Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-04-23
Gales and Skttthes.
MR.. CANTELOPE'S COURTSHIP.

made up my mind that was the family
Ounce and never should be able to engi-
neer those stupid points into their right
place, when | heard sleigh-bells As
such music did not penetrate our lonely
abode very often, you may be sure | was
an appreciative listener, notwithstanding
the fact that had stayed from school on
account OF the storm, and had promised
to study every minute just as if l was in
my high wooden desk under my teachers
frown,
"Who can that be ?" exclaimed my
Aunt Deborah, as an old-fashioned one
horse cutter flew past the windows and
stopped at the side door. jumped up to
get a view, and my slate and book went
to the floor with n crash. l pressed my
nose against the frosty pane Of glass in
pursuit of useful information, and it adj
hered so fondly that when | drew il back
it was with an echo something like kiss.
In swift trip to the next window | col
lided with the work-stand, and scattered
over the white pine floor all the spools,
buttons, beeswax and scissors of Mrs.
Cricton, the seamstress. / saw nothing
but two overcoated men, covered with
snow, after my trouble.
''Pick up those things quick" exclaimed
|
the chairs back against the wall.
| was scrambling about on my knees in
dutiful obedience, when the door opened
and Capt. Hughes, one of our neighbors,
walked into the room with an 'at home
air, followed by a brisk, wiry, wasphish-
looking old gentleman, with fretful nose,
and domneering chin, to say nothing of
cheeks scorched INTO dusky red by two
| fiery red eyes.
"Allow me- said the polite captain,
who prided himself on bearing a striking
resemblance to Lord Chesterfield, "to in
troduce to your favorable acquaintance Mr..
Simeon Cantelope Mrs. Cricton, Mr.
Cantelope; Mrs. Trinidad, Mr.. Cante-
lope Miss Pecksniff. Mr.. Cantelope ; Miss
Rebecca Trinidad, Mr. Cantelope."
1t is said that Caius Gracious, when he
harangued the Romans, always modulated
his tone bv an oratorical flute or pitch
pipe. Mr.. Cantelope not having such an
instrument at hand, avalled himself of the
musical organ which nature had planted
in the middle of his face, and then made
a series of short, sharp, jerking bows,
aimed promiscuously at all the ladies
present Ny Aunt Deborah was country
born and bred, but she had a queenly sort
of way with her, and ! particularly ad-
mired the manner which she on this occa-
sion assumed. as she relived two or three
chairs in the background from their
straightlaced position, and asked her
guests to be seated.
1--WE are having quite 4 severe snow
Storm remarked Capt. Hughes as he
shook the water from his hat.
"Quite So" responded my aunt land
the weather is growing cold fast"
She arose and put on an extra stick of
wood, and the flames blazed round it with
a merry crackle.
Mr.. Cantelope removed the striped nit
tens and unbuttoned his overcoat in the
vicinity of his throat. His eyes bobbed
about uneasily from one to another, and
at last rested upon Mrs. Cricton, who,
STOPPING over her work, was paying very
little attention to new corners.
is Mr. Trinadad at home ?" inquired
Capt. Hughes.
mo, he is at the Falls to-day. expect
him home in the course of the afternoon"
This is very cheerful, exceedingly
cheerful, remarkably cheerful, continued
little pools of water that were settling
around them. and rested them on the and
iron; then casting sly look at Mr.. Can
an uncommon one, and suppose Imay as
well explain at once. We come courting,
this gentleman and /, that is" and he
laughed little, and looked wise. II
met him down in the village, this morning,
and getting into talk about a horse /
was trying to sell, | learned that be was
in pursuit of a wife. spoke of Mrs. Cric-
ton, and he requested me to come up and
introduce him. So we are here you see"
Our poor seamstress, a pale, thin, mel
ancholy widow of about forty-five, colored
deeply, but stitched on as if nothing had
happened. ''Then we will withdraw from
the room and give an opportunity for con-
versation,n said Aunt Deborah, rising and
leading the way to the kitchen, followed
by the captain, Miss Pecksniff and myself.
| looked back just as | was crossing the
threshold, and in the simplicity OF my
heart wondered what was the first prelim-
mary flourish when man was about to
pop the question. My curiosity was i'm
mediately gratified. for Mr.. Cantelope pro-
duced bandanna pocket handkerchief
and perfected his programme by sono-
rous blast from his nose, which nearly
sent the handicapped paper from the walls.
i As we stood shivering over the stove in
which the fire had nearly gone out, Aunt
Deborah made some inquiries OF the cap
tain respecting Mr.. Cantelope. He knew
very little of him, had seen him years ago
in passing through Norton, a small town
on the mountain some twenty miles off.
Guessed he was good sort of a man. In
general, liked the principle of doing these
hard-working people kindness when it
came in his way. Mrs. Cricton, poor
soul, had had tough time of it since she
lost her husband and children. He was
sorry for her. She would have him to
thank for this piece of good fortune.
ut is my opinion that she is enough
sight better off as she is, than to be tying
herself to any such green eyed man as
that are one in there" spoke up Miss Peck
sniff. She was my aunt's house-heeper
and general faetotmm, and had occupied
the same position for over forty years.
She had grown important latterly, and
held herself in high esteem among women
on account of her superior wisdom in all
things relating to the Trinidad family.