The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-01-07

fer volunteered. and after repeating fiv
times that she had Q cold (which wasD'
true) and that she hadn't note in he
voice (which wss), she began, with in:ens
expression, aWiil you love me then q
now" The direction of her glAnces mad
| it quite personal matter between hersel
and Mr.. Brown, who should by ever
Dearest, then I'll love the more" Blu
he didn't Probably he didn't know tn,
song, OF, stin more probably, he wouldn'
have sung it If he kseW Il
Asa slight protection against the t0t
oppressive glances Of Mis- Pinnifsf, Mr.
Brown entered into conversation will
Charley Collins, who had by this tint
got rid of his bashfulness, and sp
peared, as he really was, hghtheart
ed, manly young fellow. Charley hai
conceived great liking to Mr.. Brown
and was very confidential with him; 81
that Mr.. Brown was speedily made aware
that his young friend was clerk at the
moderate salary of eighteen shillings q
week; that he had had an offer of situa
ton where he could earn two pounds, but
that security to the amount Of three hun
dred pounds was required which put il
out Of the question. Charley Collins could
not help half sigh as he stated what
might be, and yet could no. be, and Mr.
Brown could easily understand that the
situation 90 temptingly offered, only to be
perforce refused, was just enough to give
Milly and her lover the start in life for
which they were waiting.
The merriment by no means tagged a.
the evening wore on. Mr.. Brown was
the life and soul of the party, cracked
Jokes, asked riddles, told stories, kissed
Milly and Miss Pinnifer under the mistle-
toe, and generally proved himself the
prince of good fellows Forfeits were
played, and blind mans buff, at which lat
ter game Miss Pinnifer gave rise to grave
suspicious as to her fair play by persist
emily refusing to catch anybody but Mr..
Brown, and holding him an unnecessarily
long time when caught After blind man &
buff, dance was proposed, and carried
out with great success, John Todd per
forming on the violin. Miss Pinniffer's
brother had been rather gloomy during
the previous amusements, but he now be-
gan to enjoy himself immensely, dancing
away by himself in the very middle Of the
room with funeral expression of coun-
tenance, and occasionally tumbling over
one or other of the young TOdds,
who had rather indefinite notions OF
dancing, and were a good deal in
the way. But he didn't mind, not he
he picked himself up and went at it again
as if nothing had happened. One by one
the dancers stopped, exhausted and at
last the fiddle stopped, too; but Miss
Pinnifer's brother still continued to dance,
without smile on his countenance, and
without any apparent intention Of ever
leaving off Indeed, think it highly
probable that he would have continued
dancing to this moment, had not his sister
by certain whispered Establishments, in
which the word pudding was plainly
audible, persuaded him to leave of, and
finally got him to bed.
The youthful Todds about this time be-
gan to show signs of weariness, and were
with some difficulty induced to retire to
rest, Johnny Todd with the inestimable
pigs tail under his pillow. The remainder
of the party gathered around the fire, and
chatted quietly. Mr.. Brown seemed TO
have suddenly grown silent since the
children's departure. At last, after q pause
in the conversation, he said suddenly
"Mr. Todd-Pve a proposition to make to
you. Don't go, Miss Miny-what I'm go
ing to say concerns you too. This lady
and gentleman are friends of the family,
and don't t''mind speaking before them
Mr. Todd, I'm not young man-I've been
knocked about good deal in my time,
and mean, if l can, t0Aave little COM
fort in my old years. 50 I'm looking out
for wife, and I haven't seen any young
lady 80 much to my liking as Miss Milly
there"
At this startling announcement Milly
turned red and pale by turns, Charley
Collins clenched his fists, and looked un-
utterable things; and Miss Pinnifer be-
came perfectly rigid, with only energy
enough to turn up her eyes to the ceiling,
and to murmur in heartbroken accents,
"Cruel-kerrewel mani"
John Todd attempted to speak, but Mr..
Brown continued
"Hear me out, please and then give
what answer you like. I'm not = young
man, as l said before, but I'm easy-going,
and l believe / should make a good hus-
band. I've worked hard in my time, but
I've made twenty thousand pounds, and
now don't intend to work any more, but
Just to enjoy myself My wife win have
q good time of il, mind you. Balls, con-
certs, parties, if she likes 'em, she shall
have 'em, and that's all about it. Now,
Miss Milly, what do you say? viii you
be an old mans darling?"
"Mr. Brown" John Todd began, but
Milly interrupted.
"No, father, let me speak. Mr.. Brown,
thank you for your offer, and l don't
doubt it's kindly meant. But I've given
my heart away already (as you might
have guessed tonight,) and 1 can't give it
twice"
"Iknow, know" said Mr.. Browns sadly,
I" But it's weary waiting, Milly, all through
the long years, and boy-and-girl fancy
soon dies away"
"Ours isn't boy-and- girl fancy, then,
Mr. Brown, for Pm quite sure it'll never
die away. Never, never, neverl Will It.
Charley" Charley did not trust himself
to spesk; but warm pressure of the hand
answered Milly well enough.
"Don't decide in hurry, Miss Milly.
There are many things to think about,
you know your father, now. He ought
not to work as he does, at this time OF
life, and his eyes are failing already. Now
if you'll marry me, your father shall have
a good house over his head, q nice little
cottage in some quiet country place, and
need never do q stitch of work again.
And the boys shall haYe good schooling
and a fair start in business. It's worth
thinking of, my dear"
Poor Milly felt utterly miserable. She
had not the smallest idea If wavering, but
Mr.. Brown had artfully contrived that by
being faithful to her true love, she should
appear to deprive her father and brothers
Of a host of blessings, all of which it was
in her power to bestow. She could only
sob out
"Its very cruel" and burst into tears.
John Todd had made repeated efforts to
speak, but now he broke out in tone
that bore down all Interruption
"Mr. Brown, for the kindness we've re-
ceived from you, I'm obliged; and don't
90 from it. But I'm not obliged, sir, by
your coming into my house, and trying to
steal away my daughters affections from
a Young man as truly loves her. 1t amt
fair, it amt manly, it amt honorable.
And when YOU 70 and try to work upon
her feelings along of her old father, that
she'd give her right hand for, it's mean
and cruel and cowardly, that Is what it is.
And tell YOU what, sir-T wouldn't take
another kindness at your hands, no, not II
I was starving. I'm creaky old man, sir,
/ know am; and my sights falling, as
you say; but I've work in me yet, thank
God, and I'll work my fingers to the bone
before I'll bid child Of mine marry for
money without love"
"And perhaps you'll let me saya word,
Mr.. Brown" interposed Charley Collins.
1t amt much, it's only matter OF opm-
ion, and it'll relieve my mind. It's my
opinion, sir, that you're . canting, two
faced, hypocritical old humbug!" :.