Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-01-29
5cleftco 1tlisfellanp.
LOVES REFORM.

The other morning was distnrbe d at
the unseenly hour OF r,ine, by the an
nouncemen' th II Flank Laxby had called,
and was des r0us of seeing me-
Twas rather surprised at this informa
ton, and was considering whether it was
more probab 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 coun-
tenance, which left nod ,ubt 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,
3 which latter would of course have been
the case had he been treating the sober
hour of nine a. m in an unbecoming
manner, and as if it were merely late
hour Of the night
"Has anything serious happened ?" said
I, as soon as I had offered Frank a seat,
cor have you turned somnambulist, and
walked down here in your sleep"
i5 "No," ne replied, quite in his usual tone
and manner; "but knew you were only
coming to town last night, and wanted
particularly to see you as soon as possible
afterwards. Besides, had another very
good reason for getting up before twelve
this morning"
s "What was that ?" inquired
"It is rather long story" he an
swered "but if you will order breakfast
will repeat il to you"
81 accept the bribe," I exclaimed, ring
Ing the bell = !,
aThree months ago, then" commenced
Frank, "my father made me, what con-
: sidered at the time, very unreasonable
Ia ct1nnactnd that / ahnutd
get married"
Here the servant entered with the
breakfast things, and even he could not
a help smiling at the absurdity of such a
: suggestion to sach man.
al "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 relative-he asked me what reasons
could show for supporting my objec-
tions..'s-
<" He might as we'll have asked you
your reasons for drinking too much pale
ale," remarked.
Z II drink very little of it now," he said,
and, without needing my i'll suppressed
astonishment, he pulled out his watch
Chat 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 toe
often in his narrative. Having obtained
: my implied acquiescence on this point, he
continued as follows:
81 was unwilling to undertake regu
lar attack on the holy state in the presence
of my own father. I, however, endeav
-ored TO explain to him that wished, fol
some time at least, to pursue the life OF 8
very indt trendent gentle nan, and that
matrimony had no part in the programme
of that career. +
my father calculating on an avarict
which do not possess, informed me thai
the lady he should suggest possessed un
r told wealth, though, blythe bye, / distinct
1 ly remember his telling me of it on q pre-.
vious occasion. explained to him that
my contempt for riches was considerable
to which he replied, that he hoped l 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 ca 1dor, and my
flial behavior on this poiBt led to request
that would allow myself to be introduced
to the lady to whom he wished to pay the
compli nent of offering me as husband
1t appeared 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
je3tion.
Il delayed giving a final answer; be
cause, being anxious to obtain money be.
yond my usual allowance, thought re-
spect and civility 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 resi- ience, and not trouble my
self about calling again until was pre-
pared for The alarming sacrifice; adding,
in q tone evidently meant to be insulting,
that he shouldn't wonder if my feelings
were already er gagged"
And were they 7" inquired.
They were in part" continued Frank
"but not to the extent which the old boy
imagined Alb )ut a fortnight previous to
the conversation which have repeated,
p having heard great deal about the ad-
ysntages of early rising, determined to