The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1867-04-10
a TEnREE YEARS CONTRAST
An Agreeable disappointment.
BY JOHN LANE.

Gle, whom | had served faithfully in the
countirg-room during the previous three
years, had just proposed Installing me as a
co-partner in the busiless firm, of which he
was the senior member; and | had most
oheertuliy and gratefully assented to the
generous proposal.
Twas mentally congratulating myself up
on the tayorable prospect in the way Of in
.suripg fortane, which was thus Icing
opened before me aud also rejoicing ovll
the harry thought that my widowed moth
er would thus be enabled through my in
strumentali;y, to dwell. at length, in HON,
surround ed with the lux, rics which hel
worthiness demanded; picturing TO mysel
the joys and comfots-which it should con
tain; when the post-boy dropped into the
room, ard with his accustomed "Penny,
sir" handed me letter. l had merely To
glance at the superscription to learn at once
from whom it had comets author wa,
that mother. thcn dwelling within the hap
piest abode of my thoughts, and as ez
tended the carrier his reward, ! graspcd the
letter with heartfelt pleasure. r.
That mother had not seen at any time
for three years that / had been doniciled
within my uncle counting room, posting
the latter Looks; her place OF residence
being about hundred and fifty miles dis
tant from his place Of business, and her for
tune aud my salary being to small to suffer
the exp, nse Of visiting each other.
inn lately broke the seal # my let
ter, and glazed over the contents. il
opeued with the usual stercGtyrer style pc.
culiar to the old-lashioncd people, inform
ing IRE II the blessings VIII ch Providence
was then richly testowinG uron her in the
semblancc Of good heath, and hoping that
vas lik, wise favored; with much more,
unintc,osiing to any other than myself, and
concluded by urging me to aatafn 4 brlci
resnite from the cares incumbent on The
situation that | was occupying, and pay her
a visit; pleading, amorg mary other argu-
ments favoring such colrsc on my part,
one that struck n,y lahcy 1T the time as
vastly amusing; a1dl could not rssist the
impulse Of erioyng q little quiet laughter
to myself Aiy uncle was standing near,
and, as he observed MY risite emotions,
remarked:
THAT letter contains some rather pleas
ant items, docs it not, James,
| Ireplied, Il was laughing at one Necu
liar reason which mother bas deemed pro
per to urge in favor Of NY returning homo
lust at this particular time upon visit.
: 'Ah-and that peculiar reason, if I con
lecture Alright, is sufficiently convincing.
Indeed! Please explain" | demanded
in mock surprise.
"Read the paragraph aloud, " said he
evasively.
with the greatest pleasure, y and turn
ing to the letter. | commenced reading,
''Next week Sarah Gordon returns from
boarding school, and will remain at home
during the vacation as You are aware, will
be only the short interval Of ore week
therefore, if you will come at once, you vii
have an opportunity Of renewing the at
tachment which formerly existed betweel
yourself and her. Sarah is a smart ant
good girl. and as beautiful as ever.
''Good!" CALCULATED my uncle, laughing
''iust the argument that supposed. F"
But uncIr, interposed, "the argu
ment you vii admit is very weak when
explain the fact that the attachment spoke
Of was merely that Of playmates,"
'Playmates! he repeated, incredulously
Nothing more, | assure you, pre-
tested.
''Ridiculous! Rather old playmates,
should imagine. y
II was but eighteen and Sarah fourteen
when l left home" said | hesitatingly.
"Just so. Well, it's my opinion tha
you had better go; no better opportunity
at all events, will offer itself than the pre-:
ent; and while visiting your mother yo
may as we'll secure matrimonial partne,
thus avoiding he necessity Of negectn
YOUR business for the purpose OF attendln
to such matter at some less auspfclou
time gr
II observed that it is useless to discus
the question with you" said ], good-nf
turedly; "but rest assured that Miss Sara
/ Gordon shall never become matrimcnii
partner Of mine. However, ] agree wit
you in regard to its being a favorable ol
portunity for me to pay my mother a vis
and, accordingly, | shall follow your advice
and prepare to go Immediately. "
And agreeably to this latter decision, tf
| following morning | set out upon Il
The first one hundred and thirty mil'
were by rail, the remaining twenty milt
yet had to be accomplished in the old fasl
ioned numbering stage coach. stis
As seated myself within the cars, N
mind instlnctvely turned to the scenes
my childhood, and those days were, in in
agination, lived over again; and soon Il
image Of Sarah Gordon arose before n
fancy, in all the glory of uncombed, yelo
locks and dirty, bare feet | beheld h
again romping through the winds, gatherir
berries, climbing trees with boy-like fre
dom, in quest Of bird S nests, and playir
"pull away in company with the schoc
boys. she was, indeed smart, as hinted |
my mothers letter, if activity and smar
ness are synonymous, for there was not
boy in the whole school who could succ IS
fully compete with her in a foot.race B
: ing wild and daring myself, her disposito
of course, exerteda charm over me, viii
! we we're playrnates, cur congenial spiri
commingling in happy communion, End, (