The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-02-18

heavy tread that it was man, and !
could feel my heart leap to my throat in
the excitement of the moment. The same
face I expected to see glanced IN at the
door, and Mr.. John Hughes advanced
towards me. Fortifying myself with the
dignity belonging to school mistress, I
arose, and said quite calmly:
"Good morning, Mr.. Hughes"
Yes, yes, good morning, Miss Kath-
eryne. Ahem |" and my visitor walked
TO the middle of the room. I proffered
him the arm chair, and he sat down, re-
moving his straw hat, while like sullen
culprit 1 stood there waiting for him TO
speak. AT last he began
"Well, Miss Katherine, heard from
the children that you've been having a
time with my Johnnie %
An inclination of my head was all the
answer l gave, for | did not like to speak
yet, and he resumed:
Ahem-I know Johnny is poster
some boy-but somehow I've always
made it point not to whip him. Gen
orally speaking don't believe in whip
ping"
He paused inquiringly, and said,
"Well."
Don't speak SO short, Miss Kather-
inc, am not going TO blame you at all.
The fact is. / am glad you have govern
ed the boy for it is the first time his will
was ever broke" Mr. Hughes looked
very closely at me, and then went on
How old are you, Katherine %
Nineteen" I replied in surprise.
Can you make good bread ?"
II believe so." My surprise was
deepened, but my companion took no
notice of it.
Can you figure up the interest on
notes at twelve per cent ?"
Yes, SIR"
DO you like furbelows and hounces
well enough to launch into debt and ex-
travagance for them %
81 never wear founces," was my reply.
"Well. you'll do-yes, yes, you'll
do. Hold minute, though. Have you
got settled beau % asked Mr.. Hughes.
This last question completely upset
my gravity, and as answered in the neg
ative could not restrain my laughter.
All right all right !" and Mr.. John
Hughes rubbed his hands together very
joyously. NOW, then, my good Kath-
crime, the way you have managed the af-
fair with Johnny made me think you was
woman of spirit, and find, by ques,
tioning, that you come up to my stand
point of wifely goodness. So just say
when we shall be married."
Mercy, Mr.. Hughes !" calculated 1.
in dismay: Are you crazy ?"
He smiled with complacent ease
"Quite surprise for you, Katheryne. l
don't wonder you thought l was not in
earnest. but can tell you l never joke
about such things. What do you say %
What could l say l stammered out
some sort OF sentence that only served to
render my vexation and embarrassment
more perplexing. for Mr.. Hughes remar-
ked, soothingly:
" You need mt feel so bashful, Kather-
inc. 1t is not loo good to be true, though
suppose you thought, with that red
hair and freckled face Of yours, no one
would marry you but stranger things
than that are happening every day"
was aroused now, and spoke with in
dignation
i" You misunderstood me, Mr.. Hugh.
es. Indeed you do. l do not wish to
marry you"
He arose and gazed at me in kind Of
| blank wonder.
I" Are you in earnest ?" he asked
Never was more So" returned |.
"Well. well, Katheryne, you are sim
pie girl, to refuse my offer. But do as
you like about it. don't want to com
pei any woman to marry me. You may
think differently one Of these days, and
il you do, just send me word by Johnny
Good day"
And he left the room quite as tran.
gully as he had catered it.
looked around me to be certain tha,
he was gone. and then sat down, burst,
ing into convulsive fit of laughter.
/ Ny first lover In spite of my home
illness | had woven world of romance
about him, and the reality seemed more
ludicrous when contrasted with the pic
lures Of my imagination.
Mr.. John Hughes is still living and