Delaware weekly Republican., 1872-07-04
SELECT STORY.
Am Unweleone Yisitor

1t was an actual shame for any good LOOKING
young man to be as bashiul as Charley Warfief,
was. What was the use of being six feet HIGH,
WIN piack, Wayy hair, and complexion as deli
cate as girls, if he must be struck dumb every
Time ne ran foul OF o French bonnet with a
pretty face inside OF it, Not that the will was
lacking-C Charlie would have given all he was
worth and snug little fortune it was, too, to be
able to chatter TO the girls, like Young ,fom,.
klns, who was red haired and lived on his wits
For instance, when Miss Laura Tylner softly in.
simulated, with glance through her dark eve
iashes, that she was sure Mr.. Warden never
would be married, unless some lady reversed
tiie natural 9rler Of things, and proposed tc
MN, nc hadn't even the presence of mind to ttI
her this was Leap Year, and he was quite olsen,
gased, but sat blushing and staring at the carpet
thinking what TO say, until some Young mis-.
eleallt or other carried the cherry checked Laura
on TO polka. And that's the way he generally
managed atiairs-always thought of plenty ot
smart things he might have said, when the time
for saying them was past.
AL these matters was Charley r,min,t;na
over as he stood on the marble-paved hall of his
residence, drawing on pair of Jouyin's Gloves.
50 as to promenade Broadway in the beiyht nj
fashion, when there came a resonant and ner-
emptory ring at the door bella ring which
sounded Us though somebody outside had f-nt
hoia of the bell-knob and meant to jerk away
oDeyed the summons with his glove half ON he
didn't know what might be the consequences Of
longer delay.
Ihere stood lady, angular and vixenish look
ing, with sharp nose, and a thin, screwed nm
mouth. She held handbook under either avn,
ana had settlement OF baskets ca'y,a' I'-'.lIrf
brown paper parcels ranged on the doOfstep be-
fore her. Charley eyed her in silent constcrna-
ton, actually not knowing what TO say. The
sharp-nosed dansel, however, was suffering ull-
der no such embarrassment, for she immediately
demanded in shrill voice: !.
do the Warden folks live here?"
"Yes maam," said Charley resignedly.
"You Mr.. Warlen?"
II believe that is my name'
"Tben guess LII come in said the lady,
shouldering her parcels and pushing past our
hero with an independent manner which there
was no gainsaying Mr.. Warden felt that it
was useless to stem the current of events, SO he
opened the drawing-room door and invited her
in as cotrteously as possible under the circum-
stances.
"l'ray take a seat, ma'am.n
"Well," said the invader, 81 guess might us
well; the sooner our little business is over the
better. How many of you are there in the
family?n
'She can't be the census takerw inwardly
calculated Charley, as he made answer, stMy
mother and myself; but really don't see"
"Be you 4 bacheor?"
yes said the youth, turning very red but
"NVell,' said the lady, II come from Win
chester county. My name is Matildy Ann Hig-
gins"
NO doubts said Charley, politely, shut I
really don't see in what all this concerns mew
"Jest wait and see; heered you want mar
red ald hadn't nobody to oversee things for
you, and your mother was delicate, SO thought
Id cone down and see how I'D suit"
horrible suspicion began to dawn on Mr.
flrdens lnind-he burst into a cold perspir,-
ton.
Scan it be possible" he thought, "tlat this
Is one OF the horrid harpies that THOMPSON
talhs Oh on leap year, to entrap unsuspecting
husbands y
I'm real handy, can tell yon,n went on the
vinegar eoulltonanced damsei pulling of her
cotton glo?es. ~ caR do most ANYTHING that
was ever heared of--I'm first rate ii the care of
gehtlanans linen, and can make capital cof-
IeCm
Wretch" thought our hero, whose words
We're yet yainly struggling for utterance.-
''Ao2s she think that mans happiness depends
only on this miserable materialismr
Meanwhile Miss Higgins was chatterina Glib
ly on: '7'''--
Charles Warden was too indignant to sneak
the false curls seem to grow more red and
foxy every instant, and the greensh-gray ewes
more cannlbal-like. Did she intend 10 pGu;,ce
9non h!fa and carry him OH by main forcea-
was he To be frightened into marrying her in
spite Of himself? This was the wear of woman's
rights, was 1t Well! he was lucky it didn't
come but once in four years.
swell, what Go you cay, Mister? You,d hot
ter take me. shanT be in the market long. y
Charley Tried to gasp out "Neverm but on
y succeeded in uttering smoothered eroan.-
lie was last becoming powerless under the
magnetic glare OF those optics.
s--i'Liut nebbe you don't feel capable to decide
yourself, all of sudden" said the fair Matiljv
Anne, after moments considerate pause
Whar's your marm? I'll talk it over with her
only up where came from the men folks al
ways like to be conslated-at least, ftst.n
"Gonsnlted? should think they would ~
cried the indignant young gentleman 1Allow
Inc 10 say, mt'am that my mother has notbnn
whatever to say on the subject. Am | TO bt
sold bargained for like farm or a load oi
wood %
''WooiT responded the puzzled lady. I,
whom Mr.. Wanlen's speech, stihed as ii was b,
wrath, was not perfectly audible. "Oh, | aonS
object to coal fires at ;dr'
~ decline to entertain any of your pronosi
lions, ma'am," said Charley, briefly. Ii Is az
ceedingly embarrassing on my part, and | 81,
most unwomanly and unfeminine OF, ya,lrs =
Pray, leave the house, y
.'Heyday!" cried the wrathful damsel. toesin,
her head until every false curl quiyered respon
siyely. "Pretty talk TO use to nice smart "a
that's at least equal to any of your stuck-ir
tribe, Mr. Hairy Facel So don't suit. bey |?
'.Not at all, na'am, replied Charley, begin
ilfng 10 be more and more anxious to ret IN
Amazon out Of the house. How did he know
but that she might take fancy to pull his hail
or scratch his face, or level one of her pondeI
Gus bundles al his bead He had heard ths
a1woman's scorn' was dangerous article, an
seemed to be in q fair way Of realizing the fac
''Very well-very well,s said the lady, giyin