The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-10-12

have to do with it; and tell you, plain
ly, if you don't love me enough to marry
me in my own way, that can try and
find young man who will but must
say good night for have left Seraphina
on rope ladder since eleven o'clock this
morning" p#a a~-n ga a ....
SO saying she tripped out of the room,
kissing her hand to him as she disap-
peared.
After saying few words to Mr.. and
Mrs. Van Cortlandt, Herman took his
leave; and going to the stable, mounted
his fine bay horse, and trotted to Hacken-
sack Manor in a very dismal frame of
mind. He had been brought up in such
excellent habits, that, although he would
much rather have retired to his own
room, and buried his chagrin and dis
appointment in sleep, he could not do
it till he had first asked his fathers bless
ing, and kissed his mother. For as the
Holy Book says, in one of its inspired
chapters: "There were giants in those
days." we may be allowed to remark
with deep regret over another extinct
race: "There were good sons in those
days" Both Mr.. and Mrs. Zabrieski
could not fail to mark their sons serious
aspect.
"What ails thee, Herman 7" said his
father.
"Nothing, sir; somewhat fatigued
with my ride"
"Who ever heard of young mans
being fatigued with short trot of four
miles, on a moonlight night,w he had.
been to see the prettiest girl in all the
country 2" said the old lady.
Perchance," observed her husband,
"Greta would not give him parting
kiss because the old folks were on the
stoop!"
"How can you put such absurd no.
tions into the boys head" replied Mrs.
Zabrieski. Knickerbocker girls keep
their kisses for their husbands, and don't
waste them on lovers That was the
plan went upon when l was young"
There was roguish twinkle in the
old mans eye, as she said this, but he
said nothing :; although the skillful
might have translated the twinkle in
his eve to mean I" / never tell tales out
of school,"
"1ll wish you goodnight" said Her
man, " for l am really tired, and have
headache"
So saying, he went up to his father,
who shook his hand and patted his head,
while his mother gave him good hearty
kiss.
"What is the matter with the lad ?"
said Zabrieski.
"The boys only little love sick.
Boys are not what they were when you
were young, Jake. Then the more they
were in love the more they ate; now
they fall off in their appetite and look
dismal. Herman will be himself again
when he is married y
For my own part" replied old Ia
brieski, {" don't see why they don't get
married at once. I'm ready with my
money, the Manor House is all ready;
and 1 say again, dame, don't see why
they don't marry at once. If Greta is
giving herself any airs, she ought to be
talked to, and I'll be the Dutch uncle to
do it, if she hasn't got one in her own
family!'
The next morning old Zabrieski, after
breakfast, went to look round his farm !;
for he was a busy man, and liked to see
that his orders were carried out. He
had no sooner taken his departure than
Herman, who had tried to be as cheerful
as he could at the morning meal, said to
his mother
Mother, can you keep a secret2"
Yes" said the old lady laughing,
like woman!"
Herman look so sadly at her, that she
cried out, "Whatis the matter, my boy I"
"Well, mother" replied Herman, 81
think that Greta is either mad, or else
she wants to break off with me-"
GOOD gracious !" was the old woman's
reply, "What do you mean I"
Why" said Herman, blushing like a
girl, "she says she won't marry me,
without I'll elope with her."
"Elope with her I" almost shrieked
Mrs. Zsbrieski. "The girls mad What's
the need for your running away with
her when we are all of us dying to see
you both married I"
{" That's the trouble, mother. She says
that such marriages are always unhap-
py. She says that in all the novels she
has read, the happiest marriages are
those where the parents oppose, and the
bride has to escape from the bedroom
window down rope-ladder."
"The Lord preserve US! !" said the old
dame. "Greta is as crazy as old Nina,
the gipsy."
Herman then told her all that had
passed between them.
The old lady, who was very shrewd,
told Herman she would talk it over with
his father, and begged him not to des-
pair. -.--.
Old Zabrieski was exceedingly puz-
zled when his wife told him of Grcta's
whim. His first impulse was to go to
his ancient Van Courtlandt, and suggest
that Greta should be put in a straight
waistcoat. His wife's counsels, however,
prevailed, and it was agreed to take
Mr.. and Mrs. Van Cortlandt into the
conference, and consult what was best
The next morning Mr.. and Mrs. Ia
brieski and their son drove over to the
Var Cortlandts,' who were delighted to
see them.
After the first greetings were over,
Dame Zabrieski said to Herman and
Greta, who were chatting in corner !:
. "Now, you young folks, go and take
a nice walk, for we have come to spend
a long day here, and we old folks want
to have a chat"
When Herman and Greta had de-
parted on their stroll around the
grounds, Mrs Zabrieski related the con-
versation she had with her son. The
astonishment of Greta's parents was un-
bounded.
at is all owing" said Van Cortlandt
to his wife, "to your allowing her to
read those foolish books. 1 never read
but one romance in all NV life. and then