The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-06-13


dom not to waste feeling on such uude-
serving objects as little mistakes and ia
cidents"
The unaffected kindness Of her tone and
manner went to poor Ralph's heart, and
as we often feel more gratitude for little
fayors than for great ones, he felt that her
beauty WAS the least of he's charms, for it
was only the trans parent veil through
which shone her true womaniy nature in
all its loveliness. As he again rose to go,
she extended her hand towards him he
took it in his own, and bowing his head
was on the point of imprinting kiss up
on the white tapering fingers, when the
door suddenly opened, and Mr. Harton
entered. Isabella hastily withdrew her
hand, and coloring deeply, said to her
father:
Let me introduce you to Mr. Barker,
papa"
The large, stout gentleman advanced,
and Offering his hand, said, with a pene.
trating glance in the young mans face !:
Il am always glad to welcome my
dangter's friends; how do you do, Mr.
Ban kerr"
Ralph stammered out something about
the weather, and was evidently in no lit
tie confusion when Isabella came to his
rescue, and said, with quiet selfpossession:
Mr.. Barker found my handkerchief
in the street, papa, and was SO kind as TO
come on purpose to restore it. | feel
very much obliged to him, indeed, for his
/ pollteGess."
=" Barker, Barker" said Mr. Harton re-
peatIng the name abs.ractedly, (he say
there was embarrassment on both sides,
and having unlimited confidence in his
/ daughter, wished to extricate them frem
it, } IAN old schoolfelIo8 Of mine was nau,-
ed Barker-Ralph James Barker. Per-
haps vou are relation Of his, sir +? "
That was my fathers name, sir. Fan
swered Ralph. internally thanking the old
gentleman for his tact " but he died sew
eral years ago"
Then Hpon my word" said Mr.. Uar-
ton, warmly; it's the loekiest chance in
the world that brought YOU here, Mr. Bar
ker. Your father and were old friends
of long standing, and for years after we
CORES ponded together bat when, he went
to Calcutta, suddenly ceased to hear
from him. You must stop and line with
us this evening; have q hundred ques-
tions to ask. might have known you
were Ralph's son." he added, looking in
the young mans face, "sane eyes, same
hair, same everything. Wen, we'll, it viii
be any turn next"
And with these words the old gentle.
man left the room.
The two young folks remained in 81
lence for some time; Ralph at last broke
the silence, by saying:
May | consider that have Miss Har-
tons permission to remain, as well as her
fathers 2"
shall always welcome my fathers
friends" she answered, evasively, and Il
little distantly, adding in a more cordial
tone, =" AN sue nothing has happened
TO make your visit other than acceptable.
Besides" she continued, little mi,chiev-
ou>ly, "when you next cali, you may as
well bring ny handkerchief yourself, in
stead Of sending it."
Having thus seen our hero fairly launch
ed on " tae cG,,rsc Of true love" we will
hope that it "it ran, smooth" for the fu-
ture, an-l taat the little fiPples at its com
nencement were not prophetic of-&Sbse
quent matrimonial storms. One thing is
certain, and that is, that about a year at
ger, the Times contained the following
notice:
'May H. at St. Matthew's, Bri1ton, by the
Rev. Alfred Coupler, d. D., RALPH BAsKER,
Esq of the Middle Temple, to Isabella, daugh
ter of Frederick Harton, Esq of Bushy Hill,
Brxton."
It may be interesting to add that
Ralph's groomsman on tEe occasion was
'!r Henry Livingstone; aud after the
ceremony was over be vas heard to whls
per in the bride groom's ear
say, Ralph, if you find any more
handkeycbiefs. send ne one, will YOU z }"