Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-02-02

This was in old coaching days, when
man had time to make an acquaintance in
forty miles. not a. now, when yon are st
your journeys end before you have looked
round your company in railway carriage.
ibere were hut two insiders myself and q
pleasant, laxative, honest faced elderly
gentleman. Shy and timid in female so.
ciety' J wbs yet es,etmad, animated and
ngreeable enough am ngs, my own sex -
we had no trouble, ther, fjre, in making
ourselves agreeable enongh t, one another:
so much So, that os the coach approached
G-, and the old gentleman learned that I
meant to stop there that night, he asked me
to waive ceremony ana have cup OF tea
With him after had dined at nv hotel. NV
"ia'r engagement" was not till the next day
and, as liked the old gentleman, | accept.
ed his Offer.
After my pint Of she'ry.I brushed my
mar and went in search Of my coach com
panIon and ny promised cup of tea. | had
no dIiiiculy ia finding him out, fer he was
nan OF substance aud some Importance in
the place. | was shown Into the drawing.
room. BY old friend received me heartily,
and introduced me to his wife and FIVE
daughters. "All spinsteTs," said he, "young
ladies' whom an undiscrimnating world
seems disposed 10 leave upon my hapds"
"li we don't sell, papa" said the edsst.
VINO With her sisters seemed TO reflect her
fathers fun, at is not for want of putting,
lor all your, ,in;roductions are advertisements
AZ the mention Of the last word, | felt a
little discoinposed, and almos, regretted nv
engagement tor the neg, daf, when that very
night, perhaps, my Providential opportunity
had arrived.
l need.n trouble my readers with all our
sayings and coings during tea, suffice it 10
say that found them very pleasant, ,friend-
y family, and was surprised to find forgot
all shyness and timidity, encouraged by their
good tempered ease and conversation. They
did no. enquire whether was married or
single, for where there were five young un.
mated daughters, the question might seem
in'idious. |, however, in the freedom Of
the moment, VOLUNTEERED the informntion Of
my be'orhood; thought had no SOON
er communicated the fact than the girls
passed round glance Of arch intelligence
from one to the other. I rannot tell you
how odd felt at the moment. Nv sensa.
tons were between pleasure and confusion.
as suspicion crossed my mind, an d helped,
iet, TO color my check. Presently, however.
the eldest with on assumed Indifference
which cost her an effort, asked where / was
staying.
sat the - hotel,'' I answered with
some embarrassment.
1t was with difficulty they restrained a
laugh; they bi, their lips, and had no lon.
ger suspicion-l was certain. SO, after
having some music, when arose to depart
| mustered courage, as IBID them good bye,
to say aside the eldest.
"Shall p. p. consider this he interview l"
A blush OF conscious guilt, | should rath.
er say innocence, told me had sen. my
random arrow 10 the right quarter; so
pressed the matter no further at tha: mo-
ment. but did her hand.
remained at my hotel ne,, day, until an
hour after the appointed time, but no cne
made their appearance. "Then." thought |
brushing my hair and adjusting my cravat. +.
"snce the mountain will not come to Ma
homet, Mahomet must 90 to the mountain"
SO walked across to my old friends. The
young ladies were all in. The eldest was
engaged with some embroidery al the win
dow had therefore and opportunity, as
lent over the frame to whisper:
IS. 5. is not punctual."
The crimson in her face and neck was
now so deep that skeptic hims self would no
longer doubt. need say no more; that
evening in her fathers garden, she confess
ed that she and her sisters had conspired to
bring me up TO C. on FOOLS errand.
never meaning, Of course, to keep the en-.
gagement.
Then said !, "snce you d signed TO
take me in, You must consent to make me
happym
"And what did she say, papa," asks my
second daughter, who is now looking over
my shoulder as write.
WHY, you little goose, che promised to
be your mamma, and she has kept her word."
A JUVENILE OPEY-AIR PRAYER MErrrss |