The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-10-02

this mark of preference"
"Oh, no thanks. As | was going to
say. you can tell at the end of fortnight |
whether you like her well enough to
propose"
"But, sir, she may not be favorably
impressed" !"
''Oh, I'll take care that she interposes
no obstacles. There, that's enough. You
can go. Remember that l give you a
fortnight to study her character in.
Young Jones left the room, feeling
that he had most delicate commission
to execute He had been much struck
with Emmas beauty and graceful bear
ing at the table, and rather exalted at
the thought of how much envy he would
excite among the young men, if he should
bring home so charming bride. Then,
too, his vanity was excited by the Cap
tain's communication and he thought
that it only depended upon his own will
to win and wear this beautiful rose.
Absorbed in an agreeable train of re-
Election he walked out into the garden.
There were two walks, separated by
hedge, but running parallel with each
other.
AS he was walking slowly along, he
heard the sound of a voice, evidently
excited.
Looking through the hedge, what was
his surprise to recognize in the speaker
the beautiful Emma, of whom he had just
been dreaming.
| She was scolding violently little girl,
of perhaps twelve years.
"You little wretch p screamed Emma,
didn't | tell you never to touch this rose
bush Didn't you know it was mine,
and was saving up the roses for par
ticular purpose?'
III forgot" said the girl putting
her apron to her eyes.
"Don't tell me-" said Emma sharply.
"Come here, you jade. There, take that !!
and that !-and that p administering
at each word blow.
ooh! oh! ohp' screamed the little
girl.
"Dout you scream so; they'll hear you
at the house. Aud don't you take anoth-
er rose from that bush, or I'll beat you
to jelly"
Good heaven - thought Hamilton,
who had been a concealed witness of the
scene; "who could imagine that one out
wardly so beautiful could have such tenn
per. She looked like fury, declare.
Emma, meanwhile, had gone into the
house.
The little girl sat down ON the grass
and covered her eyes with her apron
ooh, what temper Miss Emma has!"
she solloquized That's the third licken
shes given me this week"
"The third in Que week y repeated
Hamilton IN dismay; "who could have
imagined it 2"
He pursued his walk, with his ideas of
Emma somewhat changed-for the worse.
He could hardly identify her-when
he saw her at the dinner table, gentle,
self possessed, and to all appearances,
amiable, as the virago of the morning.
"I must have been dreaming" he tho't.
But the next day another scene trans
|
been only too real
The two parlors connected with folding
DOORS Ia the front parlor sat young
Jones with a book in his hand. The fold
ing. doors were so nearly closed that, while
all that was said in one room could be
heard in the other, scarcely anything
could be seen.
Hamilton heard the door of the back
parlor open, and some one enter. From
what afterward happened, he conjectured
that it was Emma and the little girl be-
fore alluded to.
"Where is Mr.. Jones, Clara?" asked
Emma, in her usual voice.
"He has gone out, Miss Emma"
"He has, has he Then, Miss, Id
like to know what you mean by not wa
tering my flowers this morning {"
IL did, Miss Emma"
"Dont tell me you did, you trollop
You're telling me falsehood Bring me
that stick"
"Oh. don't beat me, Miss Emma"
"Then don't deserve It,"
1-I didn't mean to
"Here followed several sounding slaps,
accompanied by shrieks from Clara,
Quite disgusted, young Jones took his
hat, and silently left the house.
"Before I'd marry such virago, I'd
I'd shoot myself One might as we'll
commit suicide as admit such fury in
to the house No wonder her father
wished to get her married off. He was
very kind upon my word, to offer her to
me. | won't stay the fortnight out. I'll
tell him this very night that cant mar
ry her."