The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1865-11-22
COURTING Der Diff
CULTIES.

hatle Dlake was the only daughter OF
Jacob Blake, the old miser Of West Brock.
She was more than commonly pretty,
and her frank, engaging manners en-
HANGED the charms Of golden hair, pearly
skin, and eyes like the blue skies Of sum.
mer. AT her fathers death she would be
heiress to the nice little sum Of seventy
thousand dollars, and though men gener.
ally profess not to be Influenced by pecu.
mary matters in affairs Of love, it is to be
reasonably supposed that this prospective
wealth by no means lessened the num-
ber Of her adorers
Among those who were mostardent and
perhaps NEST sincere, was Will Dart.
mouth, with heart largcf than his purse;
and very little thought and care for con.
sequences.
Fortunately, old jacob never suspect
ed the psrtiality Of bis daughter for Will
ho would put her on bread and water be-
fore he would have consented to the
slightest degree os intimacy with Will
Dartmouth.
Jacob Blake was not in favor of mar.
riage. Those who knew his circumstan.
ccs were not surprised at this, to use a
phrase moro expressive than elegant, Mrs.
Blake was Tartar, with temper enough
for two Tartars.
Old Jacob had to "walk Spanish. for
the most part, or suffer the consequences,
which usually descended upon his head
in the shape Of any domestic utensil
which happened TO bo lying around han.
dy. .F
A maiden sister Of Mrs. Blake resided
in family, whose principal business it
see ned to be to act sort of echo to her
brother and his wife. Whatever they
thought, she thought, Too.
She regarded 1t as a primary sin for
Katie TO associate with the young men,
and this doctrine was perseveringly drilled
into her ni,ce, who, though she never
dissented, bad ber own ideas on the sub
ject.
One day Mr.. Blake and his wife went
to Dedham, to attend q Fair, and Miss
Peggy being absent at friends, Katie
was left alone. Will Dartmouth in some
way learned the condition of affairs, and
early in the afternoon he came over to
keep Katie company.
As her parents were not expected home
until the next day, and Peggy not until
late In tie evening, Will felt perfectly
secure 10 stopping awhile after supper ;
and be and Katie were having q jolly
time popping corn in the old fashioned
frying pan, over the huge wood FIRE, when
there was the sound Of voice at the
door.
G "Good gracious y cried Katie, turning
white with alarm, "that is Aunt Peggy
Oh, Will, what shall we do? She will
scold me to death aud father will be fu.
rious Get under the lounge, quick Oh
Will. do, for my sake y h 81.
Will could not withstand the pleading
10 Katie's eyes, and he Deposited himself
IN the designated spot
Katie put out the light, and darting
into an adjacent bedroom, in "a moment
was apparently asleep. 49,
Peggy's voice was heard speaking soft
ly in the entry.
"Be careful, Mr.. Pike. There's {
| loose board there. / don't want to dis
turb my niece. Softly, it may creak,"
"Peggy, dear, where are your" re
spouded the squealing voice Of Esquire
Pike, the widower Of year. II can
tell which way you've gOhe.' s
"There, Daniel be easy. Good heav
cusi Daniel Pike, Well, l never !" an'
q report burst on the air like uncorkinl
q champagne bottle. o9 i
20, my'p' cried Aunt Peggy. "wha
would brother Jacob sayi ] declare,
'tHafn,t boon kissed by q man sense"
! "Let Jake mind his own business P're
tofted tho squire. You and l can tax
care Of ours without his help /" and ther
nslIcx-ad q, rArori s,miI,r n tha 0rak nI1l