Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-11-10


open door alone vainly cndeavorinr to dis
engage the little ccquettish whip-chain
which had by chance become wrapped
around the buttons of my habit-sleeve A.
| extended my hand to him he sprang quick
" TO do my bidding; and while his head wa'
bent over the troublesome tangle-to hin
"a labor of love"-I could not help admir-
ing the rich masses of curls that fell in care
less negligence over his brow: but then he
was plain Cousin Matthew Bates, whom
would never marry; and the recollection o
some tender words and looks which had es
capped him during the ride determined me
upon putting in execution my generous re-
solve. Thercupon | spoke. told him, with
u well-affected air of confidence, that had
that morning, through my father, refused
young Campbell. He trembled; and, by my
Psyche glass, which stood near, could sec
his round face crmsoncd with bushes
With sensible, womanly air | continued
] told him of my firm belief that never
would marry, and pictured forth our future
as brother and sister soothing the declining
days Of my father; that / had never yet met
with one to love as | would wish to love my
husband; and concluded with saving. that
even if never should marry, ] anticipated
much quiet happiness in his friendship and
the sisterly regard felt for him, united to
my fathers tender care. lie almost gasped
for BREATH while | sclf-complacently admir-
ed the ''woman-of.the world" manner in
which had, as | imagined, placed each
other III proper position. He dropped the
cham, still more hopelessly entangled, gazed
at me an instant i'll speechless anguish, and
then hurried from the room | felt annoveC
--vexed beyond measure. Thus, when
: thought to have arranged the affair so beau
tfuly, had but hastcned the catastrophe
Now he will 90 to my father" | ex
claimed, "and | shall be forced to MARI,
him y And, in a rage, | wrenched my
pretty whip from the chain, bringing witt
it buttons and chain, making sad rent il
my habitsleve. My maid, who Just ther
entered, wondered at my impatience.
complained Of fatigue; and hastily un-habit
ing threw myself on lounge, bade hel
close the curtains, and say that | wished tC
sleep. Cousin Matthew'S look Of deep sor
row. hovered before me, Notwithstanding my
feelings of determined resistance,
AT dinner he did not make his appear.
ance and | perceived Immediately. by nv
the affair. | missed him when | was hand
ed into my carriage by the footman in the
evening. ! missed his gratiGed look-hi,
expression Of admiration at my pretty cos
tune. The party was dull-though would
not attribute it to the right cause; and re,
turned home dissatisfied with myself and
blaming every one else. On my dressing
table l found a note; to my amazement, il
was from Cousin Mathew:
Il thank you, dear Ella for wishing tc
spare me the pain of an open rejection; but
with all your delicacy, dearest, the SUFFERING
is Just the same, ] have madly, wldl,
worshipped you and hoped that tho quiet
unobtrusiye devotion of years might at las
soften your heart towards me- But. no,
see evidently that it can never be. NY pres
ence annoys you, Ella; and, until / can re
gard you as a sister, you shall never b.
panied by the sight Of Cousin Matthew ~
This was unlocked for, and l must con
fess felt a little disappointed. l had pre-
pared myself for storms and resistance, but
not for this digni6ed, manly withdrawal
Cousin Matthew went up several degrees in
my esteem, and | found myself, towards
morning, after a sleeplcss night, questioning
whether had not acted little riotously, il
not selfishly and unt5elingy. But on the
whole it is better" said | ''for am sure !
never could marry Cousin Matthew. "
Cousin Matthew went abroad. A branch
of the house had been long established in
America, and to my father he represented
the urgent necessity of his presence there.
My poor father fretted and complained at
the prospect of losing his daily society
but it was of no avail He went, and en-
deavorcd to persuade myself that | was re-
| lieved
Years rolled by, and beheld me woman
of six nd-twenty, and still unmarried. =
! Offers after offers had been urged upon me,
but could not meet with the realization of
my beau tdcal Cousin Matthew constantly
returned to my mind, and | found myself
ack knowledging that he came nearer my fan
cy's image than any one | had ever met
with, and shrewdly suspected had acted
childishly and unwisely Time had deprived
me of many ofmy romantic notions I had
grown wiser as well as older The gaiety
and whirl of society palled upon me; and in
stead of being seen as formerly at every CAV
place of resort, | passed quietly from the
dining-room to the drawing room each day,
denied myself to general visitors, and when
my father joined me after his usual after
dinner lounge, | entertained him with sing
ing, reading, or talking, as Lady Grace says,
''soberly. We often heard from Cousin
Matthew. He still remained unmarried,
hutnever had visited his native country.
Latterly, his letters spoke of wish to see
us again and we were in expectation of a
short visit from him Report said he was
woolng and winning fair American girl.
My heart throbbed painfully when heard
it from strangers, and he was revenged to
the full by the bitter tears | shed at the re-
collection Of my folly, my absurd heartless-
ness; but in his letters he spoke not of his
wooing
do you never intend to marry, my
daughterY' said my father to me one day,
as | rose to leave the library, after giving
my customary answer to a most uneXcep-
tional offer Of marriage
why, papa, do you want to be rid of
your Ella p replied [, going to him; and, as
| leaned over his shoulder, | threw my arms
carelessly around him,
'No, you gipsy" he answered, drawing
my cheek to his lips, Harry Moore is a
fine, noble fellow, whom should be proud
to own as a son, bnt | would not urge you to
marry him, or any one else, against your
inclination. Still its seems strange such
beautiful woman as you should remain un-
married, ] used to hope | should see
Matthew your husband but" added he,
with sigh, that idea have yielded up
long since,
kissed him in silence. Shortly after, I
said, in as firm tone as could command,
'the steamer should be in by this date-it
may bring Cousin Matthew to pay us the
flying visit he has promised in his last let
ters. F"
"God bless him !" calculated lny father,
II hope he may, then ! shall see him once
more before die 4"
''Eie on Won, ,nauphtv mana - I eyclaim-