Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-06-01

W
He offered me a hard dry hand to shake.
| made clumsy bow to Miss Leverton.
What, DAVID he exclaimed, 'shake
hands With the father, and only bow to the
daughter. That won't DO"
Miss Leverton offered her hand. The pres
sure of that soft palm sent an electric thrill,
half pleasurable, half painful, all up my arm.
Her father then pushed. me in rough, good
humored way out of the house, and locked
the door after me, saying :" Go straight
home, David. No more ponderings tonight
On the river bank"
| slept indifferently. Strange visions dis
! tulbedmy rest. Emily Leverton, seated on
a side-saddle, rode an enormous perch, which
| lowered over my bed; then her father APP
peared, armed with Dutch cheese, which
| he flung at my head | awoke with cry of
| fear. -
"Ah, you may well sing ont, Master Gram
pus; and I'll send another at your head II
| you do it again"
1t was Tubbs who spoke, ferocious bully
ing boy He sat up in in bed, looking most
truculent, with his night-cap cooked over his
left ear. he brandished slipper in his left
hand.
"Do WHAT" l asked in my absurd treble
| yoce.
DO WHAT" said Tubbs, mmicking my
shrill speech. "Do what why, snore.
old Wickham."
/ "Have L? Pm sorry for it,"
"Do it again, and you'll get this slipper,
and cold pig into the bargain" growled
the bully, composing himself to sleep, for it
was barely five O'clock.
This was a melancholy awakening. Inevel
loathed Poplar House Academy so much as
did that morning. tried to go to sleep
again, and dream of the big perch with its
| fai INIT Of mir I ~
gifted with personal courage-kept me awake
till it time to get up.
! repaired more diligently than ever dur
ing the next few days to my riverside haunt
partly to escape from the inquisitiveness OF
my companions, who wanted to know why
that fish preserving hunks, old Leverton, had
invited me TO supper.
Il know Why" replied a small youth Of
nine, about the hight (metaphorically) Of six
penny-worth of haIf-pence. 1 know why
He wants Goliath to marry his daughter"
The handsomest and talest boy in the
school-his head just reached my chin-im
, mediately boxed the little urchin's ears, say
ing, as he placed his hand on his hip, anG
ran his fingers carelessly through his light
, curls:
i Aatter myself she could choose much
better"
Poor Goliath blushed scarlet, and sunA
away to the river.
: | | had not the least idea then-such an in
nocent was what was the matter with me
but | have since discovered that L, the over
grown boy of fourteen, was in love witt
Emily Leverton.
| broke both the large and small blade o
my pocket knife, trying to carve f. L. OF
, one of the old willows. L attempted tt
make rhymes to her name but | could thinl
of none but Eyerton, which smacked O
toffey. l tried to catch a glimpse of hel
: father, but was unsuccessful. l now and theI
observed the top,joint of his fishing-ro peep
ing through the trees but, though he mus
have seen me, he showed no signal Of recog
milton.
, 4 fortnight of anxious expectancy passed
, away; | was waiting as usual by the river fol
t the school supper bell to ring, when again
, hand was laid on my shoulder. Although
had anticipated the touch of those finger.
for thirteen successive evenings, l started d:
conyulsiyely as if Mr.. Leverton had put Z
frog down my back.
Nervous, eh ?" said he. 1--WE shall cure
that. 1t is not good for man to be alone
Let me See" he continued, stroking his chin
contemplatiyely. Twenty years old. Ther
you will be twenty-one next birth"
. yes, sir" | murmured, feeling what
| falsehood was wrapped up in this seeming
trulsm. son the ninth of September"
"Hum-ha," said Mr.. Leverton. Supper
/ waits for you"
Again a dish of fish, Dutch cheese and ale
! | was less shy this time l began to talk anC
told my host all about my family. Emily
looked lovely in her simple white muslin
t After supper, at her fathers bidding, SHIT
opened the pianoforte and sang few songs
l was in the seventh heaven, and the singer
! was St. Cecilia
f Her father broke the spell.
7 Come" he said, looking at the clock
'''tis time to go-I will walk with you"
, As soon as we were outside the house he
spoke thus as If in sohloquy:
''Twenty-one in September he viii Dc
admirably. Gentle, innocent and pliabe
J shall mould him like wax. Instead of losing
a daughter, | shall gain son. David, YOU
I shall marry Emily :"
| stood in the moonlight with my moutl
wide open, looking, | suspect, like a giganti,
[ baby.
Sir" l stammered.
w ouldn't you like to marry herr"
Yes
Every well-then that is settled. In the
midsummer holidays l shall come and talk tC
your father about it, David. Till them" he
said, sternly, "siience. Good night"
After this conversation, l was frequently
invited to Mr.. Leyerton's abode. We die
not always have FISH for supper-stilI, fru
gality was the rule OF the household. | hao
overcome my shyness with the recluse, and
; in his company conversed pretty freely; but
/ alone with Emily, | sat as mum stock
fish. My attempts at counting consisted il
turning over the leaves of her music book
= invariably at the wrong moment. l doubt il
| Jennie Deans thought the Laird of Dumbe
dikes as dull as Emily must have found me-
| began to fancy, too, that the young lady,
manner had grown frigid and constrained.
saw a furtive tear occasionally start from heI
, eyelids. What on earth did it mean?
| went home for the midsummer HOLIDAYS
and found myself confronted by a sad cal,
amity. My dear father, who had so often
measured others, died suddenly, and was
himself measured-for his coffin. Shortly
after the funeral, his will was read. He had
been prosperous professional man, and had
saved money. After providing for my moth.
er and sisters, and leaving the business to my
elder brothers, my name mentioned:
ITO my beloved son David leave the sum
of five thousand pounds-to be held in trust
for his benefit until he shall have attained his
majority"
ASH listened to these words with feelings
of fearful gratitude for my fathers conside-
rate kindness, | felt pressure of the arm
looked round and saw Mr.. LeyertOn.