Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1867-07-19

verance. at a sufficiently comfortable posi-
tion he began his instructions, Interrupted
onlv nv an occasional puff at his cigar,
which momentary pause rendered his
words all the more impressiys-at least
fancied so.
uncle. Mr.. Merrick-his name is MerrlcK
I told you before he was eccentric; but
that is not the word exacting describes
him better. He is awfully exactlng, and
Possesses immense influence over his niece;
an influence 80 great that his choice would
be hers, even were she not still under age,
which believe she Is. My dear fellow,
all depends upon the impression you make
in that quarter. cannot exaggerate tne
importance of devoting yourself from slEe
yery first to MISUNDERSTANDING his tastes,
sharing his pleasures, and attaching MN
firmly to your interests. The old fellow is
so selfish in insisting on these attentions
that 7 don't think, were even free,
could stand enough of his society. to m
sure success. But there's no knowing, the
prize is well worth winning, and perfectly
attainable through him, and through nun
alone"
"Miss Effing is charming girl, SAID
| Fred. "ouite young, and ready to believe
anything bad of lover her uncle con-
dennis Being an heiress and beauty,
She has already received several proposals,
but all have been rejected in consequence
of the suitors having had the gorgeous
| folly TO pay more attention to the niece
than to the uncle" 80,
So then the uncle was the only real din
culty-not a very grave one, thought
At all events, forewarned was fOrearmec,
r w yadf To 70 INV natiQnnn
to the utmost for SO great stake At Inc
moment it did not occur to me how re-
markably well-informed Clayton appeared
on all that concerned our future host.
was only too glad to find him so well able
to advise me, and perhaps a little relieved
that the great result did not involve much
ceurtship or attendance on a young lady.
We were not long in arriving at the sta
ton, where dog-cart was in waiting to
receive us, and after rather cold drive OF
| couple Of miles we reached our destlna-
| ton nj gifagsFi 81 D3faossBaaa gfEi5fi
Mr.. Merrick's, or Miss ,Ef1ng's house
| for I did not know to whom 1t actually be-
| longed--was q large, handsome building,
! situated in a fine park, with undulatlng
| lawn and well;planted trees--so much /
was able to perceive in the growing dark
ness.
h. our arrival had been heralded by a
| handsome pointer that we found reposing
| on the terrace; and, on alighting, we were
met by Mr. Merrick, who treated me to a
long and most unequivocal stare, IND after
greetings and introductions, hurried US oil
| to our several apartments to prepare for
dinner. ,.i J.; s-ta.5e, .s4ss
| shall never forget that dressing. Ihad
1 heard SO much of first impressions, l be-
lieved in them SO implicitly, that my de-
sire to produce the proper. effect almost
amounted to frenzy, and | could have
/ strangled Fred Clayton for his GOODNESS
and equanin.ity, when he good naturally
came into my room to accompany me down
| through the ordeal of a first appearance in
a drawing-room.
Miss Effing was there; and the moment
| I saw her / understood the failure of all for
| mer suitors | realized the almost super
human effort that would be necessary vol
unfairly to resign such companionship for
that of the superannuated uncle, and re-
solved to steel myself by the constant rec
election of my predecessors, fates. Grace
| full, witty and lively to a degree, no wonder
/ the old man dreaded to lose the sunlight of
her presence, and the afectionate charm Of
her manner towards himself AIT /
| With exemplary fortitude dashed at my
task, and before the evening was over
found myself to my great surprise, estab-
| lished as the chosen companion of Mr..
| Merrick l listened with admirably got-up
interest to long, dreary anecdotes OF his
:, past experiences, comprising minute de-
tails of the dates and even hours at which
people, long since dead, had been born
the memories Of these old people are al
ways prodigious land submitted to anac-
l - Il To- Il
lecting Of minerals, which now occupied
all his time, except during the shooting
season, for the old gentleman was very
4 proud of still being able to carry gun.
| Of course Immediately professed my
self an enthusiast on the subject of miner
alogy, and was forthwith carried off in tri-
umph to large cavernous den, to admire
what he called his specimens. f1e Z ,
The examination of these hideous little
Ibits of tin and stone lasted, 1t appeared to
me, about two hours and when, ultimate
ly, we returned to the drawing groom, hui
man nature asserted its rights, and uncon-
sciously stole over to the piano, where
Miss Efing's fairy fingers wandered list
lessly over the keys, while Fred Clayton
stood before her looking through some mu-
SIC Immediately a wal hing glance from
Fred recalled to me sen, e Of danger, and
turning in the direction Cf Mr.. Merrick /
perceived an unmistakable scowl upon his
face, as he watched the party. Fastening
to his side, l succeeded partially in remov-
ing it, by the proposal of game OF chess,
which absorbed all his facultits, and ago
nized all mine, till the general move was
made for retiring. 49, t;... 81.
AS / approached Miss Ef1ng to wish her
good night, overheard the old tyrant re-
mark, condescendingly, to Fred, Your
friend is an intelligent fellow we sympa-
thize, and | like him; rather superficial In
mineralogy, but we must try and remedy
that by making the most of .our, time, as
your stay will not extend beyond few
| days. In fact, the young man quite inter
ests me; | wish you had his tastes, Fred
erick."" ' i&', -
So virtue was rewarded, and had made
a good impression '-'4'i7 . '1s'' 80
F. OK ,T5Y ipG 8 ---~- 3oG 25ti aAI
/ .r ~ u III. 81 soen vHa $3.50
The next morning we started early, in
tent on the wholesale slaughter of par
tridges; and on this occasion Fred hurt
bis hand so severely as to incapacitate him
from joining our future expeditions; in
fact, every possible combination of circum.
stances favorable to my advancement in
the good graces of Mr.. Merrick seemed to
surround me. To say what an effort it re.
quired to submit cheerfully to his perpetu-
al presence would be impossible. He ap.
peared, after little, to regard my contin.
ual companionship as a matter of course