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

said Minnie, shaking her long curls. "Whs
will you venture don't bestow a partn
trick on you yet? Ah haven't settled wit
you for several little pieces inpeitinence bu
pray don't imagine they are forgotten, sir |"
my diamond sleeve.buttons 20 your col q
necklace that you don't impose upon me with
in the next three months, Minnie" said Jacl
gaily.
"Douer' said Minnie. "Girls you all hea
the wager, don't you? l always covste'
Jacks damon !"
But 80 won't have them, mademoiselle
! How dark 1t is getting in this cavernous oil,
! hail.
Saall ring for lights, Uncle Chester anc
! by the way, have Tou written that letter O
introduction to Mr.. Thorne?'
"All in good time, my boy-all in good
| time said the old gentle nan. depositine
his huge silver,bound spec,acles in ,heii
case. You yoang people are all in such a
desperate hurry. Tell Betsey to carry a
lamp into the library, girls. And Minnie.
where is my gold pen? l won't be very long
about it, and then we'll have a nice long
evening to gossip about Jacks prospects"
While Mr.. Chester sat in his COSY ted-cur.
tained library revising the letter which he
had been writing to his cid college friend
Jabez Thorne, of Thornville, to the effect
tina, his nephew, John Lacy. was in search
of an eligible piece of land, and wished to
settle down as a planter in that vicinity, ana
requesting Mr.. Thorne's aid in the selection
OF the same, Minnie opened the door.
Papa, there is some one down stairs who
wishes to see you Immediately for one min
ute."
VERY annoying y said the old gentleman.
"Just as l was finishing up this letter OF
Jacks! However, | can seal itup afterward. i.
Minnie, suppose you glance over it, and lot
the is and cross the IS; I'm no, so much of
a penman as | used to be ~
And old Mr.. Chester pushed back his chair
and rose from the antique oak table to az
tend to the claims 0: his p-eaat guest.
Olive Chester was Brushing out the heavy
braids Of her luxurian, black hair before the
Or ,ssing mirror OF her own apartment, two
hours later, when Minnie ran in, with coun
tena4ce 5ct4ic'!,!y divided between dsmay
and delight.
my dear Minnie, what has happened"
exclaimed the elder sister, dropping her hair
british and letting all the raven tresseS ripple
down unheeded over her shoulders.
I've won the diamond sleevebuttons,
Olive. But oh I! didn't mean 10. What
would papa say if he knew it-and Cousin
Jack. too ?"
''Sit down, you wild little elf" said Olive,
gently forcing her sister into chair. ard
explain this mysterious riddle!
well you know papa LEI; me to look over
his letter to Mr. Thorne; and, as he was de-
tanned longer than he was expected,-almosi
an hour in fact and | couldn't help anus
ing myself by writing parody OF the letter
"A parody?"
'Ies-you remember somebody was tell
ing u what a beautiful daughter Mr.. Thorne
had--so wrote tina, Jack was in search Of
d wife, agd had heard Of Miss Ihorne, and
wanted 10 settle in life, and all that sort O.
thing. In short, wherever papa had written
land, or estate. wrote wife! Wasn't it iun?"
calculated the little maiden, her eyes DANG
:ng with dtdJtesIe. but, you know / never
once thought Of .euding the letter; only
wanted 70 read It p Jack when | went down
stairs. Well, signed it, with a great tion Isn
OF ,rumpcts, and just then who should come
ia bat papa AID the stranger OF course
fed, and when ! came back the ls,;eE was
sealed aud safe in Jacks pockeibcok, AID
O!i~r, it was the wrong letter y
"rh4 -"roug ,..cr""
at was rather q dim hght-and papa :
eyes are not as kesn as they were wont - be
and my imper;inent missive has gone :
while the real IoA4 fde letter laws there,
amongst heap Of discarded papers. And
! hadn't the courage 70 confess nv miscc-
meanors, papa is so opposed to Tny innocent
little ioLes-aad Jack is off with that indes-
cribable let,erl | shall certainly win the
sleeve buttons, Olive, but what tornado
there will be when nv mischief leaks OUT
And Minnie looked so bewitchirC!y lovely
in her alternate paroxysm of terror and laugh
ter, that Olive, grave elder sister though she
was, had not the heart TO lecture her as
round as she deserved!
The crimson sunset OF the very next even
ing shone radantly iate the special sanctun
OF the WORTH old Jabez Thornc, of Thorne-
vile, Justice of The Peace. and chairman OF
the agricultural meeting, for ten miles round
1t was no scholarly lookin2 library, like that
OF his ancient co'nrade Chester, but Il square
light room, with four uncurtained windows,
and ornamented vi;h numerous black framed
engravings of p.ize cattle and giant turnipS.
He was seated in a leather cushioned arm
chair, looking over a file of an agricultural
journal. to find some coveted Information on
the subject of '.phosphates' and super
phosphate" when servcnt brought him a
card and a 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 Lacy'--,hen at the letter
which purpor,ed to be intr-ductry to tina,
individual
.Hum-ha-from my old college chum,
Chester, as ] live. Remarkable change in
his handwriting; but time alters US all
Haven't heard from him in twenty years
and-hallo! what is this? pretty cool
request, upon my word-nephew wants a wife
and has heard that possess a daughter
has lots of nonAy-wants me to and him with
nv we'll known experience ,n sScl matters
What does tie old rascal mean? CALCULATED
Jabez, The fringe Of gray hair that surround
ed his bald head standing absolutely erect
with indignation, an send Jetiers TO kick
! the imput en-. young scamp out otthe house! +!
But with a moments reflection came calm
ness.
"Well, after all, don't see what there j:
in the matter t. make me SO foolishly angry
| Guess I'll see what Mary saws. An excellent
family those Chestets- and tIls letter i:
! last like Zebedee Chester-he always wa!
singular in his notions. Rather unlike the or
| dinary method OF coming to an Under tard
| ing on such matters, but there's nothing like
d dash of orit inality in this world, and If th'
boy is rich, and Mary don't object-at al
events I'll see him upoh the subject"
And Jab, Thorne thrust tie letter int
his pocket and strobe de.erminedly INTO th'
parlor where young Lacy was quietly await
ing his appearance. The old gentleman
face was scarlet with embarrassment he wa
! half disposed to be angry at his guests COO
| self-possession.
81 had thought Of settling in this vicinity
Mr.. Thorne,' said Jack, after the ceremonie
of greeting had been exchanged, ''and under
stood from my uncle that you had de abl
piece of property that you might be dispose
to part with"
.Piece of property thought the oil
gentleman, beginning to fire up again; bu
controlled his emotions, snd only answered