Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-12-08

the way Of an engagement until such time
as my studies were completed. Hence this
invitation rave me great satisfaction, espe-
cially as il also particularly included Char
ley I.anccwood, who, Mrs. Archer said, she
understood was staying with me.
The invitation was therefore accepted
and one bright winters day we arrived at
Bremar lodge, where we received hearty
welcome from Mrs. Archer, whose kind cor
dial manner at once won Charley's good
will. She led the way into the library, say
ing, as she went, "You are just in time for
dinner | had almost begun to fear you
would not come till the last train
''The snow has made the trains all late, 4"
said Charley "but had some difficulty
in preventing Harry from starting last
night for fear he might not reach Bremar
to-day a remark which made MIS- Archer
smile, but brought bright color to Helen s
cheek, who was waiting to greet us in the
library.
''We are only small party" said Mrs
Archer. my old school-fellow, Mrs. Oak
ley, and her compenion, Miss Fawcett, are
my only visitors besides yourselves; but as
we are four ladies, you two gentlemen will
have TO be extra attentive to us all :"
! The dinner-bell now rang loudly, and Mrs.
Archer desired her son Ralph, fine. noble
boy, to show us to our rooms, which we
were not displeased to find communicated BY
door.
When we descended to the drawing room
we found the ladies all assembled. Our
hostess introduced us to her friend, Mrs.
Oakley, a comfortable matronly looking
lady, who looked as though she always made
the best of everything, and went through
the world as easily as possible. She then
! slightly named young lady, who sat rather
/ in the background as Miss Fawcett, and
who blushcd deeply as we acknowledged the
introduction.
Dinner was announced, and Mrs. Archer
requested Inc to lead Mrs Oakley and
Helen into the dining-room, and to take the
seat opposite to herself This was a thing
she had never before done, and | felt that
it was intended to mark the place ] was
henceforth to hold. | thanked her with
look which she understood for she smiled
and nodded; and then, turning to Charley
took his arm, but suddenly checking herself
as if she had forgotten something, she sale
to her son, "Oh, Ralph, you must take Mis-
Fawcett in.
| saw Charley turn and look at the young
lady, as if half disposed to offer his Other
arm, but Mrs. Archer motioned to her sor
to pass on, and we took our places at the ia
bic.
Dinner was merry meal, all, with the
exception of Miss Fawcett, being in capita
spirits, and the conversation never tagged.
| noticed, however, that she rarely spoke
unless directly addressed, and then simply
and shortly replied. Lcame to the conclu-
sion that the companion had been tutored
to remember that, though among them,
she was not ''of them, - and rather pitied
her. She was a fair, delicate-looking girl,
with large dark grey eyes, and profusion
of soft brown hair. Though not by any
means beautiful, she was still attractive il
appearance and extremely lady-like, al
though, as | have said, she shrank from
appeared. As soon as the ladies had with
drawn, eagerly inquired what Charley
l thought of my lady-love.
Il think she seems very nice girl, h
, replied. 'She is very pretty, stylish-look
, ing one, and l sincerely congratulate you
old fellow; but | say, what a e-lookin
little piece of goods that Miss Fawcett is !
add how horribly she seems to have beel
snubbed -
Eyes, said I; "poor thing, she seem
afraid of opening her lips.
''Do you knowtlie said Charley, II fel
rather vexcd with our good hostess at thu
way she seemed to put her off as nobody
before dinner, with little Ralph though
once she was going to leave her to walk dowr
by herself
1T is very unlike Mrs. Archer was my
reply, ''she is generally so very attentive to
any one who is a little in the background u
''Well, | shall certainly try if | cannot
get something more than yes and no out o
her while am here, said Charley.
al ,,l 10.
silly about this little thing, said l, by way
of caution, thinking of Miss Stanley.
"You let me alone, " said Charley. "Yo,
have got one young lady all to yourself.
am not going to play Paris to your Helen
, | believe you want them both, you ol,
, Turk"
Think, ifyou are going to be so abusive
= we had better follow the ladies, | replied
y with all my heart, said Charley.
/, From that evening Charley devoted hin
: self to Miss Eawcett five skated, he wa
/, by her side supporting her insecure footing
t if We walked, he was by her side again, cor
Y triving either to precedc or follow US. II
also discovered she had fine voice, an
many were the duets learned and practiceC
/ Certainly they were rather thrown together
for the two elder ladies preferred each 9th
| er's company by the fireside, or in the car
riage, to our more active exercise; and nee,
scarcely say that Helen and were satisfied
' with any arrangement that left us to our
selves. Every one, too, seemed blind to tn
5 tremendous Irritation, as | considered ii
, that was going on; or rather, | should say
Miss Eawcett's movements were q matte
of too great Indifference for them to concer
themsever about.
AT last l began to grow uneasy on Mis-
: Fawcett's account, for never for momen
believed that Charley was really in earnest
He always spoke of her as his charge wit
a laugh, and asGd to ask me to congratulate
, him on having discovered that she had
tongue, IAN interesting little fact in natura
7, history" as he called it.
g In spite of all his avowed dislike to Mis-
= Stanley, | had someway made up my min
Q that Charley would marry her. did nc
believe that he really would give up his oil
| home for fancied prejudice against pei
son he had never seen. But with Mis- Faw
Q cett it was different; and | noticed with pal
. the deepening tints upon her cheek and tn
: frightened eye and | resolves to warn Char
= ley that what was play to him might be yer
serious to her.
was in the conservatory when came t
! this conclusion, having just returned frol
. a walk with Helen, during which timeI ha
informed her that Mrs. Archer had consen
t ed to our fixing time for our marriage be
y fore the conclusion of my visit. The 70
4 lowing summer had been settled between III
n although in my own mind l determined
= try and make it spring. AT any rate va
} in a very happy frame of mind, and coul
t afford to be considerate for my neighbour