Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-07-28
SclettcN 1ni6tclIn,lDD.
HOW | MADE 4 FOOL or MYSELF.


teous and pressing invitation from my un-
Gle Jeremy 60 spend n short time with him.
self and family at I is seat in Warwickshire,
preyious to my leaving England. The old
gentleman and my father had been astranp-
ed from each other, for many years through
some family quarrel, so that / had not
seen my uncle Jeremy, save on one occas-
ion since my boyhood.
In consequence of my fathers death. 1
had been summoned from America, where
l had been pushing my fortune With sue
cess, for considerable time, and now, hav-
ing settled my affairs, | was preparing to
cross the Atlantic when my uacle's letter
reachedme.
My mother aud elder brother, with
whom she now resided, were the only neal
relatives / had in London. Fred had
long since settled down in the world with
a good kind wife, and we'll knowing that
my mother would be sure to receive every
attention under his happy roof I cared lii
tie to remain in England homeless bach
elor. while anything in the shape of mar
Fia9a was still further from my rambling
thoughts.
OF course my brother was extremely OBJ
liging' would do anything to oblige me-,
and expressed himself open at any mo-
ment to stake q handsome wager that he
could introduce me to at least half dozen
angelic creatures, the possession of any one
of whom would prove fortune in itself,
but to al these generous offers I turned a
deaf ear. Liberty was sweet, and felt in
no haste to sacrifice it on the alter of Hy-
men. Not that ] was wild young gentle
man, who did not care for the comforts,
and the attractions of home, but I didn't
wish to have the onus of a household
thrust upon me so long as / felt happy
and contented alone-
Six and twenty and alone ha ha Nc
one to bother and worry you-no shopping
no Midsummer and Christmas bills to
meets Short reekonings and long friends
free as the air capital
rose from my chair, put my back to
the mantlepieee, lit a cigar and smoked
away for couple of minutes most furious.
ly, then | consulted my watch, rang the
bell, ordereda hanson, resolving to see nv
brother Fred before | accepted or declined
nly'uncle's invitation,
'sHere's an unexpected epistle received
at my hotel this morning Fred and [ want
your advice upon it, said on entering his
office.
''What are you going to get married, af-
ter all ?"
care you going to drown yourself sir ?''
said l.
''No thank you, replied Fred laughing.
''Wen then, said I don'tas nonsensicaI
questions Uncle Jeremy has sent me a
very polite invitation to spenda week or
two with him in Warwick shire before [
leave England, and thought would Just
run down and ask you what [ should do in
the matter"
e.Why, accept it, of course, " said Fred.
s'Well, but does it not seem strange ?''
asked; sSFor always thought that he and
our father were never on very good terms. !"
''No-they were not for many years, re-
piled Fred; ''but matters were put right
between them some timeago by Uncle Jer-
emy apologizing and otherwise behaving
like gentleman.
''You never told me that, Fred, +" said [.
''No because | thought you would come
to know all about it IN due time. But I
see here Tom," continued my brother, re-
turning the letter, ''ne even offers YOU
friendship, should you ever settle in Eng
land; and that would be something worth
having can tell you"
eyes doubtless it would" said [ 'sbut
I've got balance at my bankers and can
manage very well over the water. Besides l
don't think | should like to remain in Eng
land, now that Eve got so used to the Yam
kee fashions.
''Bosh, all bosh, Tom. you'd become an
EngLshman again III no time" rejoined
Fred smiling.
'sPerhaps so," said /, e'but [ doubt it.
However I'll follow your advice and teIe.
graph to Uncle Jeremy, saying [ will be al
Marston Hall tomorrow"
St,& I,
ing" asked Fred.
''Oh, certainly" said /, cat as usual p
Eyes at &, he replied.
And we did dime at 6, and iollv even.
ing we had, but strange to say, not The
least allusion was made to my intended Wis
it to Uncle Jeremy's untilI broached The
subject myself, by asking my brother if h,
thought / should enjoy the excursion anC
what sort of people might expect to NEE
there.
"Well not many of any sort, he replied,
for [ don't think they keep much com.
pany, but you will have kind host and
hostess, and their daughter Agnes (whc
viii, [ suppose. have to do duty as your
companion -m-chieE"
Daughter Agnes p L exclaimed, ttWhy
she was a mere child when | LETT England D
"Quite true. Tom," continued my
brother, "but she is a woman now, and if
dare hazard an opinion, a very fine one too.
Then gIancing mischieyously across the
table he added. ''But of course we take
you to be proof against even feminine per-
fectien itself"
s'At any rate, Fred. / observed rather
snappishly, 'I'm proof against anyassaults
from that quarter
San right Tom, only don't make a foo
of yourself that's all said my brother.
mo fear of that, I replied almost wish.
ing ! had declined the invitation.
Nothing more was said on the subject
during the evening and when [ took leave
Of my brother and his family l Immediate
ly determined not to afford my fair cousin
the least reason to suppose that [ had
come to Alarston Hall with the intention Of
falling in love with her
On my arrival at the railway station,
where my uncle had promised to Join me,
| was disappointed at not finding him. and
was about 10 hire a conveyance TO convex
me to my destination, when up dashed q
park-pheton, driven by aremarkably hand
some young lady She drew up and beck
oned me toward her.
ssMr. Lawson, L presume p said the lady.
Yes, that's my name, L replied, bowlng.
she aG once IutiodtCc" iOAooL4 III 'LIe
most unaffected manner, excused the alb
sence of her father, on account of indispo-
altion, hoped had enjoyed my journey,
was very glad l had come, because they
saw SO little company; and in fact, behaved
herself Just as if we had been long familiar
to each other.
At length, after seeing my luggage all
tlght took my seat, and then asked in
the "a. polltest manner for permission tofake
.,T. ypn no thank you Cousin, % she replied,
WIN WIN "a a provoking smile playing about her
ven Iofined mouth. Il am rather fond OF
orlYing' besides you do not know the yav
as wei as do, and these ponies are apt to