The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1865-06-15

ble niece of land. and wished to settle
down as a planter in that vicinity, and re
ouestino Mr. Thorne's aid and co-opera-
ton in the selection of the same. Minnie
| opened the door
.Papa. there is some one down stairs
who wishes to see you Immediately, for
a minute
.Verv annoyingr said the old gentle
man. Just as was finishing up this
letter of Jacks. However, | can seal it
M afterwards. Minnie, suppose you
glance over it, and dot thei's and cross
the t's. I'm not so much of a penman
as used to be.
And old Mr. Chester pushed back his
chair and arose from the antique oak
table to attend to the claims of his ur
gent guest
Olive Chester was brushing out the
heavy brads of her luxuriant hair before
the dressing mirror of her own apart
ment. two hours later, when Minnie ran
| in, with countenance comically divided
between dismay and delight.
NV dear Minnie what has happened? 2
! exclaimed the elder sister, dropping her
| hair brush and letting all the raven
tresses ripple down unheeded over her
shoulders.
i've won the diamond sleeve buttons,
Olive?' But, oh | didn't mean to-
What would papa say if he only knew
and cousin Jack, too.
Sit down, you wild little elf said
Olive, gently forcing her sister into
chair, ''and explain this curious riddle
We'll, you know papa left me to look
over his letter to Mr.. Thorne-he was
detained longer than he expected-al-
most an hour in fact, and | couldn bel p
amusing myself by writing parody on
the letter
a parody
.Yes-vou remember somebody was
telling us what a beautiful daughter Mr..
Thorne had-so | wrote that Jack was
in search of a wife, and heard of Miss
Thorne, and wanted to settle in life and
all that sort of thing. In short, | wrote
wife Wasn't it fun F.? calculated the lit
tie maiden, her eyes dancing with dab
lery But you know | never once
thought of sending the letter | only
wanted to read it to Jack when | went
down stairs Well, l singned it, with
great flourish of trumpets, and then who
should come but papa and the stranger.
or course hed-and when / came back
the letter was sealed, and safe in Jacks
pocket book, and Olive, il was the wrong
letter !
The wrong letter.
1T was rather a dim light and papa's
eyes were not so keen as thev are wont
TO be-and my impertinen missiva was
gone, while the real bona tide lay there
amongst a heap of discarded papers,
And | hadn't courage to confess my
papa Is so opposed to my
innocent little jokes-and Jack is off
with the indescribahle letter! Olive, but
what tornado there will be when my
mischief leaks outr
Ard Minnie looked so bewichingly
lovely in her alternate paroSysms of
terror and laughter that Olive, grave
elder sister though she was, had not the
heart to lecture her as roundly as she
deserved.
The crimson sunset of the next even
ing shone radiantly into the special
OF the worthy Jabez Thorne, of
Justice of the Peace, and
chairman of all the agricultural meetings
for ten miles around 1t was no scholar
ly library, like that of his ancient com
rade Chester, but square light room,
four uncurtancd windows, ornamented
with numerous black framed engravingS Is
of prize cattle and giant turnips. He
was seated in leather cushion arm
chair, looking over the files of an agri-
cultural ionrnal to find some coveted in p
formation on the subject of .phosphates
and super phosphates, when servant
brought him a card and letter.
The gentleman is in the parlor, sir.
Jabez Thorne laid aside his newspaper,
and glanced at the card. which bore the
simple inscription John Lacv-then at
the letter. which purported to have been
an introduction to that individual.
.Hum-ha-crom an old college chum,
Chester. as live. Remarkable change
in his hand writing, but time changes Us
all. Haynt heard from him in twenty
wears. and--hallo, what l. this? y
pretty cool request, upon my word-
nephew wants wife, and has heard that
l possess a daughter-has plenty of
me to aid him with my
we'll known experience in such matters.
W hat does the old rascal mean Z, ejacu-
lated Jabez, the fringe of gray hair that
his bald head standing abso-
.utely erect with Indignation. Il will
send LETTERS to kick the impudent young
SCAMP out of nv house But a mo-
ments reflection brought calmness.-
ell. after all, | don't see what there Is
IN the matter to make me so fooiishlv
angry. Guess I'll see what Mary says.
An excellent family, those Chesters-
and this letter is Just like Zebedee Chester
he always was singular in his notions.
Rather unlike the ordinary method of
coming to an understanding on such
matters. but there's nothing like a dash
If originality in this world, and if the
bow is rich. and Mary don't object-at
all events I'll see him on the subject
And Jabez Thorne thrust the letter
INTO his pocket aud strobe determined
into the parlor where young Lacy was
quietly awaiting his appearance The
aid rentlemsn's face was scarlet with
embarrassment he was half-disposed 10
be angry with his guests cool seif-pos-
session.
4 had thought OF settling in this
Mr.. Thorne.' said Jack, after
the ceremonies of greeting bad been eS.
'and understood from my
uncle that YOU had desirable piece Of
property that you mish, be disposed 70
past with