Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1868-01-08
E..EEtNsTe, A WIFE.

And so ynn want to marry my daughter,
young man." said farmer Biivens, removing
the jpe from his mouth, AMI looking Il,
Tic yoang fellow rha,ply from head to toe.
Despite his rather indolcnt, eiFeminate
air, which vas mainly the result Of his edu'
cation, Luke Jordan was fine looking fel'
.o1, aEl NOT easily moved from his self pos
session; but he coloved and grew confused
bcnsa,h that sharp, scrutinzing lock.
Yes, .sir. spoke to Mis- Mary last
evening, and she--she referred ne to you.
The old mans face sottenea.
'Mo'ly is a gooa girl, a re,y good gil, y
he said, slroking lis chin, with a thought
ful air, "and She deserves good husband.
What can you do?'
The Young man looked rather blank at
this abrup, inquiry.
"if you rctcrto my ability to support a
wife, ! can assure yOu-"
Il know that you are rich man, Luke
Jordan. but take it for granted you ask my
slrl, to marry ype, not you property.
VI bat guarantee can you give me, in case it
should be swept away as it is il thousands
of inatanccs-that you could provide for her
a comfortable home: You have hands and
tcan,-do you know how to use them /?
Again ask, what can you q, -
This was a style Of catechsm for which
Luke was quite unpreparcd, and he stared
b'onkly at the luesli,ner without speaking.
Il believe you managed to get through
colicre-have you any profession ~"
mo, sir; | thought"
Have you any traie?'
mo, sir; my father thought that, with
the wealth | should inherit, | should not
need any,"
"Your father Thought Ike fool, then.
He'd much better have given you some
honest occupation and cut you off with a
shilling; it might have been the making of
you. As it is, what are you fit for? Here
you are, strong, able bodied young man,
TWEEN ty,iour years old, and never earned a
dollar in your life You ought to be asham.
od Of yourself. "
"And you want to marry my daughter
resumed the old man, after few vigorous
pufFs at his pipe. Now, I've given Molly
as good advantages for learning as any girl
in town, and she hasn't thrown 'em away
but Il she didn't know how to work, she'd
be no daughter Of mine. III chose could
keep more than one servant but don't, no
more than choose, that my daughter
should be pale, spiritle-s creature, full OF
dyspepsia and all manner Of fine lady all
ments, instead of the smiling bright eyed,
rosy.chetked lass she is. ! did say that she
should marry nolad that had been cursed
with rich father but she's taken foolish
liking to ye, and Ill tell ye what Ill do; &"
to work, and prove yourself to be a man
perfect yourself in some occppation-l don't
Care what, so it be honest; then come to
me, and if the girl is willing, she is yours. "
As the old man said this, he deliberately
knocked the ashes out Of his pipe against
one CT the pillars Of the porch where he
was standing, tucked it into his vest pocket,
and went into the house.
Pretty Mary Blivens was waiting to SOC
her lover down at the garden gate, their
usual ,rysting place. The smiling light tad.
ed from her eyes as she noticed his sober,
discounted look.
\ ssFuther means we'll, she said, as Luke
told her, the result of his application.
And I'm not sure but what be is about