The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1868-01-10
Selected Tale.
THO lNPRONPTIJ MARRIAGE,

"For Heavens sake, Susy, do be Sc
rious, If you can, for five minutes
Pray, pray, cease this trifiing, which is
but cruel playing with my feeling; let
US treatEthis subject, as it deserves,
soberly and seriously"
"Well, there, then !" cried the laugh
ing, black-eyed girl, to whom Charles
Westerly spoke. .There, then, is that
graAe enough? See, the corners of my
mouth are duly turned down, and my
eyes rolled up, and I am sober as pa
tient who has caught sight of the dem
lists instruments. Do suit you?"
"You Suit me any, way and you know
it well, you witch !" cried C Charles, gaz-
ing with a smile, at the pretty face,
puckered up in its affectation of de-
mureness. But he was not to be driven
from his point, and heresumed gravely,
after pause, ssThe time has come Su-
sy, when feel have a right to de-
mand an explicit answer to my suit
You have trihed with my earnest feel
ings long enough. l have grown rest
less under my fetters."
"Shake off, then, Charley" Interrupt
ted the saucy girl, with a pretty def
ant toss Of tic head, which plainly said,
| defy you to do it.
81 cannot, Susy, I cannot-arid you
know it," replied the helpless lover,
impatiently.
THAT being the case" said Susy,
stake my advice-wear them graceful
ly, and don't pull and jerk SO, it only
makes them hurt YOU"
The young man turned away angrily,
and walked silently up and down the
room, evidently fretting and funiing
internally. Susy, meantime, looked
out of the window and yawned. Chas.
continued his moody walk.
sOh, what a beautiful bird on that Ii
lac tree - csied Susy. "Do come and
see it,"
Charles mechanically approached the
window and looked out.
"Don't you think, Charley" said Su-
sy, laying her hand on his arm, and
looking up eagerly, don't you think
you gould manage to-
''What, Susy, dear?" asked Charles,
all his tenderness awakened by her
manner. 'Whatp'
''Drop pinch of salt on his tail, "re=
turned the provoking girl, with an af-
tcctation of simplicity; for then you
know you could catch it.
His answers was to ning her off, and
with suppressed exclamation, turned
angrily away.
His walk this time was longer than
before, and his cogitations were most
earnest; for he did not heed any of Su-
sy's artfully artless devices to allure his
notice: At last he stopped abruptly be-
fore her, and said; "Susy, for three long
years have been your suitor; without
either confession of love or promise of
on your part. Often as have
demanded to know your sentiments to-
Yards me; you have always coquettish-
ly refused Iiie an answer. This state of
things must cease. love you; as you
know, better than my life; but will
no longer be your plaything. To-nor~
row you are going away to distance,
to be absent for months, and ifyou can
not, this very day, throw aside your
and give me an honest yes,
for my answer, shall consider that
have received no." and act according
ly."
uAnd how would that be? What
would YOU do?" asked Miss Susy, curt
ously.
-. Begin by tearing your false and
worthless image from MY heart,' cried
Charles, very furiously.
at would be curious piece of busi-
ness, Charley; and you would not sue
ceed either."
'SI should; and would succeed" said
Charles, s'as you shall see, if you wish,
crue', heartless girl"
sBut l don't visit Charley; dedr-I