The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1862-04-12

mousse ]! SAID the widow, rising from her
seat with solemn air.
sAh, indeed r. returned the Squire,
quite mystifed, but shaking his head and
assuming very wise and grave look.
As the reader will readily conclude,
they did not extend very warm welcome
to the young man as he entered the door.
But seemingly unconscious Of this, he
bowed afably to Mrs. Allen, and address
ed the Squire with polite
"Good evening, sir"
~ trust that l am not intruding," he
added, with mischievous twinkle in his
eye, as the widow made no reply, but stood
regarding him with no very amiable as
pect.
GAS | observed you, while walking up
the lane, I Judged you to be having some
very interesting conversation"
'Indeed but you are, ther as you very
well know" retorted the Widow Allen,
indignant at what she inwardly termed
CHS impudence." didn't you receive a
letter from me yesterday ?''
"Certainly, madam, and assure you
that have lost no time in obeying your
command"
81 don't know what you mean, sir,"
said Mrs. Allen, still more angrily; sbut
if you call this joke, let me tell you that
it is a very poor one. Didn't l, in that
letter, request you to abstain from visiting
at my house! Answer me thatW
81 believe there was something of the
sort in the fore-part Of the letter, and if you
will insist upon it, will never call here
again. But had hoped, as your so,s-is-
lao, to have met with kinder reception"
"My son-in-law?" almost screamed the
widow. "You don't mean to say that
you've gone and married my daughter?'
II mean to say, madam" replied Fred,
quietly, Shat I have done as you request
me to do in that letter, which amounts to
the same thing"
81 said nothing in my letter about your
marrying Jenny" quoth Mrs. Allen, in
Amusement. off did, 1 will" l
.You will forgive us, dear mamma"
said Jenny, softly, drawing nearer, and
turning her fearful eyes to her mothers
face.
81 shall, of course, have nothing to for
give" said her mother, little more calm
ly. "But know that wrote nothing Of
the sort"
"This is the letter, I believe" said Fred,
taking it out of his pocket and handing it
to her.
The widow took it and read it over care
fully.
eyes," she said, this is my letter, GER
tainly; shut be good enough to point out
where / give either command or consent to
your marriage with my daughter"
Fred laid his fore-fnger upon the con-
Guiding line.
Now Mrs. Aliens name was Mary
Mary Jane Allen-and she had inadvert-
emily in signing the letter, written the
first name with two rs, which the reader
will perceive gives it quite another mean
ling.
The good lady looked at it for a mo.
ment, and then colored, and bit her lips
with vexation.
every good y she stammered; ssbut
you must have known--you could not but
see that it was simply mistake"
"My dear madam" said Fred, blandly,
show could I for one moment suppose that
lady Of your requirements would make
such mistake as that?p ss
The widow looked slightly Modified at
this reply; but how the battle would have
turned out is doubtful, bad not Squire
Jones, moved with pity st the evident dis.
tress upon Jenny's countenance, stepped
forward and said:
ssYou must not be too hard with the
young folks, Mrs. Allen especially as
4 what is done can't be undone. We were
once young ourselves, you know. And
not SO old now but what
Here he added something ID an under
tone, so low as to be inaudible 70 the rest
Of the party. What ID was We are unable
to say, but il could not have been any.
thing very displeasing, for the widow
blushed and looked very smiling.
Then turning TO the young couplc she
said, vainly endeavoring to assume . gray
! ity betting the OCCASION Il
Well, as Squire Jones Is 50 good as y
lintercede for you, which Is far more than
you deserve, I viii say notkpcs more
about il; though T must considsf e 70 bel
most unlocked for ed singular proceed
However that might b, quite q singu
lar one occurred not many weeks liter
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