Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-05-18

devoted the remainder OF the evening
to Mrs. Keith, upon whose, as | thought,
not inappreciative heart, lavished all
the resources of my sentimental STRAIT
egy.
My brother had gone; cousin Ned
was in constant demand as partner !;
all the other eligibles ditto; and l had
the field to myself. So steadily. and
yet with such rapidity did I make my
advance, that by the time the party
broke up, believed myself in posses
sion of all the principal outworks, and
little was left to insure victory, save a
determined assault upon the-oh: sink
the shop! l mean, in plain terms, that
l thought the pretty widow in fair way
to be captured by the glittering graces
of Brevet- Second Lieutenant Timothy
Buck, of that ik
The next six days found me still
faithful and hopeful of conquest. l
spent at least third of each of those
days with the fascinating Florence.
She was affable, she was gracious,
she was con6ding, she Yves charming
She asked my advice as to sendiLg her
eldest son Gagged four years and seven
months) to West Point. She said her
second son (aged three years. would
doubtless be a sailor, he was 50 fond of
playing in the water, and asked me if
the navy was a more dangerous pro-
fession than the army. She observed
that if she married again, it would be
far more for her children's sake than
her own. was supremely happy, for
l began to think that | was seriously
10 love with Florence, and that the
children, who had at first seemed
slightly superfuous articles in my mat
rimonial venture, were now singularly
appropriate and even necessary. l
would not have dispensed with them at
any price.
AS 1 entered Mrs. Keith's door on
the seventh day, l met my brother
coming out He nodded, smiled, and
passed on. Then it occurred to me
that on at least three previous occasions
| had also met him coming out of the
widows house as 1 went in.
''My brother is frequent visitor of
yours, said | to Florence.
She blushed-how beautiful she was
wher she blushed! | thought.
eyes, said she, 'he-is-very kind
to me- He is my late husbands exc
cutor, and takes such excellent care of
my little fortune. Oh! | am very
grateful to him for many kindnesses.'
'And the tears came into her large
blue eyes. How large and liquid her
eyes were, thought +! And how very
blue
''He is indeed most excellent
man. l exclaimed, with sympathetic
enthusiasm; and has been most low.
ing and generous brother to me-
''How can we ever repay him ?
sighed the widow
How my heart lept when she said
we!
''We will do what we can to cheer
his life,' said 1, taking her hand.
''Yes. yes, be deserves all can-all
we can do! said she, giving my fin.
gers just the gentlest squeeze.
Il was instantly seized with momen--
tary insanity. l caught her round the
waist, drew her to me, and kissed her
passionately; then started up and rush
ed out of the house as if the foul Gend
was after me. After walking five miles
in the rain l felt cooler, and went home
to dinner.
Cousin Ned took dinner with us. 1
had graciously given him three drill
lessons, and was to give him another
that afternoon. But my mind was ab-
sorbed with other and far weightier
things just now than tactics.
AS soon as dinner was over, 1 begged
cousin Ned to excuse me for half an
hour, and asked my brother to come in
to the study for moment.
Fanny whispered something to cous-
in Ned, who laughed and said, Non
sense! What ridiculous idea
Il slew them both with aa air-drawn
dagger and went into the study.
Brother. said l, do you think it
would be foolish in me to marry?'
''Not exactly foolish, Tim,' said he,
considerably taken aback by the ques-
ton. You have tolerable income in
dependent of your profession. though
you are young, and soldiers life, at
least till be attains a high rank-but
why do you ask :? Are you
Thinking of getting married? Yes;
in fact, resolved to do SO. Now suppose
the lady were year or 50 older than l :?
$50 slight difference would be of
no consequence. Indeed, l do not ad-
NIT that differences of age, except in
extreme cases, shouid be bar to mar
riage, where there is sincere affection.
So
''But suppose she was-a-widow-'
CHA! exclaimed my brother.
'With-with--children ? cried I,
quickly.
My brother grew red, then pale.
How many asked he.
'I-I-only two, and both very
young
by George !. cried my brother in a
strange voice, half stern and half sar-
C site. You don't mean Florence
Mrs keith?'
''But l do! said l stoutly; 'and
what's more l mean to marry her
that is if
eff she'll have you, eh ? 'Tll be
id (this was the first time l had ever
heard NV brother usa such an oath \ |