Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-03-21

sort of tenderness for the youngest
daughter of Israel Ives. If not strictly
beautiful, she was at least very SEN
sible girl, and would make practical
housekeeper. John had but little senti-
ment in his composition; his tastes
were more matter of fact. The more
John thought of matrimony, the more
| fixed became his determination of COM
mitting himself as soon as possible.
A night or two subsequent to the corr
versation with his father, it was no.
ticed that he attired himself with un-
| usual care before going out, as he in
sisted, to attend the " debating socie-
ty." His father and mother regarded
each other significantly, as if they well
understood what was uppermost in
Johns mind, but they gave the young
man no intimation that they suspicioned
his intentions.
After a last lingering look at the
looking-glass, John started forth into
the darkness, taking the shortest road
possible to the residence of Israel Ives.
He soon came to the place he intend
ed visiting. A bright light cleaned
out through the front windows, with
| bCdLlc, anu uO 1duC1Cu uO
could see smiling faces there, yet his
heart thumped so very singularly under
his shining satin vest that it was sew
eral minutes before he could make up
his mind to knock at the door he
walked up and down the road past the
place several times, to calm himself,
and to think over the words he pro.
posed saying when in the presence of
| Miss Ives.
At last he turned in at the gate, and
walking boldly up to the front door, he
made his presence suddenly known to
the Ives family, by means of the friend
ly assistance of the heavy brass knocker.
Israel Ives came to the door, with o
faring candle in his hand he gave q
sudden little start of surprise upon
recognizing his visitor.
"Why! John," he said, "is this
you? ?"
els Miss Ives at home ?" said John,
nervously, forgetting in his sudden en-
barrassment to designate the particular
Miss Ives he wished to see.
Certainly, certainly" replied Israel,
smiling mischievously, "walk right in
to the parlor and sit down and she will
come in presently"
Leaving his hat upon the rack in the
hall, John did as he was bid he sat
down upon the outer edge of the chair
and awaited the young ladys coming.
He heard several suppressed giggles in
the adjoining room, and subdued sug-
gestion upon the part of Israel that they
had best not to act silly and foolish.
Then the door opened, and in sailed
Miss Sophrony Ives, followed by
Patience, Priscilla, Malvinagand Lucy
Ives, each simultaneously smiling and
trying to lock as sweet and pretty as
possible. They advanced one by one
and gave John greeting, after which
they arranged themselves in graceful
group about him then began the liveli.
est conversation John had ever listened
to. He began to grow uneasy and tc
lose his self-possession. This was
rather more Miss Ives than he had
anticipated meeting.
At last sudden idea occurred tc
him.
"Girls," he said, edo any of you
play blind mans buff"
The young ladies all suddenly gig.
gled.
Sometimes" said Miss Sophrony
with sly glance at her sisters.
"Suppose we have game then" said
John earnestly.
Several handkerchiefs were simultane.
ously produced, and before John was
aware he was in midnight darkness.
"But you must be blinded too
Lucy" said Miss Malvina, sit always
makes it livelier to have two, you
know"
So Miss Lucy's sight was temporarily
obscured in the same manner thai
Johns had been.
Then the word "ready" was given
and without word of warning Sophro
n.y. Patience, Priscilla and Malvina
noiselessly glided from the the room.
For awhile John and Lucy groped
innocently about them, each failing tc
find the objects they sought; at las
John spoke
81 say, where are you ALP" he sale
helplessly.
No answer came to his question from
those he was seeking.
"John," said Lucy, 81 believe
they're allhiding."
Just at that moment the two approach
en- each other with their hands extend
ed, and they were each suddenly clasp
ed in each others arms. This was {
sensation so new to John that it almos
deprived him of articulation.
80, is it you, John ?" said Lucy. /"
do believe they're fooling u.s."
She suddenly removed the bandagt
from her eyes, and the next momen
John felt her deft little fingers untyinl
the knot in the handkerchief that wa
: bound about his head.
Look here, john" she said in
half provoked sort of way, just Sc,
what trick they've played upon us.
might have known what they were III
; to. Never mind, we'll have real pleas
/ ant visit now."
/ They sat down side by side on tn
; high-backed sofa, and Lucy talked s.
, pleasantly and encouragingly to Johl
that he soon felt perfectly at home
He was almost astonished at his self
: possession. The minutes lengthene,
{ into hours, and, well, he never coul,
t fully explain how it was afterwards, bu
: the fact was that Lucy promised hir
, that she would be Mrs. John Janse,
whenever he was ready to claim her a
| his own, and John went home that nigh
r very proud and happy, and on the fol
: lowing morning he informed his aston
ished father that any time that farm wa
. ready he would be ready to go to house
$ keeping.
Peter Jansen kept his word, and job
{ was often subsequently heard to sa
a | that if IL hadn't heen for that friandI