Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-09-22

/ pIleu-
''Has he said anything to you yet 2
inquired Carries mother.
"What 10 you mean mother p said /.
''Has he expressed his intentions ?''
she said.
sNo," replied, ''not yet"
well, it it's pretty near time he
had, :" remarked the old lady; ''for my
part / don't like him much, and don't
4 think he would be very desirable
match, for he is not doing very well in
the world, and / believe he is young
man of very unsettled habits.
go mo he amt" replied; he is toll
erably well of, and he has wealthy rela-
tions, whose heir he will be. For my
part, / think he is very desirable
young mani hope he will ask, and I'll
have him certain.
Carrie, said the old lady. opening
her eyes in amazement, ''ain't you
ashamed of yourself to say SO Perhaps
the yOung man never thought of such a
thing"
Didn't he, though ?" said L "I'll
make him ask me tomorrow. / will.
my daughter" said the old lady, 81
do not approve of it. There's Mr.. Sill
vers, know would like to have you;
and he is well-tO-do in the world. / do
wish yOu wOnld give him some enc our
agement."
To pacify the old lady promised /
would, while at the same time | swore
to have Silvers' hearts blood if | ran
across him. As luck would have it,
note came that very morning from Sill
vers, asking "AIiss Carrie if he might
have the pleasure of her company for
drive I'm the afternoon. L sent him
very affectionate and encouraging reply,
which, | have no dOubt, made Silvers
caper around his room with Joy, as he
concluded that he had at last made an
impression. Poor Silvers, he didn't
know that he was being fattened with
bliss only to be slaughtered by despair
At 3 o'clock in the afternoon Silvers
drove mp to the door in a splendid turn
out, and hitching his horses. rang the
bell. / had fixed myself In Carries
prettiest bonnet and cloak, and car,
without vanity, say that / looked deli
ciously beWitching. L found very tile
difficulty IN arranging myself; Carrie S
fingers did it mechanically from habit.
| entered the parlor with one of her
sweetest smiles on her face, and Sllvers
rose to greet me. He was gorgeously
appareltd, and as / was pretty Well
posted in male attire, i knew he had
spent several hours npOn his toilette.
He was somewhat embarrassed at first,
but | greeted him with the utmost
cordiaIity, and glanced as tenderly at
him as | could. / even ventured to
give his hand n gentle pressure as took
1t. whereupOn he became more embar-
rassed than ever, bnt seemed almost be-
side himself with JOY. You see | made
M NV mind to settle Silvers' business
that afternoon, and [ wanted to draw
him ont, and get him to make fool OF
himself. We got into the carriage, and
drove off rapidly. L talked and laugh
ed in Carries most bewitch1Dg
manner, keeping up lively fire OF re-
marks upon persons and things III gem
eral. but Silvers was shy. He evidently
had something on his mind which he
wanted to get rid of. aud he couldn't
talk. thought while / was about it
/ might rs we'll get his opinion of my
self, so / said:
s'Mr. Silvers, | have heard queer sto-
ries about Joe Parsons lately; do you
know anything Ofit p
A CLEAN of Joy passed down Silvers'
countenance ut this, and he said, In a
kind of hesitating manner, that was
evidently assumed.
"Ah Miss Carrie, / don't like TO tell
what know of that young man.
lyon eau speak freely to me Mr. Sill
vers, said |. "What you say shall be
strictly cona@iential,"
"WeII, !" says he. lit pains me to say
it, Miss Carrie, but Parsons is addicted
TO the most horrible vices. He was car
ried home in state of senseless iHtoxi-
cation four nights last week"
'sYou shock me. Mr.. Sllvers," said 1,
''but | had suspected this partly"
EYES" said he, she is a dangerous
Young man, and | should be sorry To
have him intimate with any female
friend of mine.
/ felt good deal like getting up and
punching Sllvers' head at this, but L
kept my temper and waited for my re-
venge. Coming home, 1 observed that
Silvers was wOrkln@ap pretty near TO
the proper pitch of desperation. and L
kept perfectly silent. Presently no burst
ont with
s'Miss Carrie, | want to talk to you
upon "A serious matter"
"Mr. Silvers," said l, ''you brighten
me-
''The fact is" said he, ''that / long
ago learned to regard you with more
/ than common esteem, and / am now
/ that is-that that Silvers
here became so embarrassed that he
couldn't so on.
"Wen, what of it Mr.. SiIvers ?"
calmly said.
He boiled over at th is point, and said
| desperately: "Why, Carrie, love you
and want you to he my wife"
Look here, MIR. Silvers," said /,
"don't behave so fOolishly, everybody's
looking mt MS. Amt you ashamed OF
yourself to jest upon so serious sub
iect -
sJest T. said he, 'jest about it BY
heavens, [ am III earnest. Ifyou refuse
me you will blight my happiness, drive
me To despair, aud take away the only
hope that makes life endurable p
.'Pshaw, Silvers," said l, ''It won
do anything of the kind. You go
along well enough without me befor'
this. and guess You can still.
s'Do YOU refuse me 2" he said; ''ar'
all the bright hopes l have cherished Il
be thus dispelled All, it cannot be.
81 am afraid it can," / replied, g
: wouldn't have you under any circum
stances.
Silvers here uttered something yer.
; profane, and then grinding his teetl