The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1873-02-07

moment Ezekiel Stormes made his appear
ance.
The grave parsonage looked so long at
the sweet sad face of Sarah Jane, that, with
a jealous pang and a quaking fear at her
heart that her longitudinal adorer might
transfer the light of his starry freckles and
brilliant hair to ber assistant, she sharply
ordered her to retire to tue kitchen. Sarah
Jane meekly obeyed, but said, as she sat
down to sew in the lonesome old kitchen
"Ketarah is gone goose
Stormes sank into chair beside Keturah,
and remarked with pious propriety:
"Miss Smiley, l seriously contemplate
committing matrimony. It is a solemn
thing to get married."
He paused while the old maid cast down
her eyes in ecstatic confusion and wiggled
her thin foot, thinking it was great deal
more solemn to be spinster.
"You have probably long before this sur
missed the reason of my constant visits, and
! know you sympathize with my lonely con
diton. | am in love--deepy. truly, un-
changeably in love"
II realy-indeed 10 my l mean
never DIDO dear am SO astonished
did not dream Of such thing p simpcred
she, giggling with suppressed delight.
"Alay | hope that you will favor my suit,
Miss Smiley 1t is not good for man to
be alone,' sighed he hooking down defect
edly at his big boots, the shape Of South
America on the map.
"Alr. Stormes, feel deeply for you, and
will try to make you happy said Koturah,
hanging her head with maiden modesty,
and secretly wishing she had her best hand
kerchief with lace on it, as it would be
about the right thing at this affecting stage
Of proceedings to wipe away an unbdden
tear of feeling.
"Then you consent to our union ?" he
said, gently squeezing her hand, and leaning
toward her eagerly till his face almost
touched hers.
81 do, Mr.. Stormes but you must not
be too familiar. I can permit nothing more
than chaste salute, said she, bridling and
endeavoring to draw her hand from his.
"IIalelujah" !" shouted he, ainging his
arms around Miss Keturah and giving hei
hearty hug and resounding buss, which
she stood with wonderful equanmity, seeing
h. ,,a. rot oonu.to,,,aI -, e,ab ~ 80
After he sat her down, he flung off, first
a red wig then padded coat, and sent his
blue glasses after them, and straight, sturdy
gleesome, mischievous Tom 0'Gorry stooC
before her, looking as ever, save his yellow
ochre skin and Greckles.
"Thank you, Miss Keturah, you consent
to our union, do you? feel like balloon
on sunbeam, and would get down on ny
knees to thank you if my pants were no
too tight to prevent that act Of homage
Bless my soul what's the row, Keturah
1t was only iokev, said the really homes
fellow, kindly, as the forlorn creature coy
cred her wrnkled face with her withere,
hands and burst into tears. Poor, unfor
tunate Keturah, as she saw all her matri
monial castles in the air, that she ha
imagined to be solid brick and mortar struC
lures, come tumbling about. her ears, an
when she recognized Tom, gazed with
: dazed, bewildered expression at him me
! ment, then crushed, humiliated, indignan
and sorrowlul, she had given vent to to be
feelings in a hearty fit of crying. Tot
looked wonderngly at her, Cor he had ey
> pected storm Of invective and TRADE
:, abuse and not deluge Of salt water. II
; looked ruelully on while she wopt, an
wishing he knew what to do or say, as 81
took no notice Of his last conciliatin
speech, muttered to himself;
n "There is no understanding a woma
n any way! The idea of an antediluvia
virgin near on seventy boo-hooing after
r, husband p
n At length the emotional storm subside
e and Keturah, casting spiteful glance
If him, blew her nose spiteGuly like a rallyir
trumpet-call, and sptefully sobbed
"Cruel wretch leave my presence fc
o everp
i, All right As you have consented
e. our union, l will take Sally with me-"
al "Traitorous villain you shall never ha
Sarah Jane. Never"
er "softly, Miss Keturah. If you do n
g. take that back, will write ont this who
sp affair, and call it Keturah Smiley's Ii
er Chance" and have it printed in the BI
.ir zington Babbler.' n.t.
81, "You vile traducer OF trusting innocen
You abominable toadstool You caterI
ge lar, crawling about to see whom yon c
or devour You false" here Ketura
y, breath failed, and, completely exhaust