Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-12-05
8 Nopular Story.
LOVE ON "A LOG.

Miss Becky Newton!
"Well, sir"
"Will you marry me-"
ssNo, won't
every well; then don't, that's all" /"
Mr.. Fred Eckerson drew away his
chair, and putting his feet upon the
piazza, unfolded a newspaper. Miss
Becky Newton bit her lip and went on
with her sewing. She wondered if that
was going to be the last of it. She had
felt this proposal coming for nearly a
month, but the scene she had antici-
pated was not at all like this. She had
intended to refuse him, but it was to
be done gracefully. She was to remain
firm, Notwithstanding his most eager
entreaties. She was to have told him
that, though respecting his manly
worth and upright character, she could
never be to him more than an appreci-
ative and earnest friend. She had in
tended to shed few tears, perhaps, as
he knelt writhing in an agony of sup
plication at her feet. But instead, he
had asked her the simple question,
Withoutanyrhetor embellishments,
and on being answered, had plunged
at once into his newspapers, as though
he had merely enquired the time OF
day. She could have cried with vexa-
tion.
.You will never have a better
chance" he continued after a pause,
as he deliberately turned over the
sheet to find the latest telegraphie re-
ports.
GA better chance for what?" she ask
ed shortly.
ga better chance to marry young,
good looking man, whose gallantry to
the sex is only exceeded by his bravery
in their defense" /" Fred was quoting
from his newspaper, but Miss Newton
did not know it.
"And whose egotism is only exceed
ed by his impndence," retorted the la
"a sareas y
Before long, continued Fred 'syou
will be out of the market. Your
chances, you know, are getting slim
mer every day."
"Sir?"
ssIt won't be great while before you
are Ineligible. You will grow old,
wrinkled and"
"Such rudeness to a lady, sir, is mon
strous," exclaimed Miss Newton, ris:-
ing hastily, and flushing to the tenn
Piles.
"I'll give you a final opportunity,
Miss Becky. Will You mar"
"Not if you were the King of Eng
land, interrupted Miss Newton, throw
ing down her work. 81 am not accus-
toned to such insults, SIR
And SO saying, she passed into the
house and slammed the door behind
her. a
'sShe never is so handsome as when
she is in rage" thought Fred to him
self, after she had gone, as he slowly
folded up his paper and replaced it in
his pocket. Il was fool to goad her
so, but I'll have her." he exclaimed a.
loud. "By Heaven, I'll have her, cost
what it may"
Very different was the Fred Ecker
son of the present, pacing nervously
up and down the piazza, from the Fred
Eckerson of a few moments ago, re-
ceiving his dismissal from the woman
that he loved, with such impurturba-
BILE exterior, for he loved Becky New
ton with all his heart. The real diff
fenity in the way, as he more than
half suspected, was not SO much with
himself as in his pocket. Becky New
ton had an insuperable objection to
an empty walle&. The daughter of a
wealthy Louisiana planter, reared in
luxury, and the recipient of weekly
allowance of pin-money sufficient to
pay Fred's bills for a whole month,
she had no Immediate idea of changing
her situation for one Of less comfort
andindependence. Beside, it had been
intimated to her that neighborine
planter of unusually aristoeratic line.
age had looked upon her with eoyet-
GUS eye. To be sure, he was old and
ugly, but he was rich, and in her pres
entmercenary state of mind Miss Becky
Newton did not desire to allow such {
chance of becoming q wealthy widow
slip by unimproyed.
Butalas forhuman nature! IfBeck5
was really 50 Indifferent to Fred Ecker
son, why did she run up stairs aftel
that interview, and take the starch all
ont Of her nice, clean pillow shsms b.