The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1869-01-30
9elrrtro 1fltstellanp.
LOVES REFORM.

The other morning was disturbe d at
the unseemly hour of nine, by the an
nouncement that Frank Laxby had called,
and was desirous 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 he walked, with an
expression Of calm benignity In his couu-
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 cigar in his mouth,
which latter would of course have been
the case had he been tFeating the sober
hour Of nine a. m. in an unbecOming
manner, and as if 1t were merely late
hour of the night
Has anything serious happenedY" said
l, as soon as had offered Frank a seat,
"or have you turned somnambulst, and
walked down here in your sleep?"
mo" ne replied, quite in his susualtone
and manner; "but knew you were only
coming to town last night, and I wanted
particularly to see you as soon as possible
afterwards. Besides, had another very
good reason for getting up before twelve
this morning"
"What was thatY" inquired.
Z" 1t is rather long story" he an
swered; "but if you will order breakfast
will repeat it to you"
| accept the bribe," I exclaimed, ring
ing the bell.
Three months ago, then," commenced
Frank, "my father made me, what con-
9dered at the time, very unreasonable
proposition. He suggested that l should
get married"
Here the servant entered with the
breakfast things and even he could not
help smiling at the absurdity of such
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 said, he did that
which had no right to expect from so
near a relative-he asked me what reasons
could show for supporting my objeo-
tions.".
He might as we'll have asked you
your reasons for drinking too much pale
ale," remarked.
"I drink very little of it now" he said
and, without needing my ill.suppressed
astOnishment, he pulled out his watch
Chat watch from which he used to be so
often parted y and observed, that ss he
had but little time to spare, he should feel
obliged by my not interrupting him too
often i'll his narrative. Having obtained
my implied acquiescence on this point, he
continued as follows:
81 was unwilling to undertake a regu-
lar attack on the holy state in the presence
of my own father. /, however, endeay-
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 should suggest possessed un.
told wealth, though, by-the.bye, distinct
Iy remember his telling me of it on pre-
Vious occasion, | explained to him that
my contempt for riches was considerable;
to which hereplied, that he hoped 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 nv
hlial behavior on this point led to request
that would allow myself to be introduced
to the lady to whom he wished to pay the |
compliment Of offering me as a husband
1t appeared that she possessed beauty to |
considerable extent, and, although the belle |
herself had never seen me, it was not sun. |
posed for an instant, either by my father |
or myself, that she could have the least OBJ |
lection
"I delayed giving q final answer; be-
cause, being anxious to obtain money be. |
yond my usual allowance, l thought re. |
spect and ciYility would best become me.
At last there was no help, and | was
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 sacrifice; adding.
in tone evidently meant to be insulting,
that he shouldn't wonder If my feelings
were already engaged" 8't
" And were they?" / inquired
They were in part, continued Frank
"but not to the extent which the old boy
imagined. About a fortnight previous to
the conversation which / have repeated,
having heard great deal about the ad-
Vantages of early rising determined TO
try it, anxious, as always have been, to
experience every sensation sanctioned by
morality and custom. Well, | tried it |
got up at half-past eight, walked to Ken
sington Gardens, and soon met with the
advantage in the shape Of a young lady, /
who was not only exceedingly pretty,
which IL the case with many English
women, but moreover exceedingly well
dressed, which is the case with very few
of them.
"The Goddess Of Early Rising was
sitting on one Of the benches. reading
book She continued reading while / was
passing, which | thought unkind; per.
haps, however, It was only ID show her
eyelashes. II would have been more than
rude-it would have been absurd for me
to have addressed her, as she was attended
by an evil spirit, whom ! should have
supposed % be her companion, wefe II
not that she appeared 70 be treRted Wigh
confederation And kindness
III Liked early rising 30 much the dxst
time, that / tried ii second, thiad, and
fourth, and met with the advantage II
the Shape Of the goddess On each occa
sion. at all events, had not frightened
her from the particular ground over which
she appeared to preside and / knew that
she had noticed my presence there, from
certain indications which passed between
herself and the evil spirit on my ap-
proach,
On the 9Th morning the goddess en-.
tered The gardens alone, and instantly
began thinking Of the best form Of prayer
to offer Up TO her when ! perceived tbat
instead of pausing at tho accustomed scat,
she continued to walk for some distance
/ knew that she must have expected me
there at the usual time, and therefore that |