The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1869-01-28
Gelclteo .nlisrellanp.
LOVES REFORM.

The other morning was disturbe d at
tie unseemly hour of nine, by the an
nouncement that Frank Laxby had called,
and was DESTROYS of seeing me-
Twas rather surprised at this informa
ton, and was considering whether it was
more probable that my friend had stop
ped out four hours later or had risen three
hours earlier than was his wont, when the
door opened, and in be walked, with an
expression of calm benignity in his coun-
tenance, which left no doubt of his having
had his requisite amount of sleep. Be-
sides this, he had flower in his button
hole, instead of a cigar in his mouth,
which latter would of course have been
tie case had he been tueating the sober
hour of nine a. m in an unbecominc
manner, and as if it were merely a late
hour of the night
Has anything serious happened?" said
], as soon as had offered Frank seat,
~ or have You turned somnambulist, and
walked down here in your sleep?"
"No," ne replied, quite in his usual tone
S-1d manner; but [ knew you were only
coming to town last night, and l wanted
particularly to see you as soon as possible
afterwards. Besides, l had another very
& ,od reason for getting up before twelve
this morning"
"What was that?" inquired.
sit is rather long story" ne an
swered; but if you will order breakfast
] will repeat it to you"
"I accept the bribe," exclaimed, ring
ing the bell.
"Three months ago, then," commenced
Frank, "my father made me, what con-
sidered at the time, a very unreasonable
proposition. He suggested that should
get married"
Here the servant entered with the
breakfast things, and even he could not
help smiling at the absurdity of suck
suggestion To such man.
"The notice appeared to me-" contin-
ued Frank, "as it now appears to you, to
be an absurd one, and / limited as much to
my respected parent. Instead of agree
ing, however, to what I said, he did that
which had no right to expect from SO
near relative-he asked me what reasons
/ could show for supporting my objec-
tons"
He might as well have asked you
your reasons for drinking too much pale
ale" / remarked.
al drink very little of it now," he said,
and, without needing my i'll suppressed
astonishment, he pulled out his watch
(that watch from which he used to be so
often parted y and observed, that as he
had but little time to spare, he should feel
obliged by my not interrupting him too
often IN his narrative. HaTiEg obtained
NY implied acquiescence on this point, he
continued as follows:
"I was unwilling to undertake a regu-
lar attack on the holy state in the presence
OF my own father. !, however, endeav-
ored TO explain to him that | wished for
some time at least, to pursue the life Of a
very independent gentleman, and that
matrimony had no part in the programme
of that career.
My father calculating on an avarice
which do not possess, informed me that
the lady he snorl6 suggest possessed un-
told wealth, though, blythe bye, distinct
ly remember his telling me OF it on pre-
vious occasion. l explained to him that
nv contempt for riches was considerable
to which he replied, that he hoped 1 did
not, at all events, entertain similar feel
ing towards the paternal opinion.
"Of course | was too dutiful to answer
my parent in spirit of candor, and my
flial behavior on this point Led to request
that would allow myself TO be introduced
70 the lady to whom he wished to pay the
compliment of offering me az husband
1t appea ed that she possessed beauty to a
considerable extent, and, although the belle
herself had never seen me, it was not sup
posed for an instant, either by my father
or myself, that she could have the least OBJ.
lection.
"I delayed giving final answer; be-
cause, being anxious to obtain money be.
yond my usual allowance, l thought re-
spect and civility would best become me
At last there was no help, and l wa;
obliged to decline being led, like perfect
sheep, to the altar upon which my father
limited that should take speedy depart
ure from his residence, and not trouble my
self about calling again until was pre-
pared for the alarming sacrifce adding
In a tone evidently meant to be insulting
that he shouldn't wonder if my feeling,
were already engaged"
"And were they." / inquired.
"They were in part" continued Frank
"but not to the extent which the old boy
Imagined. About fortnight previous e
the conversation which ! have repeated
having heard great deal about the ad
Ysnteges Of early rising, ] determined Il