The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-07-30
stletteO lAistsLL0nu.
now 1 MADE A FOOL OF MYSELF.


As I sat alonent breakfast was some.
what surprised ON receiving n most cor
teous and pressing invitation from my I'M
Gle jeremy 10 spend u short time with him.
self and family nj lis scat in Wurwickshiro,
previous 10 my leaving England. Tho old
gentleman and my fatler had been astnnC-
ed from each other, for many years through
some family quarrel, so that L had not
seen my uncle Jeremy, save ON II ocoas-
ion since my boyhood.
I~n-consequenco of my fathers death, 1
had been summoned from America, where
1 had been pushing my fortune with sue
cess, for n considerable time, and now, hav-
ing settled my affairs, l was preparing 10
cross the Atlantic when my unolo's letter
renohedm mo.
ALy mother and cider brother, with
whom shonow resided, were the only near
relatives I had in London. Fred had
long since settled down In the world with
q good kind wife, and well knowing that
my mother would be sure TO receive oyory
attention under bis happy roof / carcdlit-
tie 10 remain in England a homeless bach
elOr, while anything i'm tho shape Of mar
riage was still further from my rambling
thoughts.
~ W NNN ARNAN va NN NM VIZ
liging' would do anything to obligo me,
aud expressed himself open ut any mo-
ment 20 stake n handsome wager that he
could introduce me to mt least halfa dozen
angelic creatures, tho possession Of any one
Of whom would prove a fortune in itself,
but To all these generous offers | turned q
deaf ear. Liberty was sweet, and / felt in
no haste TO sacrifice il on the alter of Ivy
men. Not that | was u wild young gontle-
man, who did not care for the comforts,
and the attractions Of home, but didn't
wish 10 have the onus Of n household
thrust upon me- 30 long as / felt happy
and eontented alone.
Six and twenty and alone lha Ia +! No
one TO bother and worry you-no shopping
no Midsummer and Christmas bills to
meets Short r~ockonings and long friends
free as the air capital
rose from my chair, put my back Ia
the mantlepicce, lit n cignr and smoked
away for n couple Of minutes most furious
ly, then | consulted my watch, mn tho
bell, ordereda hanson, resolving 10 sec my
brother Fred before l accepted or declined
~my'unolo's invitation,
Heres an unexpected epistlo / received
at my hotol this morning, Fred and | want
your advice upon it, said on entering his
Office.
what are You going to get married, af
ter all ?"
',Are you going to drown yourself sir p
said !.
"No thank you" replied Frod laughing.
"Well then" said | don't ask nonsensical
questions. Uncle Jeremy has sent me a
very polite invitation 10 spenda week or
two with him in Warwickshire before
leave England, and / thought / would Just
run down and ask you what / should do in
the matter"
why, accept II, Of course, " said Fred.
''Well, but docs II not seem strange 2"
asked; "ForI always thought that he and
u iather were mover ON very good terms. "
"No-they were not for many years, re-
piled Fred; 'but matters were put right
between them somo lineage by Uncle Jer-
envy opologizing and otherwise behaving
like q gentleman"
you never told me that, Fred" said /,
'No because / thought You would com
TO know all about it in due time. But
zee here Tom" continued my brother, re
turning the letter, "ho even ofrors yor
friendship, should you over settle in Eng
land; and that would DO something worti
having | can tell you"
eyes doubtless it would" said / 'bu
I've got a balance at my bankers and ca
manage very we'll over the water. Besides.
don't think should like 10 remain in Eng
land, now That I've got so used TO the Yam
kee fashions.
'Bosh, all bosh, Tom. you'd become nj
Engiishman again in no time" %rojoine,
Fred. smiling.
"Perhaps So" said /, obut l doubt il
However I'll follow your advice and telC
graph 10 Uncle Jeremy, saying / will be q
Marston Hall tomorrow"
''But won't you dine with us this ever
ing, asked Fred.
ooh, certainly, said j, sat G as usual ?
Eyes at CHE replied.
n we did dine ut q, and n Jolly ovor
ing we had, but strange 10 say, not th
least allusion vas made TO my intended viz
II To Uncle Jercmy's until preached th
subject myself, by asking my brother if Ii
thought I should enjoy the excursion AN
what sort OF people l might expect TO me-
there.
"Well not many of any sort, " he replied
"1or don't think thoy keep much cor
pany, but you will have a kind host m
hostess, and their daughter Agnes (wl
will, 1 suppose, have TO do duty as yol
conpanion-in-chief"
daughter Agnosr' / exclaimed, 'cWl
she was a mere child when l left England
'Qnite true. Tom" continued M
brother, "but she is n woman now, and if
dare hazard an opinion, a very fine one too,
Then glaneing misehievously across Ill
table no added. 'dut of course we TAX
you TO DE proof against even feminine pei
lection itself"
cat any rate, Fred" / observed rattle
gnapplshly, "1m proof against anyassault
from that quarter"
"All right Tom, only don't make o foC
of yourself, that's all. said my brother.
mo fear ofthaL ! replied almost wish
ing | had declined tho invitation.
Nothing moro was said ON the subieC
during the evening and whom j took leay,
OF my brother and his family / immediate
ly determined not 10 afford my fair cousir
the least reason 10 suppose that 1 Ia,
come 10 MarstOn Hall with the intention O
falling in love with her.
On my arrival at the railway station
where my uncle had promised 10 join me
1 was disappointed at not finding him, Hnt
Was about TO hire n conveyance 10 CONVEX
mo 10 my destination, when up dashed
~pGrk-ph@ton, driven by O remarkably hand
some Young lady. She drew up and beck.
oned mo toward her.
'Mr. lawson, | presume2' said the lady
'fes, thatsmy name, I" ! replied, bowling,
She at once introduced herself in the
most unaffected manner, excused the alb.
senee Of her father, on account Of indiBpo'