Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-04-06
How I Didn't Win NV Love.

age and was twenty-f0ur. JOnn was
good sort of fellow, but felt that was his
superior In many respects. I had moves
money than he, consequently could dress
better, and was better liked by the girls. j Il
considered him my friend, but by sad ex-
perience found that his friendship was
not Of the lasting kind.
About the first of July of certain year
which I needn't name, John was allowed
rest Of three or four weeks, and he decided
good old aunt of his, who resided about a |
dozen miles from the city. He gave me a |
cordial invitation to accompany him, and
assured me that his aunt would give a
hearty welcome to any person he might |
choose to bring with him. !
accepted the invitation, and late on the |
following afternoon John and safely ar |
rived In the village of Weston. We were |
warmly, received by the good old woman,
who, might say here, was an old maid. |
Our ride had sharpened our appetites, and.
we did ample justice to the sumptuous sup
per spread before US.
While we were thus engaged, John, who |
had frequently been at his aunt's before,
inquired If Emma Melbourne was still In
the neighborhood.
Now, although John had made me con-
fidant in many things, he never uttered a
word about this Emma Melbourne, and
was not long in finding out that he took
q
Johns aunt, with a sly laugh, informed
him that she was still at home and was rs
pretty as ever. She also intimated that IL
he didn't keep a sharp look out certain
young fellow named Azariah Hull would
probably carry off the prize. et-
"And who's Azariah Hull ?" inquired
John, flushing somewhat and looking con-
siderably annoyed.
"Oh, he's young man in the sewing
machine business who came to the village
recently, and somehow he can't get away
again. He is very often seen going to Mr..
Mellbourne's, and the knowing ones say
he is about to marry Emma. I don't know
how things are going, but / am inclined to
believe that you can regain your lost ground
| If you manage WELL"
"Oh, I don't care whom she marries,"
replied John, but well knew from his
| looks and actions that he did care.
| Then he told me that Emma Melbourne
was farmers daughter, and resided down
by Hayson Creek, and. THAT he had met her
several times when he was in the country.
! Tomorrow said he, ''we'll go fishing
| down the creek, and after we have fished
awhile We'll call and see the charming
Emma. shouldn't be surprised If you
would fall in love with her.
I" 1t would be of no use while you are
around" replied.
But at the same time stroked my mus
I tache complacently, and~thought of the
many conquests had made, while John
| was compelled t0sstand back in the shade.
| According to Johns plan, we went the
next day to Hayson Creek, and after we
had fished awhile, with but moderate sue
cess, we set out for the residence of Mr..
Melbourne. Emma gave both of US o
hearty welcome, and saw before we took
our leave that I would have quite enough
to do to win the charming Emma. She
seemed to look upon John with great
favor.
4 Determined to succeed, however, be-
came a frequent visitor at Mr. Mellbourne's
and before a month passed away 1 proposed
4 to Emma and was accepted. Things went
on smoothly for time, and then began
4 to tire of her. 1 couldn't avoid drawing
4 comparisons between her and sweetheart
i had in the city, and the more compared
the two the more determined became,
that would not tie myself to that plain
country girl.
I made known my feelings on the sub
i ject to John, and he advised me to give up
all thoughts of backing down. he said 1T
4 would be a risky business, and to prove
this he told me that one of Emma's sisters
had once been engaged to to a nun, that
! the man had broken the engagement,
whereupon Emma's sister took an old
horse pistol, hunted down the recreant low
, er and fired ball through his good right
arm.
"Gracious heavensp' exclaimed, shave
/ got into such murderous family? What
shall do?n
"" Do,n repeated John, rather contemptu-
, ously; abe man and marry her as you
promised. / have no doubt she will make
!, you an excellent wife. warn you, don't
J break the engagement and run away.
know the MellbOurnes."
1 L began to think it would be safer and
| wiser plan to marry her than to go away,
and thereby run the risk of being shot
!, through the heart, or the arm or the head
and Immediately went over and asked hel
| to name the happy day.
/ She named it, and named ii too, as
thought at very early time. ae
; Two days before the one appointed fol
our nuptials, went to the city to make
t some arrangements = business and other
wise-and returned about three hours be-
: fore the time set for the marriage. / drove
up to the residence of Johns aunt expect
ing to find John there, but was disappoint-
ed.
The old lady informed me that John and
ID Emma had been married the evening be.
4 fore, and that they had started immediate
ly for the city.
+ was thunderstruek Could it be posi-
/; BILE that John would treat me so? OF course
: was glad had got rid of Emma, but then
4 one hates to be made fool of. Emma was
/, complete cipher when compared with my
/ sweetheart in the city, and i wondered
! again that l had ever asked her TO be my