The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1868-04-09

J
determined to show him that her child
hood days were over, which elected
many rebuke from her aunt at her
forward manner with Mr.. Raven. But
Fanny was spoilt girl, and in no mind
to be lectured by her aunt, whom she
pertly accused Of setting her cap at Mr.
Raven, and being jealous of her. Miss
Green was indignant, and read her niece
a lecture. Such ideas, she said, were
absurd, and such nonsense must be put
a stop to at once. 1t would never do
to entertain such a thought, even in
joke, for if Mr.. Raven heard whisper
OF such an absurdity, they should lose
their lodger; so, if Fanny did not be-
have better, she must be sent home.
Now, in reality, poor Fanny, as l
discovered, had nowhere to 60. Her
father was in fresh difficulties, and when
he came to bis mothers house, it was
generally to endeavor to secure some
pecuniary aid, which the poor old lady
could not give without denying herself
and daughter many comforts. This
even did not satisfy him, and was
once present at stormy scene, when
he declared if she could not satisfy his
demands, he must borrow of her friend,
Mr.. Raven. At this Miss Green's
anxiety was intense, and her secret
thoughts were forced from her by her
brothers behavior. "Was it not
enough" she said, "that he had i'm
poverished them all his life7 Must he
now come and upset all her prospects,
and expose their poverty to their
friends There was no knowing, if
things were left to take their course,
but that the fortunes of the family
might change" and she hinted | had
seen the attentions she had received.
At this juncture of affairs left the
room, feeling the subject too delicate
one for any reference to myself, and
sincerely plying poor Miss Green.
For, as to attentions, Mr.. Ravens
were universal, though for the last few
days, If had noticed anything, it was
that there had been something more
than badinage between our hero aud
Fanny, Once had disturbed them by
entering the drawing-room suddenly,
when they were sitting on the sofa, and
he seemed to withdraw his arm from
round her waist. After Miss GREEN'S
observation, therefore, l deemed it
would be kind to give her hint of
what / had witnessed, and the suspi
cions that had been awakened, that her
own dignity might not be compromised.
| therefore took an early opportunity
of doing so. Miss Green accepted the
initiative in a spirit of kindness, She
was evidently much disappointed, but
from that time determined to subdue
her own hopes, and secure the literary
lion for her neice.
Another fortnight confirmed my sus-
picions; Mr.. Raven proposed for the
young lady, Mrs. Green's consent was
formally asked, though Fanny had
given hers beforehand. The old lady
was delighted, and Immediately wrote
to her son. alt was, indeed" she
said, "a subject of congratulation that
dear Fanny's future should be provided
for; especially under the unfortunate
position of her father, though, ofcourse,
it was most desirable not to give hint
of Mr.. Green's difficulties to his future
son-in-law." was looked upon quite
as one of themselves, and consulted in
all these family matters. If Mr.. Raven
had made himself agreeable before, he
now fully entered on his new prefer
ment. With tenfold desire to please,
at once an assidnous lover to Fanny,
devoted son to Mrs, Green, a brother
to her daughter, and would-be-friend
to myself, no trouble seemed too much
to take for each and all; whilst his ac-
cepted position entailed much attend
ance on his lady-love, who was very
exacting. | feared his literary labors
must necessarily suffer, and one day
hinted as much. He replied, "that he
burned the midnight oil to compensate
for the innocent relaxation he was now
giving himself" He was very anxious
dear Fanny should cultivate taste for
reading. She was never tired of lis
tening to bis quotations from Byron,
Shakespeare, and others, but she wished
also naturally to become acquainted with
her lovers own works, and he undertook
to give readings from "Adam Bede" of
an evening if we liked him to do so.
Mr.. Raven had a good voice and
read well, and we therefore all enjoyed
it, thus making a better acquaintance
with Mrs. Poyser, and the other per-
sonages in the tale. "How did you
think of such characters, Charles !"
asked Mrs. Green, for Mr.. Raven had
insisted on our calling him by his
Christian name. He replied,-"Oh!
l met the old lady up in the north" !"
and then he entertained us with more
of Mrs. Poyser's original sayings,
which he said he was keeping in pettO
for another work. After breakfast, |
frequently found the lovers together,
Mr.. Raven sitting on low stool at
Fanny's feet, reading the ''Mill on The
Floss" while the former flushed and
excited at the tale, sat entranced. Poor
girl she was deeply in love, and looked
forward TO her future lot as Charles
Ravens wife with unbounded delight.
/ must here own that my precon-
oo;vod ;1oas of an author's ntfer disra-