Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1860-03-03
How Pruasnee ovsrrsaehsa It.,IG.
BY cArHFnISF R. sILLmM.


CHAPTER l.
Mr.. JACOB HoLLlsTER was bachelor OF
forty.iye. Now when gentlemen have
reached that age without taking on them
selves the yoke matrimonial, the case is
generally regarded as desperate yet nei-
tber Mr.. Holister nor his lady acquaintance
so viewed it. In the first place, he was
still very goodlooking portly, erect dig
nlhed courteous in manner unexceptlon-
able in the blackness and gossiness of his
attire and best of all, provided with that
charm, which, taking everything into con-
sideration, is best adapted to win and re-
tain the affections Of maid or widow-n
full purse, whose contents he dispensed With
liberal hand No wonder the feminine pop
ulation of Baldwin was very, very 10th to
rclinquish hope of him. On his own part,
Mr.. HOLSTER Ivy no means purposed going
to the end of his days in state Of single
blessedness. When young man, begin
ming the world with nothing lie had defer
red the thought of marriage till he should
be able to keep wife in comfort and
when that time arrived he had become so
prudent, so fearful of being duped, that he
hesitated to commit himself lie was much
in ladies' society, and very welcome there ;
occasionally he devoted himself to some
fair one in particular, but the faintest jest
on the subject the least show of a hint
that his attentions were noticed, and 10 ,!
he was Of the autipodes For the rest,
Mr.. Hollister was perfectly good-tempt Fed,
though rather severe in his Judgment of
some matters little too much disposed,
thought his best friends, to make bis own
opinion the law for Others a tfife too
prompt and lavish 10 Offering advice which
nobody wanted to hear. But he was hon
orabIe ; true Christian, a most thorough
friend and none doubted that his wife,
when he should choose one, would be a very
happy woman.
AT last, however, his attention was
caught by one whom all regarded as likely
to bring him to the point, aud make him a
joyful Benedict. Miss Sarah Norris for
such was her name, was a pretty, gentle
looking girl Of twenty-three or four she
dressed with good taste, was amiable in
disposing, and neat in habits moreover,
sic belonged to the same church with our
friend, and made herself very useful in the
Sunday School, the choir, and all society"
matters "Just the woman for him." said
every one, except those who wanted him
for themselves and for time it seemed
that Mr. Holister thought so too. lie
talked much with Miss Norris ut parties,
he called frequently at her fathers house :;
he drove her out in that sweet little car
ringe, which was the admiration of all
Baldwin. But suddenly his attention slack
ened he scarcely saw Miss Norris except
by accident lie took Catherine Carter
and Loo Simmons out to ride and gossip
WIS on the gui rare to know what could
possibly be the matter Poor, Sarah, too,
had her own sad surmiSes as to the cause
of such singular conduct she allowed a
very kind feeling toward the recreant ia.
cob to take possession Of her gentle little
heart and it panied her beyond meas
to find herself thus deserted without fault
or explanation. But, of course, she was
powerless to remedy the evil ; SIZE could
only hope and wait.
Now Mr.. lolister had friend, young
man, some twenty years his junior, for
whose opinion and advice he had great
esteem and this friend having recently
matrimouy on his own score,
and finding his account therein, was natur-
ally anxious to place his friend in the en-
joymcnt of the same happiness as himself
He had frequently demonstrated and adyi-
sed, but now he took the liberty to rebuke.
Il can tell you one thing, Jacob" he
said, the way you are treating Sarah Nor
ris is little too bad for anything. If it
were done by regular frt like John Back
ers or Peter Van Schoonoven, it would be
all in character but for You. man Of
your age, u man of religious principle, the
fact is, it's shameful ?
Mr.. Holster blushed like q maid of
seventeen. why, Hobart, said he, seems
to me you are rather severe / am sure
| wish Miss Norris every happiness
would do anything in the world for her.
Except marry her, which is the only
thing you are wanted to do
Mr.. HOLSTERS bushes became more
crimson. Marry her he repeated Il
don't know that she would have me-
And what business have you to know
till YOU have asked her 2 Do you suppose
l knew when | spoke to Helen 4? | can
tell you l expected nothing short of
downright refusal but she took me, and
you see for yourself how happy we are !
And You may do just the same, if you like;
she has given you all the encouragement
consistent with delicacy. l am not her
confident of course, but believe the game
is in your own hands, aud / say, Go in aud
win =
Mr.. Hollster did not at once respond to
the friendly outburst His words, when he
did speak, we're Of rather deprecotory
nature.
You see, Hobart he observed, Il don't
feel entirely certain Of her character she
seems amiable, to be sure, but then | can't
tell how she may be when there is nobody
by. Then she always looks neat, but, when
ever see her, she is either in company, or
might reasonably be expecting it. can't
secrete myself in the house and see how
she behaves with her mother and the child.
rem, or how she dresses at breakfast aud
how am / to know 2
How, indeed p said Hobart. The
truth is, Mr.. Jacob HOLSTER, you are
little to exacting in your demands. Your
wife must be pretty
We'll, yes am a great admirer of
beauty