Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-02-24
HOW L CALLED HER NINE.

However much I may have admired his
daughter, even from short acquaintance,
did not like Mr. EdelstoA. still il became
INV duty TO ask bis consent that the two
girls might 20 10 picnic. We knew his
prejuiiees, but il was thought !, il any
body could, might overcome them. We
all took pity on his daughters, whom he
seemed to harass by his stTick rule and in
validfs exactions, and we did what we
could 10 enliven their stay at Heleshore.
had been particularly attentive to Agnes,
the eldest With my request in my
mouth and amid doubts | invaded Mr..
Edelston'S sanctum. lie pushed aside
some hlne-lined books, and gave me reader
audience than / anticipated.
$50 y0u want to speak TO me, hey r.
Ne said . that's phrase | can generally
interpret"
Your daughter has referred me TO you,
to ~
"Ah, thought so" be exclaimed lfor
be never allowed me to Get out more than
six or seven words at time.l " You have
come TO ask my -H
Consent"
Consent he repeated, overwhelming.
as usual, my attempt to take up the talking
by raising bis voice" TO your marrying
Agnes" 1 started. " You are surprised
at my anticipating you. but we city men
are not entirely devoid Of sagacity," he
continued in his pompously crmplacent
tone. . hope you have rcfrained from
extracting n definite promise from my
daughter until -"
Indeed, Mr.. Edelston, assure you |
have never once thought OF
Doing so. Quite right; quite right.
This i not the first application Of the
kind which / have received. Agnes has
personal attractions, and she viii have
comparative wealth hence suitors for her
hand haze not been wanting -
" Bat, Mr. Ed"
Do allow me to proceed. = he said so
snappishly, that gave up all idea Of ex-
plantation. "Those suitors have cOnsid-
cred ineligible. and hare thought Iit TO re-
ect. Now I look at you" III sat with
idiatically parted lips. tue picture Of be-
wildermentl "you arc very young-too
young to marry. You hate no profession !;
you do not seem to possess much business
energy Ut was rather hard TO be re
fused something one never asked for, and
to be disparaged into the bargninl On
the other hand, your demeanor is unpre-
tentious and unobjcctionable. Your esti-
mable aunt, whose opinion / value, gives
you n high character for steadiness. You
do not seem to have imbibed that expen-
sive taste for bloodshed which unaortun-
ately characteriscs your ancle. / under
stand that you are the owner Of small
landed property; and must confess that
have been most agreeably impressed in
your favor by remarking the intelligent
view you take Of the great political ques-
ton of the day.
"By Jore y thought /, in utmost per
plexity, he's going to approve OF me y
and, to my extreme bewiiderment, he
eventually did. Now, there was pretty
condition Of things! I hurriedly reviewed
my extraordinary position, in a state Of
excited mental confusion resembling that
of q volunteer colonel who has got his rear
rank In front, with his adjutant way on
leave.
Agnes Edelston / liked, excessively.
more SO almost than any girl have ever
talked to, but she was one Of the sweet,
sisterlike girls TO whom filtration or spoon
ing" seems foreign, and had never ven
tured, or even thought OF yenturing, On
anything Of the kind. She was too frank
and unaffected to Aassist" at such con-
temptable amusements. One could not
imagine that her round Thoughtful eyes
would ever learn or try to agive side
glance and look down. or her tender
curved lips simper at compliment But
she was sensitive and lovable; and while
His Longwindedness, her father, prosiIy
discussed the question of our marriage, /
thought how delightful it would lie to call
her wife.
The idea pleased me as much as IL | my
self had originated it. One seriously-look-
ing difficulty presenteditself: What would
Miss Edelston say to the arrangement !?
When my self-constituted father-in-law
paused for want Of polysyIIabIes, had
sufficiently mastered the situation to be
able to express due gratitude for his good
opinion of me, and the honor he was be-
slowing, but told him that I had not
ventured to test his daughters inclinations
ON the subject.
You see,n he explained, after some
further ass ciation, " this arrangement as
to my daughters future has relieved my
mind. Hitherto, have opposed her going
much into society, since my wife died,
having noticed that she attracts admira-
tion, and fearing that some Ineligible fell
low might engage her affections, II oppor-
unity were presented Pirnics, and above