Port Royal commercial and Beaufort County Republican. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1873-1874, 1874-04-02

beautiful, she was at least very SEN
sible girl, and would make practical
housekeeper. John had but little sentl-
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 con-
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 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
welcoming beams, and he fancied he
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 oi
Miss Ives.
At last he turned in at the gate, and
walking boldly up to the front door, 1e
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 q
flaring candle in his hand he gave a
sudden little start of surprise upon
recognizing his visitor.
"Whyl 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 lady's coming.
He heard several suppressed giggles in
the adjoining room, and subdued sug'
Restion 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, Malvina. and Lucy
Ives, each simultaneously smiling and
trying to lock as sweet and pretty as
possible. They advanced one by one
and gave John q 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 to
lose his self-possession. This was
rather more Miss Ives than he had
anticipated meeting.
At last sudden idea occurred to
him.
"Girls," he said. "do any of you
play blind mans JuD's"
The young ladies all suddenly gig
gled.
. "Sometimes," said Miss Sophrony,
with a 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, 'it always
makes it livelier to have two, you
know"
So Miss Lucy's sight was temporarily
obscured in the same manner that
Johns had been.
Then the word "ready" was given,
and without a word of warning Sophro-
nv, Patience, Priscilla and Malvina
noiselessly glided from the the room.
For awhile John and Lucy groped
innocently about them, each failing to
find the objects they sought; at last
John spoke: -.
"I say, where are you all9" he said
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 q
sensation so new to John that it almost
deprived him of articulation.
go, is it you, John ?" said Lucy. 81
do believe they're fooling us"
She suddenly removed the bandage
from her eyes, and the next moment
John felt her deft little fingers untying
the knot in the handkerchief that was
bouud about his head.
"Look here, John," she said in n
half provoked sort of way, just see
what trick they've played upon us. L
might have known what they were up
to. Never mind, we'll have real pleas
ant visit now"
They sat down side by side on the
high-backed sofa, and Lucy talked so
pleasantly and encouragingly to John
that he soon felt perfectly at home.
He was almost astonished Mt his self
possession. The minutes heightened
into hours, and, well, he never could
fully explain how it was afterwards, but
the fact was that Lucy promised him
that she would be Mrs. John Jansen
whenever he was ready to claim her as
his own, and John went home that night
very proud and happy, and on the fol-
lowing morning he Informed his aston
ished father that any time that farm was
ready he would be readyto 60 to house
keeping.
Peter Jansen kent his word. and John