The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-06-14
NINA RAYMOND'S OFFER.

q oAN ShoSSioA 90 eHS
fairy Titania.
This was my love, Nina Raymond.
BE your wife? / never heard of such
nonsense in my life! Your wife, indeedf
I should as soon think of marrying papa
or brother Will, ll,-or-or-why, can't
think of any other. masculine so impos-
siblel'
This was the answer to my suit.
"But why?" persisted.
"Why? Why don't girl marry her
grandmother? It's becauseshe gets tired
of seeing the old lady around. 1 can't
remember day that have not seen your
phiz the first thing in the morning and
the last thing in the evening. I never
went to party with any other escort.
never was in scrape but you were my
companion in misery, or nay shield from
punishment I never did foolish thing
but you were by to laugh and rebuke.--
Oh! Marston, dear, go and make love to
some foreign lady; but don't be so absurd
as to marry your cousin, who lived with
you under the same roof since she was q
baby"
"But all you say only goes to prove my
devotion"
"Dcvotionl You snub me quite as Of
ten as you praise. Beside"
She hesitated.
sWell2"
II am only sixteen, and am not going
to accept my first offer. And, then,
Marston, you don't come within thous-
and miles of my beau ideal"
"Oh, don't? Pray describe your beau
ideal"
'Tall."
eI stand 6 feet one inch"
Handsome, with black whiskers and
the manners Of traveller. A man who
has not lived his life in this miserable,
'cooped up village, but has seen the world
and profted thereby. One who has mix
ed in distinguished society, and learned
refinement of dress and manner, and who
can talk of something beside books with
a lady"
"Ahl Well, if you won'thave me, you
won't have nae, you won't, SO there's an
end of it."
/ got up lazily from the garden seat
where we had been sitting and strolled
toward the house. I saw her blue eyes
open with amazement at my coolness
did not enact despair for her benefit, but
laid my plans for her future edi6cation.
Two days later l had left home and
gone into the city on visit. Nina gave
me merry farewell, and did not seem at
all broken hearted at the prospect of a
separation. IF she felt any emotion, she
was soon soothed, as the following letter
directed to my address convinced me:
"Dear Marston: My hero has arrived
Such lovely black whiskers, not at all
like your smooth face, cousin; such jetty
curls, not auburn like yours; such black
eye brows and lashes-yours are yellow
He has been everywhere, has seen every
thing, speaks foreign language, and has
the most polished manners. He brought
letter of introduction to Will, SO, oi
course, he is here quite often. and seems
very well pleased with certain cousin oi
yours"
And SO on the letter was filled up with
home gossip. l read it at the little inu
of my native village, where all my letters
re-directed to Mr.. Alonzo Courtney fol
lowed ME. The black whiskers lay or
the table beside me, the wig hung from
the looking glass, while the dyed eyebrow
and lashes still adorned my face. My
fine broadcloth suit, cut in the latest city
style, my patent leather boots, kid glove:
and dandy cane lay on chair, while
lounged in dressing gown and slippers
before the window, coming my cousin
letter. As I was engaged to drive hel
out in an hour, began my elaborate toi
let. Every curl was in position and eve
ry fold correct, as / rang the bell of m,
uncle's house, to which my fellow eonspi
rator, Will, had introduced me. No sus
picion Of my identity crossed my aunt
mind as she gave me polite welcome, ant
Nina's blinded eyes only saw in Mr.. Court
ney the travelled dandy.
'sI trust see the rose Of Glendale il
full health" / said, with bow. "Ah
those fair hands were destined for daint
ier than thisl" and deprived her of he
sewing. ''The soft air wooes US. VIII
you drive with me?"
! With bewitching little fat, and ever.
curl in glossy beauty, she was soon read
for our excursion. / cannot tell all tn
hattery I poured into her ears, half dis
gusted at her bushes, and half amuse
at her innocent pleasure in my exaggsrs
ted gallantry. Itwss the first time | ha
been alone with her in nay disguise, an
took occasion to delicately hint at my ell
tire devotion to her charms, and grindin
my teeth at her coquettish acceptance
the same.
1 saw her every day for month pres
ling my suit on all occasions, and fillin
her ears with drawling affectations an
J fiat descriptions of Italy and France, wit
broad comparisons of the daughters
, Europe and America.
4 At last l proposed. To my amazemel
. she refused me fat; to my delight she II
formed me that her cousin Marston was
man, not "a dressed up idiot. do nj
! mean that these were her exact terms, b.
her warm defense of her cousin, after n
sneering hints of jealousy, was ful
equivalent to such declaration.
OF course, my proper self returned r
diant aud hopeful. Will you believe
!. She vas as oAish as ever when made n
: advances. She was cousinly and sister
f It'll was in a fury over her cool ease al
matter -of-oourse affection, but would on
laugh at nay love, and compare ne aligh