Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1872-07-12

second time r asked the anxious mother.
Il certainly shall, mother, if he's fool
enough to ask me-"
"How can you have the heart to do it,
and yer poor mother lone widder, and
has to work for her livin', and might be
pervided for hansome in her old age, if
ye'd marry him? 2"
MARY him yourself, mother, if you're
so anxious" said Nancy, quite out of pa
tience. you're just about the right age
for him."
"What foolishness !" said the old lady,
looking, nevertheless, in the glass, and
arranging her cap-strings. eye know
we'll enough he'd never ask me: it's a
young wife he wants.
"Well, then, young wife he won't get,
if I'm to be the one," said Nancy. decis-
lively. 80 let's drop the subject! y
'Well, Nancy" said the old lady. fear
ing she had gone too far, and seeking to
mend matters by Cancellation. 'you must
dos you please, I s'pose. I don't want to
force ye I don't believe in forcin' gals.
But don't want ye to 60 and make an
enemy of Silas. He's alters been a good
friend O mine, and don't want to offend
him. " .....
''Oh, you needn't be afraid of my not
treating him well, mother-poor old
wretch I'm sure he's never failed to
have liniment to rub his back whenever
he's rheumatic; and he has always had his
bed warmed nicely for him every night. u
'Yes, yer good handy girl, Nancy,
and that's why Silas has taken a shine to
ye, I reckon. Don't forget to warm bis
bed tonight; it's bitter cold weather, and
the sheets hasn't been slept in since they
was washed
''I'll attend to it, mother, never fear.
You 60 into the keeping room and enter
tain Mr. GLADDEN. take your knitting
work along. You needn't come into the
kitchen to bother about tea, I'll get it. .
And cunning Nancy hied to the kitch-
en-. where, before the roaring hickory
fire. stood young man of stalwart pro-
portions, who, without the ceremony ol
leave-asking, put bis arms round Nancy's
slender waist and gave her hearty kiss.
Its comfort you've come, Tom, y
said she, not the least bit offended. "I'm
tormented to death just think of that
old Sile GLADDEN. having the impudence to
GENE here again. snookin' after me!''
SIS he here again p asked Tom, with
an annoyed frown on his handsome brown
face. What the duce does he suppose
a pretty girl like you wants of him? Old
Squeeziks I could choke him for his
conceit p
"Oh, mother encourages him you
knowI" said Nancy. Mothers dreadful
fond of money But I must hurry and
get tea now, so sit down and make your
self at home. We can talk while I'm
working"
Il wanted you to 60 to singing school
with me tonight, Nancy"
"Oh! well, don't you fret-Tll 60 :
I've only got shortcake to make, and tea
to steep, and the table to set for tea; and
then, after I've washed the dishes and
swept up, I'll be ready. No!-then I've
got the old fellows bed to warm"
Bed to warm, Ell I'd warm it for
him with vengeance. if [ was you!"
"Oh! don't you worry!'' and Nancy's
blue eyes twinkled with mischief. i've
thought of plan. l don't believe he'll
want me to warm his bed again in a hur-
ry. I'm just going to Fill the warming
pan with ice. and make the bed as freez.
ing cold as I can Maybe the shock will
cure his rheumatism !" and the naughty
girl laughed merrily.
''It takes you, Nance, to think O
things" said Tom. admiringly; ''that idea
deserves kiss. What smart wife you'll
make me one of these days, if [ can only
learn to take care of my ears !"
''Look out for 'em now, to begin with +
said Nancy, giving her lover a tap.
Nancy's tea that night was triumph
The shortcake was done to turn, and
was Grip and faky and brown enough tc
suit the veriest epicure; and when the ia.
bic was set with its seductive array of vi
ands-pumpkin pies of a shining amber
color, and Clipped beef trahsparently thin
honey in the comb, white and translucent
and wonders, and jumbles, aud election
cake-it was as good sample of an old
fashioned New England tea-table as coulc
have been found. Silas GLADDEN. was 81
enraptured with the feast as to feel toler.
ant even of the presence of Tom Springer
and ate, and told long stories, of which h'
himself was the hero cacking over then
till he almost choked himself with his tie;
going down the wrong way, considering
his jokes all the better that he had retail
ed them hundreds of times before.
So absorbed was be in himself, and 81
intent was Mrs. Bemis upon being graci
, Gus towards him. that neither of them no
ticed the sly glances that Tom exchanged
: with Nancy during the progress of tn
} meal. When it was finished, and Name,
, had ''cleared away" and tidied up the al
ready neat kitchen, Tom, according to
preconcerted arrangement, took up hi
hat to 60.
"You just walk around outside littl
/ while" whispered Nancy to him at tn
t door. land I'll set candle in the windoV
, when I'm ready. | WON'T be long"