Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-05-02
AN ODD FIX.

w hen u came at last to asking
Samuel Rowley's consent to pay my
addresses to his ward, knew it was
all over with me. felt that it was
all over directly | was shown into
the library where Samuel Rowley
sat before the fire, toasting his equity
feet, and reading his Times newspa-
per. ! felt It was SO completely all
over with me that ! would very glad
ly have backed myself out of the
room without entering into any par
ticuars SIS to the object of my visit
would have cheoriully informed
him that | was an agent for Bosh-
tiers hair-restorer, and had called
with sample, which might be re-
turned if not approved after one
days rubbing. But be knew me and
knew him. lie understood perfect
ly well why l had solicited the bon
or of an interview with him at IL
O'Clock, NJ. he was q sharp old gen
tleman who had his eyes upon me
for some time, and was not to be inn
posed upon.
He said, Take . seat, Mr.. -, |
forget yonr name 7 and then he fun
bled with his glasses, and referred to
my polite epistle, which lay upon the
table near him.
took a seat and nursed my hat,
| perspired q little. | had a tremu-
lous motion Of my knees come on
which made me look ridiculous |
waited for him to speak, but he did
not. | began myself, after one or
two secret encounters in my throat
with u something which felt very
much like a cork out of a saltwater
bottle.
you are not awaro-that is, you
cannot but be aware-that | have
long regarded your ward Clara with
-. Did you speak, sir ?"
mo, sir, / did not speak"
Ho had given an awful cough of a
double-knock character, that was all.
He kept his glasses on his nose, and
focused me, and the operation was
unpleasant. He was not pleasant in
his reception of my statement either /;
he was decidedly unpleasant, not to
say desperately disagreeable. But
then he was c9oss, ill-grained old
fellow everybody knew it in VOL
version, and | have no particular
reason to disguise it here.
| recommended my statement |
poured forth the best feelings of my
heart, and with an eloquence that
might have melted adamant, / con-
fessed to him that Clara was my
only ambition AS | have said al
ready, ! knew that it was all over
with me, but ! was poetic even in
the midst Of my desperate conscious
ness.
Mr.. Rowley set aside his nowspa-
per, drew his chair an inch or two
closer 10 me, put his great hands
rather disposed to be equity, like his
feet-upon his knees, and surveyed
me from head to foot contemptuous-
ly.
"May l ask yoar age, Young man ?"
he said.
This was my weak point Of de-
tense, but | told him.
Seventeen"
"And how did you first become &C
quainted with my Clara, who is
year your junior, you hussy 2"
"Well Mr.. RowIey, 1t has been q
long attachment my finishing school
at Beesborough was situated oppo-
site her finishing school, aud we saw
each other at church and think
| -"
81 think that you both ought to
be horsewhippedl" he said, fercely
interrupting me ''and as for my
consent to Clara's engagement to a
boy like you'll will even go so far
asito say whipper-snapper like you
-"
"a whipper-snapper, sir 2"
81 repeal it, whipper-snapper !"
cried old Rowley, becoming very red
and apoplectic in appearance. 81
decline to listen to your preposterous
proposal for ore instant. Clara is
only sixteen, and does not know her
own mind-she is mere child"
"But We shall both grow older,
Mr.. Rowley,
"Ah, and more sensible, hope.
Good morning"
"Good morning, sir"
| did not wait to tell him of my
expectations from my grandmother,
or to reason With him on his want
of Justice and consideration. | went
away crest-fallen and hcart-broken.
dashed from the library in despair
and brought my forehead against
that of nay belCved's with q concus-
sion that was nearly the means OF
stretching our senseless forms out
side the tyrant's den, the victims Of
his cruel obduracy. Clara, naturally
interested in the result of my inter
view with her guardian, had forced
her pure but anxious soul to listen al
the library key-hole. | had retired
in haste and fOored her.
ooh, my gracious !" she sobbec
forth, 81 did not know you wert
coming out like that Oh. my head
Oh, how dreadful Oh, Alphonse
we must part forever"
She rested her head on my shout
der and shed many tears. | kissed
away her tears patted her head
fondly, keeping clear of the bump
which ! had raised there. l coulC
scarcely see her golden hair for tear