The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-04-15

I iOHS LleIuSnlp WIN OiQ LeOeQee CheSter>
3 won't turn the puppy out of doors quite yet
a VI suppose 1t is healthy :" asked Lacy
: blandly.
"What is healthy7"
"Your property. Sometimes in these 10,
grounds diseases are apt to prevail, and"
; "Does he expect my Mary has the feve
and agu? thought old Thorne, leaping brisk
: iy out OF the chair as if an insect had stunI
him. III send my daughter to you, youns
man-that will settle the business at once"
And before Lacy could suppress his sur
PRISE, his choleric host had banged the dool
behind him and disappeared.
Mary Ihorne's astoni hment was ever
greater than her fathers had BEEN She was
attired In white muslin, with a bouquet oi
crimson moss rosebuds in her bosom, and q
spray OF the same exquisite flowers in her
hair for some rural party or picnic, and at frs,
absolutely refused to enter the parlor.
What an idea n she exclaimed blushing
to the very tips ofthose Tiny, sheil.lfs ears.
10 be put upon exhibition like one of your
prize cattle! No. indeed! Let the young
man go back where he came from! A pretty
impression he must have of the ladies in this
quarter of,he globe ~
'Bu', my love, Zebedee Chester is one o.
, my Oldest friends, and the young man is real.
ly very fne-looking fellow, and rich in the
bargain. Go in and talk to him little while
there's good girl. ] can't stand it minute
| longer"
And old Jabez wiped his forehead, on
! which the perspira,ion was standing in big
beads. Mary burst into an uncomfortable fit
| OF lnughter
The whole affair is so ridiculousT' she
exclaimed.
! But she adjusted the moss roses, neverthe-
less and tripped demureiy into the parlor.
! Now If there was determined point in
Jack Lacy's character, it Was his aYc:sion TO
women IN general, and if there was any one
thing on which he prded himself. it was his
decided old bachelo-ism. Imagine his vex.
alton and dismay, therefore, when, after
formal Introduction, old Mr.. 1horne Withdrew,
leaving him tete-a !ets with the pretty creature
IN white muslin aud roses. Ii was EN- barras.
sing enough, particularly as Mary blushed
every tine he looked a, her, and evinced an
/ exceedingly great disposition to laugh
We'll, thought Jack, "the manners and
customs OF .h,s locality are rather odd to say
| the least otit. ! come to consult an old
gentleman about purchasing land of him, and
be bouaCes out oi the room and send. in MS
daughter. What On earth am TO say 70 hcr,
( I'd like to knew"
And Mary, glancing shyly in the direction
OF ner companion. Came 10 the conciu ion
tha, he had beautiful Spanish eyes," and
rnoustache decidedly superior il style to The
hirsute adornments Of the Young gentlemen
Of Thornviils
Mr. Lacy looked up a: the ceiling and down
al the carpet, and wondered What the conse-
qUenccs would be were re - escape ,ucou
, tncntly through the open French window
That would not be very dgniiied proceed
Iur, however, 50 be resigned himself u les;l
~ By making some original remark on the
weather. !: had the much desired effect Oe
I breaking the ice, however and he was great,
lv surprised with the arch yivaci,y Of Ms.
Thorne Only once did she seem confG sed
It was when she had been describing u Gns
grove Of cellars ,aa, belonged TO her fathers
land. regrettia- at the same time tha, be con.
tem2iated the sale Of =,
believe | should ike to become the
purchaser said Jack. Your father ia,
tod You iha; l had some idea of settling
. ere
Mar grew scarlet, aui rnuvmured some
iEcohc reni sentence or other. the conversation
was eliec,uGlly checked, and Jack, perpleXed
= Tie effect, for which ne could perceive 10
visible cause, rose 70 take lcar1.
Viii YOU mention 10 YOU father. Miss
! Thorne, that | shall call 10 see him about this
matter 20 morrow morning Z lie asked
All the moss roses IN Mr.. Thorne's rose
garden could never have rivaed the no, glow
on Mary's checks, As she fed ol, u; the room
without a word Of reply. s.
VERY sinwular family, this muttered
Jack, slowly drawir. his gloves, and
walking down the broad path. = But she is
an uucommonly pretty girl: and shall GER
;ainly take an early walk through tina; grove
I~I ,.a.f
! fact
| He dreamed Of blue eyed Mary Thornc that
night and rose feeling decidedly pleased tha.
he should have a reasonable excuse for call
! ing at her ia hers house SO soor-
/ Il certainly cant be in love- vuoih be.
! mentally. ''Ba, how Minnie would tease nee
/ if she thought was in any danger Of sueing
for not only a farm but wife
! Old Jabez Thcrnr was ouslly engaged nip.
! ping .he dead leaves OF his pet laurustinas
with a gigantic pair of garden scissors. that
morning. when young Lacy spraiig over the
/ hedge aud saluted him vii h buuyant,
Good morning! Well, SIR he went on,
| gail7, II have seen the property, and I'M per-
tectIy delighted. A fine, healthy investment,
/ no disease about = I'm convinced
I" Hum said Mr.Thorne. obviously
"And | would like TO take second, and
more thorough inspection in your society sir,
! if you please"
"ReaIly Mr. Lacv," said the old man. sharp.
", 'mv daughter has not come dowu stairs
| and -f
What the mischief has RS daughts: 70 do
with the n atter.' thought Lacy, but he said
"Of course / will await any time that NAV
be convenient to you, sir. observed a good
deal o. native roughncss, but cannot doubt
that there is very great susceptibility to i'm
provemeut a little judicions cultivation
will accomplish wonders
"Let me tell you, young man. began Mr.
Tnorne. in towering rage, but Lacy saw
thai he had unconsciouslv committed some
aeeh blunder, and he FASTENED to say.
"In short, sir, am now determined 70 Sc.
relhis rural gem at any price. What is
the sum 3ou deihand?"
| Mr. Tho-ne fai ly sat down upon the gravel
walk. overpowered with the avalanche Of
wrath which he found impossible to shape In.
to words.
"Upon-my-word-sir!' he began, "you
talk as if this we're mere matter of bust.
ness!"
/ Jack was puzzled enough. at is the way
in which j have always heretofore been ac
customed to treat such affairs, sir
"Heretofore-you have been accustomed
And pray. sir, how many such little affairs
. have you had on your hands!; shrieked old
Thorne, growing purple in the face.
"Oh, several, sir. am not so mex per-
fenced as you suppose" replied Jack. sm
ing.
"And you are not ashamed to confess it p
mo; why should be?'
"Get out of my garden, you young repro
bat.r y screamed Jabez, leaping up witt
lightning rapidity. "To come here and offe
t to buy my daughter, as if she were patel
of potatoes +! Go, sayi'