The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1860-01-11

ihe least romance in marrying ones cou
SIN, especially such u scousin as John Pc
ters of Baltimore
Here Bella laid her pretty white hand
on Johns arm and said, Blu, you dom,
care tor me; OF course you wouldn't like
to be married to please me. don't blame
you either. but wouldn't marry nv cou,
SIN John if could help it
ON the c"ntrary,' criel John, claspinr
the little hand warmly, Il would give the
world for that privilege
Then lOu must promise me TO keen
still and let the matter rest as it is. You
will, won't Won 2
Most certainly answered John, if it
please yon. should be brute to ob.
Ject, shoudn'tIr
On his return. and to his no little de
hight, Mr.. Meirs found Bella deeply inter
esled in cousin John.
i thought YOU would como round
sald he. These girls are ALWAYS perverse
"hen their lovers are on; Of sight, but
might, warm hearted and agreeable when
they have got together. Howbei,, fan,
cy there is slight reign OF duplc,y in
the best f them, do
% no, papa, you should not be so has
ty IN your conclusions, for hav'ut told
you All along that cousin Johns hair was
red, and that my principal objection was
based upon that fact. But you see there
Is sight mistake somewhere, for his
hair (pointing to our her"'s) is quite dark
and glossy. | must readily confess, papa,
TIA, like John very much; a great deal
better than | expected. do indeed !
'Th"u. SAID Mr.. Meirs, exulrinyly, If |
were IN Jnhu's place, would Just take
the ,he''y To strike "h,ie the iron is hot
There is nothing gained bv delays, and
hence !"n might lie rs far of the handle
AS YOU were week ago
90 nM | am not so tickle but will
leave tie whole matter 10 YOU and Juhu.
Whatever he and you think proper,
will submit to-
There. G"Ila, YOU talk like a sensible
SIrI, cried Mr.. Melrs. :. like Your resolu
uon. There is nothing so rare in this
world ~ II sensible girl At Your time of
life. JOHN is no kp or prohgaue he
VIII 'ook /" your interest and, believe,
viii be worthy Of you. As for the wed.
ding 1t shall he left with YOU to say
Bella |, willing, and | can see nothing a,
all to prevent It's taking place right away
/" say ihnt our hero WAS perfectly un.
affected 10y those remarks, would be pre-
sulEng TOO much.
! thnk whatever YOU think proper
SAID John. Any arrangement agreeable
TO yon "it' be equally So 10 me. | have
great stf"cti"n tor Miss Melrs, and if |
can he So far forgiven for my presump
lion, may safely say, tha, to be the
husbnni Of your daughter this moment,
or AT ANY future time, would be TO me
the choicest gift Heaven could he,tow.'
Very sensible remarks, said Mr.. News
! JoyfulIy, and as YOU are obIiginr enough
to leave he whole matter to my direction
shall sy - week from Friday, that be.
ing the day on which had first antici.
pated your coming. This will give Bella
ample time "r all necessary preparations
and You 'lS", To apprlse your father and
such other friends 10 Baltimore as you
propose To invite
III | may lie allowed my preference in
this respect answered our hero, elnncinp
at Bella for encouragement, i would
rather not mention it TO my father and
friends until afterwards, and would thus
give them an agreeable surprise. In fact,
before | saw you this morning, bad no,
: even dreamed OF such sudden good for
| tune
And besides, said Bella, certainly,
your father might not feel much like
jOurneying so soon after An attack Of
gout. As for me, | would great deal
rather give the money away which would
| he spent on such an occasion TO some Of
| the poor familres who are starving 10 this
city,
'Nobiy spoken = cried Mr.. Meirs, with
/ enthusiasm, aud glsncing at Bella with a
world Of pride and affection. 'NobIy
| spoken, my daughter. With such pru
( dence AID such charitable feelings, YOU
will make your cousin John a pattern
wife. heartily agree with you in this
respect, and you shall have it aIl your
own way'
Our hero, who, in truth, independent, Of
the charms OF her person, had looked
! upon Bella as somewhat frivolous, was
| equally charmed by her remark, and,
| had the occasion warranted it, would
have pressed kiss ot appreciation upon
her lips.
During the time which had elapsed
between this aud the day set for the
marriage Of his daughter, Mr.. Me,rs
seemed overflowing with good humor
and enjoyment. lie made several pres.
ents 10 the poor people Of his acquain.
tance, and even gave Bella the sum Of
five hundred dollars, to be used, II she
chose, for the same purpose.
! In the meantime, our hero was living
in the greatest intimacy with Bella
Every day they walked, rode, or sung to.
gether, while the merchant looked on,
and entered into their plans with increas.
/ ing satisfaction.
At length the long anticipated Friday
arrived, and few chosen gnests we're as
/ aamhlad al tka resiIanca nf NJ Ma;xa A.