The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-01-08
Sixty and Sixteen.

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fore his mirror busiIy engaged in the
adjustment of his neck cloth.
"Confonnd this neckerchief!" he ex.
claimed, giving it pull this way and
a twitch that. ''Jim, what's the reason
my neck rigging won't set as trinity as
yours? You young chaps have a
llnack that | somehow can't get the
hang of, about dress"
81 am sure can't account for it,
uncle" laughed handsome youth
about twenty. "Perhaps it's something
incident to youth, like scarlet fever, or
falling in love!''
'That's just it, jim! The fact is
now let me catch you laughing if you
dare, you young rogue-I'm going to
be married"
"Gong 10 be married, uncle - ex-
claimed James Ashley, in open-eyed
astonishment. 81 never dreamed of
itl'
"IIow should you, when you only ar
rived yesterday from years. absence,
in Europe? Pm goin to call on her
this morning, Jim-come with me, and
be introduced TO the sweetest sixteen
alive"
"Only sixteen do You say, uncle ?"
Don't look SO Mortified, Jim-of
cnurse | don't expect her to be desper-
.ttly in love with an old codger like
ne-tliai would be unreasonable. But
she'll make me q sweet dutifu little
wife, and there's no use in talking
i can only say one thing; the Lord
leal with me as l shall deal with the
child"
The old man lifted his hands rcver-
emily toward heaven as he spoke.
Josephine Glare was sitting among
heE flowers in sunshine, blonde and
golden haired, with blue eyes, and a
delicate little mouth, tinted with the
softest crimson. One tiny dimple cleft
her round chin, and the peachy bloom
upon her cheeks was such as comes
only to sixteen. No wonder Gen. St.
Aubyn lost his heart to the wonderous
lly beautiful child-itmus: have been all
iron sort of machine if he hadn't.
Sfe rose with varying color to meet
her fine old lover as he entered.
"Josie," he said cheerily,' after the
words of salutation had been ex
changed, 81 am not alone to-day; lei
me introduce my nephew, James Ash
ley"
Josephine lifted her blue eyes to the
strangers face for the first time with 8
wild, terrified gaze-the peach blossom
red faded from her check, and the first
Gen. St. Aubyn knew she tainted ii
; his arrnsl
"What's the matter?" stammeref
, the veteran in breathless terror. "Is
she dead? is she dying? For heaven
) sake get some cold water. Open the
windows somebody-bring burntfeath
,, ersr
"Do lay the poor child down, Gene
] r,ln exclaimed Miss Betsy Clare, JOS
. ephine's maiden aunt, who rushed in al
5 this iuncture "Don't hold her e
tight. There now, she's comm rouno
all right, don't you see p
The Gederal looked on admirably
all his military tactics seemed a
nothing to the deftness with which
Miss Betsy managed matters.
} "What could have made you faint
my love % he asked, when she wa
smiling again.
81 don't know" she murmured ''i
was thc-heat, l suppose 20
"And where's Jim 2" asked the per
picked warrior.
eff you mean that tall young shay
er," struck in Miss Betsy, She's gon
= home like fellow O. sense, SEEM h
couldn't be o. no use here"
S. seen. St. Aubyn," said Josephine
:, ~ IN very low voice, 81 know you WI
1s q, think me q silly little goose, but pleas
s; don't bring that young man her
IS again."
= sJosephine, my one loye, why not
sBecause-because-," faltered II
: girl, playing with his watch chain, an
ny hiding her flushed face against b