Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1868-06-24

The Judge smiled slyly; he had an idea
as to what the other letter contained
Every one in town knew how hopelesslv
Mr.. Harry Grover was in love with pretty
Ariel Browne. Judge Cornell had been
young himself notso very many years ago.
"It's just as we'll for the lad to marry
and settle down" thought the old gem
tleman, Sand Ariel will certainly make
as sweet little wife as mortal could wish
for" sest srsv er1 $50 ~ asa-rr ansg
Harry needn't have been so mysteri-
! ously sealing and directing his two letters
at the tall desk be nd the office door. sis
Judge Cornell knew just as well what
was in them as If he had read every word
with his own eyes. But young people
have mistaken idea that old people don t
know anything. 5os aas2 gF
Miss Ariel Browne sat in her room,
busy with complicated piece of bright
colored web that ladies call "erotchet," /"
when Bridget tapped softly at the panels
of the door. f ala 1sgg
"Please, Miss Ariel, letter" aaaaas
GA letter, and for me! Dear me,
Bridget, and who can it be from 2" aa
''Faix, then, and it's meself that doesn't
know, but lawyer Growers Office boy
brought it, and an impudent young spal-
peen he is, To-" aisle ai5. a 9sla
But here Bridget became concious that
her young mistress was paying no atten-
tion to her, and withdrew into her depart
ment of the kitchen, there to nurse her
grief in solitude. sid sa s.re sos
AriePs cheek had turned as pink as the
inside of a wild rosebud, as she read the
superscription of the letter, and her heart
beat perhaps pulse or two faster than
was its WON'T but she broke open the mis-
sive with resolute hand, and read :aR
amy DEAR Mss BRowsE:-T Rather cold be-
giningl tshe poutedl l must beg to decline
all further negotiations with you. AS you cam
not for moment seriously suppose | care to
possess anything so utterly worn down and
good for nothing, it is useless to waste either Of
our time in any more preliminaries.
2" will call this afternoon and return to you
the papers you so unnecessarily took the trouble
to send me, Yours very truly, H. GROVER,
Ariel threw down the note and burst
into tears.
"The cold-hearted, presumptuous vii
Fan 2" she sobbed. g Papers, indeed l
suppose he means the note [ wrote him
about the picnic O, how foolish [ have
been, how absurd, and | am lightly pun
ished for my folly!" -
But still Ariel wept on; when a girl of
eighteen has built up glittering castle
xxyho 6otio 1n13
her own heart, she cannot see it dashed
ruthlessly into ruin without few natural
tears.
Meanwhile, Miss Experience Browne,
oetat fifty we'll ripened autumns was read
ing, with no little astonishment, the letter
which Bridget's enemy the post-boy, had
brought for her.
"Up-on my word p exclaimed Miss
Experience, slowly and emphatically.
'Tbe impertinent young fortune hunter
humbug Does he suppose Pm born
fool, to swallow such pack of sentiment
al fattery as this? Lovely eyes-dim
ples' IF he'd had said spectacles and
wrinkles, he'd have been considerably
nearer right. No you don't, my fine
fellow-no--you- don't! Experience
Browne hasn't lived fifty five years in the
world to fall into such a trap as this at
last. He'll call this afternoon to receive
the answer that is to decide the whole
clrrent of his future life,' will he 7? Well,
let him call. IL be ready for him and
III warrant me he won't be in hurry
to call again" .-..-... ..a>
And Miss Experience chuckled to her.
self until all the false curls quivered, as
she folded the letter neatly and put it
back into its hurriedly directed envelope
II never had an offer of marriage be-
fore" she thought viewing her autumnal
countenance in the pier glass, and adjust
ing the little puffs of ribbons in her cap
border, 'and it does make one feel kind Of
queer It's something to tell of, any way.
Bethuar Jones need't go to saying now
that l was an old maid, because [ had
never had an offer. [ just wonder what
Ariel would say guess won't tell her !;
she would only laugh at me %
Miss Experience drew herself up as if
her spinal column were bar of iron, that
after noon, when Bridget announced
"Mr. Grover. mem p
"Show him in, Biddy-I am quite at
| leisure to receive him.
And our hero, entirely innocent of the
pending storm that awaited him, walked
into Miss Experience awful presence,
with bundle Of title-deeds in his hand,
tied with the official looking red tape Of
his profession. gs
"Good afternoon, Miss Experience,
"Ain't you ashamed of yourself, Harry
Grover 2" calculated the spinster, in a
deep stern voice. "Get along with your
self maxim love to an old woman more n