The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-11-02

er baShful nor backward in cOnteSting
the ground with him, and often got the
advantage by engaging Carr's company
days before whatever "doings" were
coming off.
Young Lawrence was somewhat as
founded to discover that such engage
ments could not be broken even for him;
but he got over that gradually. He was
not so popular with the masculine por-
ton of the population, as with the other
sex. The young men called him, in de-
rision, "lady killer" and considered his
dandy airs insufferable, They played
him occasionally, too, asomewhat rough
Western joke, which he bore good hui
moredly, and raised him considerably in
their estimation thereby. But he took
| such patroniZing airs upon himself, nat
urally as it were, that these independent,
| high-headed young farmers, comparing
the ne-Broadway cut of their outside
with his, and really pitiful of his delicate
his, to them, laughable ignorance upon
subjects, that were familiar to them as
air, were sometimes almost ill-natured,
and if any opportunity offered for leav-
ing him in the lurch, rather enjoyed do
ing so.
Their elders We're not any better.
| ''Nice Teller that ar York beau of Carr
| Wilson'S" Deacon Swipes observed,
| blowing the rich soil with his hoe;
''don't know bean vines from potatoe
hill. | shouldn't keer about him spark
in my gal"
"Yaas," said Johnny Bates, sam he
didn't know dads wheat from a mdd-
der"
Carr Wilson got a good many dry jokes,
too, about her "York gosling." 'sKep'
i'm in ban'-box when he was to hum,
didn't they an he slep' in a poultice,
didn't 'eo And she mustn't let the stock
git a sight NV i'm noways; such proven
der was powerful indigestible,o etc, etc.
Carr laughed at their jokes, but pri-
vately knit her slender, straight brows
as the weeks Wore on, and upon onepre-
tense and another, young Lawrence staid
still. It was easy enough to stay, with
out any excuse, where people kept such
wide doors as these. Western hospitali-
ty the most genuine tllingin the world,
and that, combined with its heartiness,
its wide kitchen and ample cheer, made
it perhaps irresistible to Montgomery
Lawrence. Certainly he seemed to find
it very pleasant, and Carr set ner little
white teeth, and wondered why he didn't
go home where girls were made of more
mortal stuff than they were here.
One day Carrcame in from the orchard
with her apron full Of great golden APP
plies with red checks, smooth and shin
ing like wax, and tumbled them down
on the lounge by Lawrench, who sat
there in a brown study about something
s5lhey're the last you'll get this year"
she said 81 advise you to nakethe most
of them.'
pies, though they were Of the sort he
liked best of any in the orchard. Carr
looked SO much prettier than the fruit.
Her cheeks were redder than theirs, and
her eyes had such deep, sweet light.
He caught her hand.
81 wish you would marry me, Carr
Wilson,"
Rosy lustre flashed over Carr's face,
and was gone as she pulled her handaWay
wi h a pettish movement.
He took upan apple and began to toss
it lightly in the air, as he asked,
"Why nOt?"
an assumed air he had, the handsome
coxcomb, and what did he mean by lest
ing her about marrying? She was in no
hurry. And all the time Carr almost
knew he was in earnest.
K "Why not, Carr" again.
"Well,' Carr said, putting her white
teeth into one of the apples, and eating
it with apparent relish, though she had
but a dim consciousness whether it was
an apple or a potatoe, Gin the first place,
you're too handsome, shouldn't exact
ly fancy having my husband handsomer
than l am.o
Lawrence flushed little.
Gin the second place." he said looking
straight at her with his blue-black eyes.
"In the second place, don't think !
like you well enough, Carr said placidly,
addinginwardly, 81 wish he'd look some
where else." But he didn't for some
moments.
eff it were only question of good
looks. l think l could manage it. But
since you don't like me anyhow, sup
pose the less said the BETTER" and rather
abruptly he went out of the room.
Matters went on very much in the old
way after that, only Lawrence cavaliered
any other of the pretty farmers daugh-
tiers quite as often as he did Carr, and
spent days at a time away from Luke
Wilson's. Carr and he met less often,
but still on the same equable friendly
terms. If Carr bore any malice, it was
not aDnarent and she had kindly owe