Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1860-06-30
THE Lucky PREDICTIONS.
BY CAROLINE b. PRESTON.

John Wayman was over head and ears
in love with Annie Grafton, an attach.
ment which Annie was not unwilling to
receive. So far, everything seemed prosps.
rous and plain sailing, but-my dear
reader. did you ever know more detesti
BILE conjunction than that "but 2''lrWe ell
the but in this. particular case was tha,
the widow Grafton, who sustained the ma.
terial relation to Annie, had very decid
ed objection to John as son in law. Not
that she disliked the young man. She ad.
mitted that he was steady. good locking,
of an amiable disposition, and all that
but he was poor. He learned the 'rade Of
carpenter, and though he made fair
wages, had thus far been called upon to
support two sisters, both Of whom are low
married and off his hands, and conse-
quently he had7 not been able to lay up
more than two hundred dollars or so,
Mrs. Grafton, on the contrary, was the
owner of valuable farm, and some mo :
ney in the bank, altogether no less than
two thousand dollars. This, in country
town, entitled her to one of the foremost
places among the village aristocracy, and
as Annie was her only daughter and wc a
inherit all the property eventually, she
felt that it would be q decided missalliance
for her to marry any other than a rir:,
man, or, if not rich, member Of one of
the learned professions. ....4 ~
So when John Wyman .yentursd to
broach the subject to her, she said. not
unkindly, but still very firmly, "No, Mr..
Wyman, cannot give my CONSENT
"Have you heard anything against my
character ?" asked John, in tone of great
disappointment. .' ." 9.'
"Not at all, said Mrs Grafton. 'I be
lieve you 70 be very correct and estima-
Bile young man, but Annie is entitled to
look higher" .'S' s@ f
That is what Mrs. Grafton said, in sub
stance, in response to every appeal the
young man made, and he was finally oblig
ed to retire from the conference in despair.
But where mans wisdom fails nan
wit often steps in and ayails much.
When Annie heard from her lover the
report Of his conference, she leaned her
head on heI dimpled hand aud said with
smile .--. .......
I've won't give up"
what! do you really think you can
bring your mother round p said John,
eagerly. -.~-
Il have strong hopes. know my moth
er better than you do. John and | can ar
range some way or other to manage her
| don't exactly see yet, but III set myself
thinking, and guess something or 9th
sr will turn up ..... ....s.,-
"3ut If there shouldn't Annie, do you
thiLk it right that that should separate us :?
Won't you promise to be mine at any
rate 2"
mo, John, | won't promise to do that
| should not want 10 leave my mother
alone.' "".l e5.F'L
"Then am afraid" said John despond
ingly, that there is no hope for US
"Fie, John, do you mistrust my power
said Annie, shaking her head at him 'If
that's the case, I've a great mind TO say
won't marry you, even if mother does
consent"
Anything but that Annie, but you
know when your mother once gets her
mnd made up about anything, she isn't
apt to give up very easily
II know that my mother has some
strong points OF character, and it is one Of
these that rel y upon for success. won't
tell yon anything about it just yet, but I'll
let you know before it comes off.
With this agreement the two separated
John not knowing whether to hope or
despond, but he felt that if ever Annie be.
came his wife it must be through the re-
suit of her stratagem.