The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1869-02-04
Cousin Jacks COurtShip.

The trunks were all packed and
corded, and the carpet bags were
all piled up in the corner Of the
capacious, old fashioned hall.
How melancholy they looked
those emblems OF parting and
adieus. Not even tho merry laugh.
ter Of TWO or three young girls who
were gathered round a stalwart,
handsome fellow of about thirty,
could entirely Danish an iIppalpablc
something Of sadness from the
scene. Cousin Jack was going
away, the general mischief maker,
tormentor, and tease Of the whole
family, and old Mr. Chester. sitting
by the distant window, wiped his
spectacles every FIVE minutes, and
declared pettishly that the type of
the evening paper was a terrible
trial to his old eyes 81 ~ I' Ju
"Ayc, you may laugh, girls, .
said Jack, applying hi mself vigor
ously 10 the refractory lock Of a
Iportmaneau. Perhaps you may
one day discover it isn't such
laughing matter. Think Of the
loss the whole family Is going to
sustain in my departure" "u'i3 q
H"But you'll soon come back,
Jack dear" coaXed Minnie Ches
ter, the prettiest and most roguish
of all his cousins, and one who
kept up fire Of practical jokes
and girlish tricks at his expense.
There she sat on the biggest
trunk OF the collection, the brown
curls ba"ging about her round
face, and her eyes flashing with n
strange mixture of fun and tears.
81 am not certain of that, Miss
Minnic,' said Jack, decisively.
"IfI succeed in finding location
to suit me, shall probably decide
to settle permanently at ThornviIlc
and turn landed proprietor on my
own account" 9" H" .-
"Only imagine our Jack a gen
tleman of property laughed Min
ME, appealing TO her sisters.
81 don't see anything so ridicul-
ous in tho idea" observed the
young man. rather piqued at The
amusement of bis relatives. "At
all events, there is one advantage
that may result from my depart.
ure." % Ia ." Haa 2I,
"And what is that, Mr.. Oracle?'
"The fact that you have played
your last trick upon me, you tor.
mcnting little mink" Ha0.. '..
"Don't bo too certain of that,
Cousin Jack" said Minnie, shak
ing her long curls. "What will
You ventureI don't bestow a part.
ing trick onyou YETI Ah! l have
rot settled with you for several lit.
tic pieces of impertnence; but pray
don't imagine they are forgotten,
sir"
"My diamond sleeve buttons 10
your coral necklace that you don't
impose upon me again within the
nextthrce months, Minnie" said
Jack, gaily. ia.. N#v
Done" said Minnie. "Girls,
you all hear the wager, don't you?
| always coveted Jacks diamonds I"
But you wont have them, mad.
emoiseIle. How dark it is getting
in this cavernous old hall, Shall
| ring for the lights, Uncle Chester?
and by the way, have you written
me that letter of introduction to
Mr.. Thorn ?" n. go.
"AIl in good time" said the old
gentleman. derositing his large
lver.bound spectacles in their
case. "You young foIksare always
in desperate hurry. Tell Betsy
to carry Il light into the library,
girls. And Minnie, where is my
gold pen? | wont bo very long
about it, and then wo will have a
nice, long, evening gossip about
Jacks prospects. ...I-.
While Mr.. Chester sat in his easy,
red curlaincd library, revising the
lettcrhe had been writing 10 his col,
legc friend, Jabcz Thornc, oil Tporn
vile, to the effect that his nephew,
John Lacy, was in search Of an
eligible piece OF land, aud wished
to teltlc down as planter in that
vicinity, and requesting Mr.,
Thorues aid and co operation in
the selection OF the same, Mimic
opened the door .a,
| Papa, there's some one down
stairs who wants TO see you imme'
diately, Tor just minute" ,..
Very annoying" said the old
gentleman, Just us | was finish
ing up this letter OF Jacks. How.
ever, can seal it afterward. Min.
ME, suppose that you glance over
it and dot tho & and cross the t's.
I'm not 80 much of penman as |
used to be-" ........
And old Mr.. Chester, pushing
back his char, rose from the table
TO attend to the claims OF his ur.
gent guest.
i Olive Chester was brushing out
tho heavy braids OF her luxuriant
hair before tho dressing mirror
OF her own apartment, two hours
later, when Minnie ran in with u
countehance comically divided bc.
tween dismay and delight.
"My dear Minnie, what has hap
pened?' exclaimed the elder sis.
ter, dropping her hair brush, and
letting all her raven tresses ripple
down unheedcd, over her should.
ersur .... ..H..I.
"Ivo won tho diamond sleeve
buttons, Olive. But, ahl l didn't
mean to. What would papa say j
ho only knew it; and cousin Jack
too?" mf
"Sit down, you littlo elf" said