The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-06-03
Misfellaueuns.
WHY HE MARRIED.

And don't you know when you will
pass through this part OF the country
again, Mr.. VerlcyP"
No. DON'T said the old bachelor, de-
cidedly.
lie WAS something of bear TO answer
SO cr,istily when Barbara Smith stood in
the doorway, with the shadowy iasbes
dropping over her soft brown eyes, and
the roses melting into deep carmine on
her rosy cheeks. until her muslin dress
was pale in comparison. Such pretty,
big-eyed, loving little Barbara rs she was,
in all the blooming freshness of her eigh-
teen summers, and the soft sigh that flut-
tered up from her lips rs the one-horse
carriage drove away. and was checked in
stantly. Barbara had no idea cf bccom-
ing victim to unrequitcd love, though
she had rather f,ncicd Mr.. Merlcy during
his brief sojourn mt his fathers house.
Mr.. Vcrley drove away through the
rustling green drapcrics of the summer
lanes. whistling sadly rs he drove.
Il shall be In very good time for the l2.
80 train no meditated to himself. "Punc-
tuality Is tho soul of business. and never
was one of the behind-hand tribe, thank
Providence. Besides. think IL was be-
coming rather dangerous to remain at
that place any longer. am thirty-ninc
tomorrow. and that's just twenty years too
old for me To 60 making fool of myself.
Fancy me getting married! No, you don't
Joseph Terley. my friend.
As hcisettled himself comfortably in the
crowded railroad car, and opened n letter,
the subject again occurred 10 his mind
with curious persistence.
The letter of my poor brothers cSecu-
tion came just in time, or should certain
ly have lounged away more than would
have been sensible or profitable. Poor,
dear Harold; / don't see what on earth
possessed him to fall sick and die on his
way home from Venice. and leave his
daughter on my hands. too. Why could
he not have left son instead OF a daugh-
ter? never did understand woman''
ways, and what's more, l don't want to
l am to meet her at Specdville. and take
her home with mo. o.. groaned Mr.
Verley. referring despairingly To his let
ter. And what am i going to do with
her when get her there, I'd like to know
suppose she's great tall creature. with
ringlets and ribbons. and Just rs likely rs
not, an Italian lover talking sentiment 10
her-a creature that reads Byron, and
chalk. I'll send her to boarding-schoo
that's what I'll do with my niece-and
perhaps when she has graduated there tn,
schoolmaster can suggest some means o.
getting rid of her. or course she'll hay,
half dozen huge trunks. and bonnet
box and parrot cage-that's the way the
women generally travel. believe. am
glad l am out Of tho way Of Barbara fls
cinations now
Mr.. Verley looked out of the car win
dow in sort Of calm desperation Mt tn,
prospect before him.
Il suppose she'll want piano, and ma.
be poodle dog-and there's no KNOWN:
what else. don't see why Harold want
ell to die and leave his daughter to m.
care Just now. Speedville Station-twen
twcnty-seven hundred miles-thats wha
i wish.'
And with this vindictive sentiment II
his mind. our hero tied red silk hand
kerchief over his head. and tried TO los,
himself in q series Of brief trouble,
dreams, wherein the vision OF n tall nic'
young lady figured conspiouously.
Are we here alrcadyH he stammered
starting To his feet. ms the conductor bawl
cd out 'Speedville Station and seizet
umbrella, valise and travelling shawl
with the bustling bewilderment peculia
TO people Suddenly aroused from sleep.
Speedville was rather large-sized vii
lage. situated mt the Junction OF sevcra
railwnys-a bustllng. thriving little plac,
with an imposing American Gothic struc
turc rs depot. Into this building Mr.
verley walked. looking right and len 70
tho young lady whose guardianship b
was TO assume. ..-.
OF course. he reasoned. mentally. she
be on the lookout for me; women are pro
verbally curious
But Harold Verley's daughter was no
on the lookout for her uncle. When tn
crowd incident to the evening train ha,
subsidized. and the people had gone thei
several ways. the only remaining occu
pants of tho depot were Mr.. Verley,
lame old man who sold peanuts and M
ples. and n decent-looking colored VIC
man, with q brilliant Madras turban o.
her head. who took care OF the building
Neither Of these could be his neice, $
Mr.. verley. after little perplexcd hes
tation, addressed himself 10 the colore
woman. who was busily polishing tn
window with piece OF crumpled news
paper. ..
.Ahem! was TO meet my niece her
to-day, and don't sec her.