortified
and astonished him. He demonstrated and she
poutcd; she said ho might GO homo and she
would return with her cousins; but to this he
would not agree, and the end was that Lima ca
pered through halEa-dozen fresh partners, while
John propped his back sulkily against the white
i,cl and lnNk0I an Asoaa,ukoI H.
had broken with her that night, as she tried her
utmost to make him do, It would have been all
the better for him; but John was infatuated;
and, though It hurt him to see his mothers
grieved aud angry face when he told her the
reason Of his late return from tho feast still he
would not listen to single word said in dispar-
agcment Of Lima, and he would have bitten out
his tongue rather than utter one. 20 ai
From that evening at Dartinglas poor John
mover had happy hour again, never q days
peace or ease Of mind. Though Lima soon after
pledged him her word that she would marry him
in the lall Of tho year, she could not resist the
often recurring temptation 10 exercise her at
traction on other young men; and as John was
naturally Of q. sudden and violent or rather
jealous temper, her conduct tried him severely,
In vain he cxpostulated, in vain he reasoned, in
vain he pleaded; Lima would only pout her, dis
satisfaction at his lectures, and ten him Il he
did not like her he was free 10 leave her; but
poor John felt to his sorrow that he was less free
than ever His modification and disappointment
had wretched effect ON his temper; he became
morose and irritable, even to his mother, and
with Lima herself high words be anne quite com
mon-rather, indeed, the rule than the exception
when they met .s1 aS be .lsiiq
Mrs. Harland, when she knew that her son
and Lima were really promised to each other,
made duty Of the necessity, and tried to know
her intended daughter.in.law better; but Lima
always showed her rcpulsive, unfriendly face,
and finally, the widow, losing all patience, gave
up the vain attempt and left her to her own do
vices. To one thing, however, she mado up her
mind, and that was, that she would not continue
to live in the cottage with her son when he
brought home Lima as his wife, and when the
time for the wedding drew near, she began to
mako preparations for retiring elsewhere. Lima
made no secret Of how glad this arrangement
made her, for she was aiTHid Of Mrs. Harland's
serious integrity; but John regretted his moth
er's resolution for many and good reasons
= l .l. CHAPTER Ill ay ,-lfaa#
It wanted but three weeks Of the day fixed
for the marriage, when John, going one evening
rather later than usual to the Fernies' cottage,
found seated there, in the, most friendly way,
converting with Lima, smart young clerk out for
a holiday, whom Lima told her lover she had
known at her aunts in London. Tho clerk was
a good Hooking, couccitcd young sprig, who, evil
IDENTIFY had a comfortable assurance Of his own
personal Attractions. lie called Lina, Linny,
and made hundrel illusions to past events and
amuScmcnts, while John sat by chatting and gal
ling at his impertinent familiarity, which Lima
had not any notion Of checking. To do the
young city clerk justice; he had no idea what.
ever that the ,ponderous young mason, who
was SO slow Of speech and heavy Of step, could
be wooer Of Linny, whom he thought Of scri.
ously for himself, and he gave him several broad
hints that his room would be more acceptable
than his company. But John stayed PcrscVer-