The Van Buren press., 1873-11-25
MISCELLANY.
A Practical Lover.

1
work very hard. His industry had in the
end, however, met its due reward At
middle age, he was comfortably circum
stanccd. When he announced TO his
friends, therefore, that he thought oftak
ing to himself wife, it was thought gen
orally that the step msditated was a pru
dent enc. And when he further stated
that he had made an offer of his hand to
one GeOrgiana Warren, the daughter Of
a wealthy merchant, and that his offer
had been accepted by the lady, we, Of
course, has,ened to tender our heartiest
congratulations on the occasion.
Ned Stone speke Of the matter In HIS
own simple, sober way,
"Wsll, you know, I'm getting on, y he
said, land if I'm to marry it's about
time should think Of ssttiag about it.
You're very kind think | shall be
very happy-in fact, Eve no doubt about
it-as happy as fellow has right to
expect to be. One has not right to ex-
/ pect too much, Of course. But I'm quite
fond in my way Of this Georgians War
rem, and think that she in her way is
fond OF me She is not too young or
too old not too COED looking nor yet
too PLAN; she is sensible and accom-
pished enough and don't see why she
shouldn't make a good ssrt Of a wife,
and, similarly, | dont see why |
shouldn't make very good sort Of a
husband. Perhaps I'm not very fond OF
old Warren. the father, and perhaps he
isn't very fond Of me But don't know
as that may matter very much, | dare
say that we shall understand each other
better by and by; meantime, | must try
and make the best Of the old mans hu-
NOR, and not run counter to him more
than | can avoid And it seems to me
that the old fellow would be no fonder
of anybody else who might want 10 mar
ry his daughter then he is of me You
see its our aHar-Gecrgiana's and mine
and not his ; though it's hard to make
him see it in that light. Bat l dare say
it will come right in the end. That 5
what tell Georgana when she takes up
with rather gloomy views about her
fathers temper. She has good sense,
and think, looks at tho matter very
much as do-ony, Of course, she can't
help feeling that he is her father, where.
as, thank goodness, he amt mine "
1t will be seen that Ned Stone was not
lover to "sigh like a furnace. As
for writing awoful ballad 10 his mistress
eye brsws, dent fancy he could have
accomplished such feat, even if his life
depended on his doing SO. The ther-
mometer Of his love stood at temperate,
with no tendency toward an upward rise
The marks of love, as they are gen
orally understood, were not discernble
upon him.
He never said word as to the agitated
state of his breast, nor to the excitement
Of his feelings. He did not regard Miss
Warren as an angel or goddess. Proba-
bly, he weuld have been the first 10 con
tradict any allegation that might have
been made to the effect that she was any
thing of the kind. Miss Warren appeared
to him what she seemed to everybody
else--a nice, sensible English girl.
| called upon Stone one evening. He
was alone. He looksd little grave, and
held a small, sealed packet. We dis
cussed various Indifferent subjects; then
! inquired concerning Miss Georgiana.
"Oh, haven't you heard p he answered
But, Of course, You couldn't have
heard. The affair is of. Our engage
mcnt has come to an end.
"You don't mean that" asked in
surprise
"Yes; the things broken off, mpeo-
pie say It's bad job, and I'm sorry
for it, but it cant be helped. "
Had the lady resented his serenity and
discharged him asked myself
As though hs had heard the question
he went on "It's the old maA's doings
| hope he's satisfied now. Hes the IN ost
unreasonable and disagreesblo old fsl-
low ever had the misfortune to meet. "
But what did he dc 2"
1--WE fell out about the settlement
that was where the hitch arose. I'm sure
| did all could to please him. | gave
up condition after condition quite in op
position to the advice OF my solicitor
told him TO settle what money he pro-
posed to settle upen his daughter--it
wasn't much after sll--just as he pleased
| didn t want to touch half penny Of it,
De might settle it, told him, just as
strictly as ever he pleased. or he might
settle nothing at AL upon her, il he liked
that better !, was h, daughter / want.
ed, and net his money And for my part,
I'd take care my wife never came to want
| undertook to insure my life for large
amount, and 10 assign the policy to
trustees for her benefit, in case OF my
death, covenaRting, Of course, to the
premiums regularly, and to pay up tho in
sursnce in the regular way. | thought
that fair arrangement, but it did not
content him.
lie wanted to tie my hands completely
He hadnta ha'p'oth confidence in me
He gave me credit fer no sort OF affection
for his daughter. He insisted that any
money that ia future might become pos.
sessed OF | should covenant into a settle
msnt. 1t was absurd. or course
couldn't consent to it. / had my busi
noss to consider. or course my wife
and children-ii / have any-will reap
the benefit as much as shall. However,
he wouldn't listen TO me. l told Ceorgl
ana exactly how the matter stood. Shes
Of age. asked her whether she'd mar
ry me without the old mans consent.
Poor girl she WAS in an awful way. But
she did net care to do that She shrunk
from offending her father, SO there's no
help for it--ths thngs broken of, and
| am not to be married it sesms-this