The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-06-15
TO THE POINT

Geo. Harding was the oldest genius
in Leehaven, and can't say that he
was not the oldest genius in the world.
His parents were dead his brother q
Missionary in Africa; his sisters married
and living far away from their old home.
which George inhabited all alone. too, he
said TO keep it warm Not servant
came near the place, every room Of which
was closed, excepting one where my he
70 slept, ate, and blew the French horn.
In easy, nay, dourishing circumstances,
- he owned half Of the houses in Lee
haven, he dressed like day laborer,
and lived like q pauper. Yet he was no
miser, for his tenants had only to put on
apitiful face, or tell dolorous story, TO
be forgiven any debt, and don't think
his line of cottages paid him enough to
meet the expenses Of repairs. Yet all
that he did prospered. II he invested
money in n line Of railway, that very line
WAS the one that paid the heaviest divi-
dends; if he built, it was sure to be on
spot where, every year, the land increas-
ed in value; if he speculated, his touch
turned the scheme to golden fruit, in
short, rich as he was, there was every
prospect that he would die worth treble
or quadruple his present property. or
course, he was popular! good natured.
/ SAy anu AlNciN, luil Ok VII 1uu COuEteSNs
he was the life of every meeting, and his
loud, cheerful voice, his hearty laugh
were the signal for fun to begin, while
his invariable description Of a gay scene
was:
We had more fun than ever you saw
in your hfe,' with sort Of draw on the
more fun than is perfectly indiscribable.
Now George WAS my cousin and soon
found out that one half, at least of my
popularity, in the town was due 60 my
handsome escort and its festivities.
Many n nutting party have We shared,
many scrape shouldered one for the 9th
er; many "a merry day or evening passed
together, and become . sort of father
confessor for my handsome cousin. So
l was more than half mortified when
suddenly found myself cut out from
sharing his confidence. Something allied
him. He was sad and languid, oftentimes
almost morose, yet no answer could
get to my most affectionate inquiries but:
.Nothing's the matter" occasionally
varied by Don't be q goose"
Was he in love? Feminine instinct
suggested this first, but decided that il
he was, he took . very queer way to
show it. He did no counting, that was
plain; for he was everybody's beau the
! same as ever, and as my mother eagerly
observed. everybody else's besides.
Yet when he came TO pass q quiet even
ing with me, he would sit mute and mo-
ping, scarcely noticing any one, and sunk
in deep reverie.
My eighteenth birthday came at this
time, and my mother gave me . party.
l was sitting before the fire in the par
lor, dressed and expectant, very well
satisfied with my mothers verdict that
/ l,nEaJ wary pica-' for having turn I'M
nose, dust colored hair, and near sighted
greenish gray eyes; had never aspired
to warm praise for my beauty, or enjoyed
the delights Of being belle / was sit
ting. / say, by the fire, musing, when
George came in got up in unexpected
etylc.-His old blue suit replaced by n
fashionable cut black one, his hands
gloved, and his customary flannel shirt
covered by the snowiest Of linen, George
was beauty every inch Of him. Even
the shiny boots we're q feature.
will do Mollie?' he asked, smiling at
my establishment.
/ Dor
Dol look nice? Am 1 killing2
| You are" said, emphatically.
/ And now for q cosy chat, before any
! body comes, and he drew up q chair
and sat gazing into the fire as il he want
! begun to think the promised chat myth,
when he said abruptly:
I'm in love, Been in love for more
than two months, and rather like it.
Want to propose and don't know howl
Gracious, 1 almost jumped from my
chair in amazement. He was my cousin,
to be sure, but cousins did marry, some
times, and the homestead easily needed
a woman rule--he was rich, handsome.
Mother would be delighted.
had reached this point in my mu-
sings, when he upset them by saying:
You know May HUBER
Know her. know her for the pret-
tiest, winsomest. sauciest flirt in Lee
haven. Without waiting for an answer,
George went on:
4 love her. Don't think she'll have me-
II she will I'll make her the happiest
woman in Leehaven! II she won't I'll
go to California and bury myself in
mine. / don't know how the mischief
to find out whether she'll have me or
not
Ask herr suggested, shortly.
That would be the best way. he said
musingly, and then took another pro-
longed stare at the FIRE, until we we're
aroused to welcome my guests.
All evening George hovered around
May, evidently bent on being agreeable;
he sang with her, danced with her, and
looked at nobody else. The msrTiment
Of q social village party WAS at il hight
and We we're all playing forfsita, when
George was appointed 70 kneel blindfold.
cd, before May, and sdjudge the penal.
ties Instead Of properly, be plumped
down facing her. and said: - so
Miss May Huber. I want . wife,
I love you dearly. WIN you marry meT
He Was in earnest and che saw It. Not
q word Of previous counting. her and she
stood crimson with confusio0, he1oee her
eccentric lover, there was . nomeas OF
dead silence Every body looked asd
waited and the Maiden put her wes hand
in her suitor's and sAid:
.Cu be xour XiGs. GeoeGei zarn