Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-04-23

winding path, which led through a
extensive park, beyond which on
slight eminence, stood MarstOn Hal
'fSee there's our house, through q
trees, right in front Of Us It stands 0
a lonely spot does 1t not?n asked m
fair companion.
every secluded, p I replied, laeoniea
", remembering the determination
had made about falling in love.
ssWeII we shall be there in FEY
minutes - said she; tfand I rejoice t
think that, however fatiguing our driy
may prove, you will not have exhaust
I ed yourself with conversation"
'fHang it, thought I, this is down
right impertinence! thought almos
! deserve it. By Jove she takes thing
| exquisitely cOoly." However, i snll
| ed, and said that had been trying t
take flying glance at the splendi'
scenery.
She gave low, short merry laugh
! as she replied-tThat exactly what I'V,
| been doing for want Of other occupa
| ton, but at this speed one cannot oh
serve much"
f'There you are right, - said I; and /
we were in any other place we should
certainly be fined for furious driving.
''By the way, are you fond of riding?'
asked my cousin abruptly.
''Well-yes, - said I, with some hesi
tatiOn; but am not a bold horseman.'
''I am sorry to hear that" she con
tinued with evident interest" for it is
an exercise of which ann PaSs1onateiy
ACROSS 5cit0s; the country, for nothing raises
my spirits half so much. But see, pa
pa is looking at us through the dining
room window, and John is waiting to
take care of the ponies, so you must be
ready to alight the instant I STOP"
In another minute my eccentric, not
To 1oV.oF7 aOT1cfT1 TfH
stop and aIighted as quickly as pos
sible, but not without nearly losing my
balance, and wondering what could be
the meaning of such unseemingly
haste.
Throwing the reins to the servant,
my cousin followed me, but with such
agility that I scarcely noticed the
glauce which fell upon me from her
laughing blue eyes, but stood before
the entrance to the fine old mansion,
expecting to have the pleasure of Civ
ing her my hand.
sFWhy did you not permit me to as
sist you ?'' I asked.
''Simp1y because made up my mind
some time ago never to give any gen.
help" she replied with peculiar
smile.
As she finished speaking the door
oFened, and uncle Jeremy his venera-
bic physiugfi0nS beau1ing with kindli-
ness. and good humor, came forward to
meet us, giving me hearty welcome
to MarstOn Hall. Feeling, however,
dissatisfied with myself, and not over
well pleased with my cousin, ItOok the
earliest opportunity of retiring to my
room, as Iifufch to collect my scattered
thoughts as to dress for dinner.
Shes strange, unaceountable girl,
thougt I surveying the neat and e1e-
giant chamber which had been prepar-
ed for my reception; tsbut am aston
ished at find her so masculine and un-
ladylike in her manners and DehaV-
iour. Why, 'pOn my conscience, she
deports herself more like young fox
hunter than a gentleman's daughter"
Then stood gazing at the beautiful
view before me, stretching far away as
the eye could reach, and finally dis
missed my cousin from my thoughts
with the consolatory reflection that
the chances were very remote OF my
ever falling in love with one who ap-
peared to delight more in manly sports
than woman1y duties.
Soon after dinner my uncle related
the cause of his long estrangement
from my father, and the manner in
which they became reconc1ed. con-
Guiding with an expression of sincere
regret that the misunderstanding had
rot been consigned to oblivion long
Jsfofei and however much I felt in
,Iined to find fault with the odd ways
If nv cousin, / could not help admir-
ng my uncle,s candor and gOOdfeehng.
IN fact / dismissed the subject froIl my my
mind under the conviction that ike
most other family Jars there had been
iaults on both sides.
had now been a guest at Marston
Hall nearly tIffee weeks, during which
7 Z. Ia
he surrounding country, invariably
0fHing my cousin in her long rides,
1rives and wild rambles; and, strange
20 say, the first few days ,suthced to
make us tolerably good friends, for 1
,oon discovered that she by no means
my first description, but on
he contrary, possessed many gooo
qualities which in spite of my bache-
or prejudice. I could not help approv-
ng though I could not find courage
enough to indicate such approval in
words. until I so far forgot myself as to
express my surprise, in banterlng
one. tffat so accomplished and delight
'uI companion had not host of beaux
jighing at her feet.
E'Sir,'' she exclaimed, in d voice and
With a glance that made me decidedly |
'I do not like triding. |
It is wrong and foolish in our sex, but |
n yours it is simply unendurable.-I
Flirting is not, and never can be, ac- |
Iuaintance; but do not want them. |
10, cousin, when I acknowledge an
ldmirer the feeling must be mutual"
''If I have offended you my dear
,ousin," said I, surely you VIII not
.efuse your forgiveness?' ?'
EEYoIi have not offended me" she re- |
1lied, t'only wish you to understand |
hat / feel strongly and think deeply |
nj the subject of your remark,
md therefore cannot suffer the adj |
Tances of lovers whom cannot re-
meet 1.sIG ;; Then She added, 'rbut In that |
do not think shall accept any offer |
tempting, for long time yet. |
love my own way, cousin. 1 like lib |
,rtv. and admire reindependence. In short /
am such an odd, queer person, so !
yery unsentimental in my conYersa- |
ion with young gentleman, that L
reriIv believe sometimes, shall enjoy |
he exquisite pleasure OF dying an o4d
naid.'
On hearing this confession laughed
outright.
'iOf course you may laugh sir, and so
nav I, but that won't increase my pros |
)ects ofm arfiage, " she added smilingIy. |
''Egad, Fred was right" thought I,
she really is a splendid girl" / felt
nv love of bachelor hood growing less.
fsNow, if she were only tender, deli
ate and sympathizing at home, instead
# being partial to horses, I would al
most forswear my determination not
o make a fool of myself. But tush
why should I give way to such non
sense l.? I will think no more about
ler."
sFHaIIo cousin, have you fallen into
brown study through admiring the
solor of your nag?" said my companion
With one of her short, merry laughs.
mo, no-that isl was just absent
for the moment" D."
s'Doubtless present in spirit with
some fair but distant object she OBJ
served, again laughing louder and more
than ever.
This thrust reused me thoroughly,
and perceiving that my companion was
bent upon trying to get me into an ILL
humor with myself, I resolved to tell
ib, and nip her in the bud.
'|No, you are quite mistaken cousin
I said, very gravely; ''for was just
of the advisablity of return
ing to London"
HWell, then, beg to inform you, in
the plainest possible terms, that you
are extremely unkind in allowing
such an idea to enter your mind" she
replied, in a half-offended and half
playful tone and then, as if desirous