Des Arc weekly citizen., 1867-03-23
VOLUME 2.
MT. Budlong,s Courtship.

Jonathan B~dicng iA . disccnsolate manner.
 No, Nh Badlcne, | don't see how l can.'
 You could, just as easy as not, if you was only mind to- said the moNrnfal lover.
 Then I hope you will excuse me, but I'm afraid it's because don't want to- said Clara Hilton. asi Why not persisted Jonathan. Perhaps you're afraid the old woman would interfere with you, but she shan't.'
 I don't know exactly who you refer to Mir. Budlone by the old woman l Why, ma'ara, of coNrse. YoN should have your own way in the hoNsc, no matter what she said.' Excuse mo, Mir. Budlong, but should be very far from wishing to interfere with your mothers comfort, cF position in her household. You would uot be the worse husband for proving A good scn,'
 I thought perhaps that might be It, said Jonathan. Gals sometimes like to have their own way. If it's because you're afeard I wouldn't allow you good clothes, I'm willing to give you anything reasonable-tliat is, not cx- travagant, you know
 Clara Hilton smiled.
 o, as to that Mir. Budlong, I should not feel in the least troubled. I've got some money of my own, AS you proba- bly know.
 ! These last words were spoken with a little emphasis. It was generally known that Jonathan Budlong was very fond of Woney, and Clara sus- pectcd, and not without truth, that he was more in love with her money than herself. He had not even the art to conceal it, as was shown by his an- swer.
 But that would come to me, said Jonathan.
 Q, would it?' returned the Soung lady rather sarcasticallv.
 'Of course the wifc's money belongs to the husband
 And the husbands tc the wife
 No, of course not
 Then it doesn't seem to bc hardly fair
 Q, vcs, women you know, don't know how to take care of moncy.'
 That is quite complimentary. l never had any trouble taking care of minc.'
 Hadn't you better change your mind and have me?' asked Jonathan again rather unwilling to give up Miss IIil- ton aud her five thousand dollars.
 No, thank you, Mir. Btdlong.'
 That's treating fclicr mean after encouraging him as you have
 When did l encourage you, Mr. Bndiong?
 Didn't you go out to ride with me last winter!'
 Yes, and went out with Luke Bradshaw, too. He didn't think l ought to marry him for that
 Then gin you peck of grccning apples-fust rate ones, too
 I didn't want to take thcn you know, Mir. Budlong, but you insisted upon it.
 Then you wont have mc?'
 I couldn't possibly
 MT. Budlong rose from his seat in evident anger as well as disappoint- ment, and left the house.
 Clara Hilton had not long lived in the village, but her parents having died, she had come to live temporarily with an aunt. It soon got noised abroad that she was an heiress, and Jonathan Budlong, thinking it would be a smart speculation, at once began to pay attention to her. She had not wholly declined him because she wished to teach him q lesson. Only two years before, he had been engaged to very worthy young woman who had little money. This money, how ever, was unwisely invested and lost No sooner did Jonathan discover this than he receded from his engagement, and declined to marry her. Being a young woman of spirit, she survived the disappointment, and realized her good fortune in getting rid of so mer- cenary an admircr. She was now in a neighboring town teaching school, and was doubtless better of than if she had been Mir. Budlong's wife and mis- tress of the Budlong farm.
 For it must be said that Jonathan had no excuse for his avarice. He was well off as the phrase is. He had \ good farm which he owned clear, and this yielded him comfortable living. But the more he had, the more he wanted, and he pinched himself unnec- essarily, in order to lay by every year as much as possible.
 I wish hadn't gin her that sleigh ride he said to himself as he went out, and them apples might have sold for fifty cents. I've a great mind to make her pay for 'em. Then again l treated her that night of the sleigh ride. Faint no more than fair, as long as she didn't mean to marry me all along
 The next day Miss Hilton was some what surprised by receiving the fol- lowing bill. It was brought to the door by small boy:
 Miss Clara Hilton f