Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1870-07-01

very pardonable admiration for intrusive
curiosity. The attraction outside your
mansion is more than sufficient. May |
beg you to present me to your char-that
is, your sister? Ny name is Longchild.'
'Hern's Pettidoll.'
Il bowed. and gracious smile widen
ed Britannia's lips to the extent Of about
quarter of yard. 'Pettidoll!'
"'There's sixty foot Of US in family
altogether, between eight; wi'out count
O the baby, which. bein' only year old.
ant four foot, yet,' remarked Mr.. Petit
doll. But won't ye come down for
bit?' he added, with involuntary defer
ence to the stature Of my steed.
"Wouldn't come down! Ah. Harry !!
What would I not have given to come
down ; to stand before that blessed crea-
ture; to tell her that here, at last. was
the realization of my dream; that, united
with her, and parent, perchance, of line
of giants. II But, no, no. Once
dismounted, the sense of insigni6cance in
proximity to proportions SO vast, would be
too strong for me. One single moment,
I hesitated. I even disengaged my right
foot, preparatory to coming down. but my
heart failed. 1 flung all the passion that
was seething in my soul, into one look,
and rode hastily away. But, sir, that
look had been returned! She loved
Britannia loved me!
Turning an angle in the road. I glanc-
ed back. She was immovable; leaning
on her bident; her eyes (plainly visible
even at that distance) still fixed on my
retreating form"
"Aud that is the end of the story p
"No. The beginning. Ibave visited
this remarkable family" said Dick. with
heightened color, ''more than once: more,
1 may say, than twenty times. They
grow, sir"
Il should have thought that impossi'
ble"
Hear me out-grow more and more
upon me. Britannia (Susan. l mean) il
an angel! As she stood, with her broat
white hand on my horses name"
"You are always on horseback p
II have never" said Mr.. Longchild
mustered courage to disabuse Of tn
idea she manifestly entertains | an
of stature equal to her own. s. wopl'
rot like to look down upon nj An
luuf;aaed Dick. looki q r
Harry, c06ttndell -
with wistful interrogation: .'Nhe would
look down upon me, eh 2"
;, We'll; physically perhaps ! les. In
'Bahy'' said Dick. "Now, Harry,
you know my sad history and myself we'll
[ put it to you what chance. what hope
have I in the world Of making this uplen.
did piece Of nature my wife 7"
knowing. as you say, my good friend
both yourself and what you style your sad
history affirm that you have every chance
and hope. You shall marry the object O
your singular passion"
.'Harryr' exclaimed Dick; his really
noble face lighting up in every massive
lineament. "You good fellow! You
give me new lifel Complete the work.
Lend me your assistance"
Command it in everything. If TAX
ing you on my back in the momentous
crisis of proposal would give you sufh
cient advantage in point Of"
mo jestiDg if you love me, interrupt
ed Dick. ''Come Of it what may, note
that am in earnest. I have set my hear,
upon this girl and if seem-timid shall
l call it?-it is because l do not wish t.
throw single chance away. Susan Pet
tidoll is peculiarly sensitive. and (no un
usual thing with these finer natures) keen
ly alive to the ridiculous. On my horse
I am her emperor, her lord! On th'
earth beside her what am l! %
but surely she does not suppose tha
she has been receiving the addresses Of
giant"
Il, am not sure of that, interrupte,
Dick, coloring slightly. Il may hav
permitted myself illusions tending vague
ly in the most indirect manner to foste
that supposition; and herein lies the dii
6culty from which rely upon your trie
friendship. Harry, to extricate me-"
Speak
Il am due.' said Dick, gravely. "a
Trecorphen tomorrow and sure ar
that the whole colossal fraternity entertai
the livellest expectation that | shall the
formally demand my Susan's extensiv
hand. You must visit, must see hel
must (kindly, but firmly divorce be
mind from the cherished faith that M
stature is absolutely gigantic, or that
can even (speak with perfect candor) hol
my own among her colossal kin. SUI
ceed in this and," concluded Dick, wit
quiet exultation, Il will answer for th
rest" @
. The next afternoon found me at Tre
corphen. The residence of the Pettidol
was easy to discover. Everybody in th
sequestered village knew and appeared
hold in high respect that giant famil,
!: whose ancestors I found had been sui
stan tial farmers in the vicinity.
/ My summons at the lofty portal wa
l answered by the young lady herself,
whose fair large face fancied I could d.
tect slight shade Of disappointment .