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

ry Gray to his friend Sedley, the following
evening, as the latter crushed in his hand,
with an ejaculation Of impotence, note
that he had just been reading "What on
earth makes you look SO blue ?"
"Matter enough" responded Fred, rue
fully. "This morning the, Widow Allen
refused her consent to my marriage with
Jenny, and now here is note from her
ladyship, politely requesting me to abstain
from visiting Ashburne Cottage. The
fact is, she is determined to marry poor
Jenny to Squire Jones, who is old enough
to be her father. She never appeared to
have any objection to my visits until he
commenced going there. I wish, in the
name of common sense, that he would take
the mother and leave me the daughter"
every likely he had some choice in the
matter as we'll as yourself" said Harry,
drily, "but let us see what this precious
missive says. According to Shakespeare,
the course of true love never did run
smooth" he added, as he ran his eyes
carelessly over its contents. AS he reach
ed its concluding line, he burst into a
laugh. 81 don't see how you can ask
more than this" he exclaimed; shere you
have not only her consent but her COM
mand down in black and white"
"What doyo mean, Harry, ''said Fred,
getting up and looking over his shoulder.
Harry pointed to the signature. Fred
looked at it moment as if puzzled, and
then he brought his hand down heavily
upon the table. t!I'll do it'll" he exclaim-
ed. "She shan't complain Of me upon
that score"
We will explain the meaning of these
words anon, or rather let the story explain
itself.
stDear me p said the Widow Allen, the
next day, as she looked out of the window,
off there isn't Squire Jones coming up
the lane. I shouldn't wonder if he was
coming here Where is jenny Kitty"
she said, addressing the maid servant, edo
you know where Miss Jenny is?"
"She is gone out to take walk, mum.
She told me if you inquired for her to tell
you she'd be back in the course Of an
hour"
By this time Squire Jones was at the
door. The widow received him with her
sweetest smiles, and, when she chose, she
could smile so very sweetly. Squire Jones
looked rather nonplussed when he found
that Jenny was out, for it happened
number Of times of late, but finally con-
Guided to accept Mrs. Aliens invitation
to take seat and wait for her return.
Squire Jones could not have been far
from fifty, but his simple and temperate
habits, together with naturally cheerful
and placid disposition, made him look con-
siderably younger. He was not, it is true,
exactly the beau ideal of a young girls
heart; still he was a fine, portly looking
man, and the Widow Allen evidently
thought SO. Ard as the Squire leaned
back in the easy chair that the widow had
placed for him near the open window, and
looked at the plump, tidy figure that sat
opposite him, with her hair banded
smoothly across the forehead that looked
as fair and placid as in the days Of her
childhood, he could not help thinking that
the widow was still a pretty looking won,
an, and that her late husband must have
been a very happy man.
"The last time I saw your daughter,
Mrs. Allen, | veptured to introduce the
subject which / mentioned the other day,
but [ am sorry to say that she did not
give it the attention that its importance
demands Indeed, if I may judge from
her appearance, she seemed to consider it
in the light of joke"
The widow looked annoyed, for she had
set her heart upon Jenny's being the mis-
tress Of the new and beautiful mansion
that the Squire had just erected.
Jenny is but foolish child" she said
hastily, "and knows no more what is for
her true interest than a babyi After /
have talked with her, she will view your
proposal in very different light"
IA What this conversation would have led
| 70, it is impossible to say, for just at this
moment Mrs. Allen, happening to glance
out of the window, uttered an ejaculation
Iof surprise and anger. Squire Jones, fol-
lowing the direction of her eyes, looked
out too, but discovered nothing very alarm
ling, merely . Young and very handsome
looking couple coming slowly up the gar
lden walk. It was Fred and Jenny.
ssW hat assurance!n exclaimed bis com
lpanion, the very bows upon her cap assu-
ming q defiant air.
Squire Jones. seeing Mrs. Allen look
sd ndignant, did SO too, though he hardly
knew what for