Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1869-12-03

marriage.
ats no use, sir" repeated the old pon-
tloman, bringing down his fist upon the
table with crash that made tbe glasses
jingle and dance about in the most helpless
manner; your late father and myself set
tied the matter years ago, as you well know.
And now, sir, after having dutinllv. and
to your own satisfaction, presume. acoui-
esced n the arrangements, you have the
boldness, the audacity sir, at the last mo-
mont to throw over my elder daughter
and"
"But sir-"interrupted the nepbew.
"Don't cir me boy, but hear me out -
exclaimed the old gentleman. "AsI wos
saying, you throw over my elder daughter
at the I'si moment and coolly propose for
Mary. lt won't do sir; it's not what vour
late f1'er' worthy man, would have sane
toned. iVs not gentlemanly, sir; by
George, il is notp
AND with that the speaker again brought
his fist down upon the table, and looked
fiq, ,'ciT across the port at the unsuccessful
'Ffss dse i,,e, sir" said Edgar flushing
up. "pm quite aware of the arrange
mcnts made by yourself and my late IA
ther, as TO the disposal of my hand and,
although at one time, when had thought
little Of the matter, | may have given a
sort OF passive obedience, kind of mega
tive acquiesence in that proposal still, as
have grown older, have come to see that,
in affairs like this, It is by our own .iudg-
mcnts, our own personal lilSings and afIec-
tions that we must be guided, and not by
those Of any other person, however much
endowed by years and wisdom. When
you think the matter over, sir, you will re-
pcnt much of what you have said. You
have been kind-kinder than / had any
right 20 expect, even from you, and /
would do almost anything to serve you !;
but ! cannot, to obliGe even you, sacrifice
my principles. l am only sorry" he con-
tinuod, that you should have discovered,
all on a sudden, so many objections to me
rs n son-in-law-"
Edgar" interrupted the old gentleman,
81 have no objections to you whatever as a
son-iu-law, and you know that | have
y y
as my own son-and so you are boy but
the wishes of him that is dead must be re-
spec.cd, not to talk of the principle at stake,
and | cannot consent. You embark for In
dia in three months, during two of which |
will allow you to think the matter over.
And now, sir, believe me, you need never
hope to obtain my consent to your marry
ing my younger daughter until, at any rate
her sister is disposed of; and as you sail in
three months, there is not much chance of
that"
Edgar arose from this interview with
heavy heart, and was walking disconso-
lately down the garden on his way home,
when he felt light hand upon his shoul-
der, and, on turning, beheld a pair of dan
gorous blue eyes peeping at him from out
Of a tangled mass of sunny hair.
"Ho, ho, Mr.. Sorrowfu ~ exclaimed the
owner of the eyes. "What in the blues a.
gains Smoking does not agree with inva-
lids. There's dear old bear, now do
thro1, away that nasty cigar, and come and
htlp me pick some strawberries"
Edgar, poor fellow, tried hard to look as
happy as possible but succeeded only in
cal - mp very unsuccessful smile to his
hdhuAome, though l,,dicrously Woo bosono
face.
Excuse me, cuz," Che always called her
so). "but | don't feel we'll. The old pains,
you know. really must go home"
"Must! What language to use to la
dy!" said his tormentor, tossing her head
and looking at him so demurely that for
the life Of him he could not help smiling.
After a few more fruitlcss efforts on his
part to get away, the discussion ended, of
course in his being ignominiously led Off
captive by the victorious fair.
The Strawberries were beautiful, and re-
ally looked tempting, as they pceped forth
from their dark fringe of green but, some
how or other, Annie did not seem to heed
them. Looking up at her cousin, she gave
him such wicked, little. half sympathz-
ing look that he blushod to the roots of his
hair, and began to feel, he could hardly
tell why, decidedly uncomfortable. lie
had u half defined impression that Annie,
somehow or other, had discovered the re-
suit Of his interview so he made an awk-
ward attempt at looking innocently easy
as he asked what had become of her dan
gerous designs against the straw wborries.
Tho young lady gave him another look
which again called the flush to his face,
aud, taking him afIectionately by the arm,
as she lifted her fair face to his, replied in
half ailectionate, half bantering,strain,-
"Do sit down here Edgar, and talk to me
little. We are such old friends, you
know; so do tell me what it was you and
papa were talking about today. I'm sure
you have had a quarrel, you made esuch a
noise and you look so cross :" and with
that she gave him look that said as plain
ly as words, 81 know it all.'
Who could withstand such pleading? {?
Certainly not Edgar. He gave in with a
groan, and, under the skilful manipula-
tions of his fair cousin, he soon poured
forth his sorrows in her sympathizing ear.
What these two said afterward, history
-saith not, although the sequel of the story
may enable the sagacious reader to guess (;
but, after long and earnest consultation,
in witch the lady had it plainly all her
own way, Edgar, from being violent, saw
age and desponding, gradually soothed
down into a state of comparative happi-
ness.
As Edgar badc his cousin good night,
she said, playfully pointing her fngor,-
Now, remember, Edgar you are mine (;
but think we ought to have rehearsal or
two beforehand, just to keep our hands in,
..I,n 1111 ~