Des Arc weekly citizen., 1868-05-02
}, ARK A NSAS. MAY 2, 1868.

was real kind of your ma. You see we've been pretty busy, right straight along, in the shop here, and l ain't much of a visiting man anyway"
 "Ohl of course, business before pleasure; but you must try. and make an exception in our favor. How do you sellthese pickled mackerel? Mas so fond of mackerel."
 Miss Lucinda" Mir. Mounterville cried, trembling with eagerness like calves-foot jelly, might send her over dozen, just to try 'em? Sam II take 'em, and the molasses, too; and if you'll wait a minute until I wash my hands and take off my apron, III see you home.'
 A dirty apron, worn habitually round lovers waist, can hardly be less than poisoned dart to the breast of any young woman of refinement. But 1 smothered my feelings and smiled Yes, saw Mir. Mounterville take off his apron and wipe two very dirty hands on it, and l smiled!
 Sam winked at Phil ss he seized the mackerel and the molasses. It was with the eyenext Phil; but I saw it, and l folded my shawl around me like q Roman toga, and drew myself up, and turned my back upon that young man, with solemnity and austerity of aspect, m inclined to think, he won't forget in hurry.
 There were dozens of customers in the shop, but, with wild and reckless disregard of popularity and fractional currency, MT. Mounterville shufIled them over to Phil and stalked majes- tieally out into the night, with me by his side. He didn't offer me his arm, (to take gentleman's arm, in our vil- lage, is equivalent to a binding en- gagement,) but we trod along, side by side, slowly and sentimentally, with that Sam ahead, stopping every now aud then to shift the molasses and mackerel from one hand to the other, and take backward glance at us.
 The night was loyely-I think l made the remark before. X profound still ness reigned, and everything in the Armament above, and the earth be- meath, was conducive to tender dec- laration. My heart throbbed, as the heart of spotless maiden should throb, the first time the question is popped and Mir. Momteryile, with his hat rather on one side, as he likes to wear 1t, and q pungent odor of cod fish and onions about him, looked up
 s7sy ssE0ua wE1t oDs vgg aEWs, ,s.sV. $ plsiHtive expression of counienanee.
 ''Nice, isn't itY remarked Mir. Mouuteryille--w had walked about three dozen yards without exchanging a syllable II always had a hankering after moonlight, and then it'e saving of kerosene, too, if man only keeps his shop-door open. How $ the school getting on, Miss Lucinda ?'
 Pretty well; much the same as usual.
 Don't you ever get tired of that there? It's sort of wearing to the feelings, l should think"
 Do you mean teaching? ?"
 "Yes; it's wearing, aint it?"
 sighed heavily; you could have heard me great way off
 "But what can we do Mir. Mounter- vitle? We must live, ma and me, and to live we must labor. It is of no use complaining; it is our lot, and must se endured" (Sigh the second)
 Well, but, Miss Lucinda, look here, said Mounteryille, firmly, "hain't you ever thought of being married"
 Good gracious, here it wasl l had thought Mir. Mounteryille would have been embarrassed, and stammer, and tremble; but can't say he did. He took 1t ooolly, as though the matter in hand had been several new tubs of butter.
 Married! Oh dear me, MT. Moun- tervillel such funny question you know !" with an hysterical little giggle.
 "Is it? Now l should think it was time. When girl comes to be your age she ought to marry. if ever she means to"
 The odious brutel 1 could have pounded him, but l didn't. l only giggled more hysterically than before, and said nothing.-To be concluded next week.