Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-06-13
Gclcltc0 nlistfIInnD.
THAT HORRID MR.. BARNES. ,

Mr.. Barnes, widower of forty, made
up his mind to marry again. | do not
mention this az being very surprising
fact; for who that has once known the
love of woman has not felt as if the sun,
moon and stars were made for his own
particular benefit; and who that has once
lived in Heaven would not return thither
But Mr. Barnes was neither good-looking
nor rich; in fact, not TO mince matters,
he was plain and poor, and instead of
falling in love with plain, kind girl,
who might take compassion on him, he
fixed his eye on one of the richest, gay
est and pretticst girls in the village, Fan
ME, the youngest daughter of Squire
McAllistcr. She was about eighteen,
Just out of school and as wild as a young
colt. Imagine her astonishment when
she found Mr.. Barnes was making love
to her THAT horrid Mr.. Barnes has
been here three times this week p she
said to her sister, "and he dared to
squeeze my hand tonight! What an
old fool-old enough to be my grand
fatherw
He is only forty; | should not be
surprised if you married him, after all,
Fan; 50 don't be angry with him for
pressing your hand. The next time he
comes he will kiss you" said her sister,
provokingly
Fannie walked out of her room in
speechless Indignation There was no
doubt that Mr. Barnes was in love. He
came often and staid long. 1t seemed
her fate to meet him whenever she left
the house. lie sent her presents, which
she returned, books which she never
read, and invitations which she never
accepted. in short, as Fan said, {" He
made her life burden to her."
Il can't stand this any longer" said
Fan, one day. "Tll play such trick
upon him that he'll never come again p
So she poured some molasses in his hat,
as it stood on the hall-table one evening,
then she called him back when he had
opened the front door to 90 home, and
had the satisfaction of seeing the streams
Of molasses running down his shoulders
and over his best black coat. Her merry
peal of laughter was all that was needed
TO complete his discontinue, and he
rushed from the house casting upon her
look of reproach.
Fan thought she had got rid of him
now, and she received her fathers rebukc
with good deal of composure; but the
next week brought "that horrid Mr..
Barnes" back again. What was she to
do? She did everything she could. She
made caricatures of him, and circulated
them among her friends she treated him
to doughnuts filed with cotton; made
fun of him in every way that the brain
Of frolicsome school girl could devise;
and still he never waycred in his ale
glance.
There is no help for you, Fannie
You will have to become Mrs. Barnes
number two-you cannot get rid of him
in any other way" said Miss McAllistcr
Fannie was too much subdued for an
ger C really am afraid So" said she,
with tears in her eyes. 'It would not
be so bad if there was the least thing at
tractive about him. And he is always
so kind and so quietly determined that
am afraid he will make me like him in
spite of ALL"
What's that you say, Fannie p and,
rising suddenly, Miss McAllister took
both her sisters hands. look straight
into my eyes, Fannie, | was only joking.
You must have known that ] never sup
posed that anything in Heaven or on
earth, or the waters under the earth,
would induce you to marry that horrid
Mr.. Barnes A pretty match indeed
for McAllister a nice son-in-law for
our fathcrl How graceful, how hand
some, how distinguished! What pleas