The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-18
The Reason for Refusal.

Mr.. Smidgens paid his two hundred
and sixty seventh visit to Miss Clarissa
jerks, a damsel of about two hundred
and fifty avoirdupois, the other evening.
He found her In a rocker, alone in the
parlor; stole his arms around her alabas-
ter neck, and slipped in the nectar of her
cherry lips-a proceeding there was not
the least harm in, considering that they
had come to an agreement, and were
generally reported to be on the high road
to matrimony. The lady took it all
quietly, even indifferently, to Judge from
the lassitude ofherattitudein the rocker,
her lazy use of her fan, and her excla-
nation of something between a heigh-
no and ya-hum.
Commonplace were disposed of. Then
| followed silence broken only by Mr..
Smidgens slapping at the mosquitoes
and Miss Clarissa tanning herself un-
ceasingly.
At length Smidgens proposed pro-
menade and ice cream. Clarissa declined
both, adding: .s-
"Iwish to stay at home, for l have
something particular to tell you"
Indeed said Snidgens, what is
it, dear?"
:" You expect our wedding to take
place in three weeks, don't you ?"
% To be sure do!n
9 Well, am sorry to disappoint you,
but l must do it. / cannot marry--u
GOOD heavens, Clarrisss what are
you saying?n
Don't interrupt Inc / mean l can't
marry you just yet awhile; not for some
months to Gomez utF az
Why, Clarissa, what's the meaning
of all this? You gave me your positive
promise and said nothing stood in the
way. l am all ready and worried with
| waiting why do you put it off, dear ~
"That you will have to excuse my
telling you. l have a good reason for it,
and my mind is made up. win that
Smfdgens mused awhile. Clarissa
kept her fan going Finally Smidgen
spoke. "a. - ,.rf'
You postpone our wedding and refuse to
tell me why. 1fyou have reason for
it you ought to let me know it, and may
be it would satisfy me, but won't be
satisfied without a reason"
"Well, then, youth have to remainun-
satisfied. tell you | have reason, and
a good one; what more do you want ?'1
II see how it is. I've conrted you too
long didn't strike while the iron was
hot; you are tired of me, and wish toget
rid of me, Wen, if that is your wish,
go ahead" FL,
MIR. Smidgens, you're Ounce; you're
a fool ~ SIX
MAYBE l am, and maybe I amt"
said Smidgens, rising with his temper,
but this I'll say, Miss Clarissa, if you
don't tell me why you postpone the we'd
ding for few months, you may post
pone it forever, SO far as I am concern
ed. Tell me, Clarissa, or else I swear
when L leave this house tonight, will
never set foot in it again ~
"Well, then, you had better go!n
"Very well. Good night, Miss jerks"
Smidgens reached the door. Clarissa
followed him, and seeing that he was in
earnest, cried to him to stays Smidgens
came back.n Clarissa put her head upon
his shoulder and cried. Smidgens spoke
first. ,.5=.I, ...,.
".Well, dear, what's the matter?'
"Oh! don't want to tell;iI can't tell
you why want our wedding put off.
You must tell me- said Smidgens, or
I'll leave you this instant and never re-
turn!"
swell. dear, If I must, L must ~
And Clarissa laid her head on Smid-
gems shoulder, and family whispered in
his ear e. 80 ,.-.
"THE WEATHER IS TOO HoT!n