The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-04-15

1youGeport taVorably, the farm Il
yours
But which one shall I take, faith
er?t 81. ..
(Which one shall you tal<e,' re
peated Peter Jansen; lit must be &
bright man: surely, that cannot de.
eide at sight what woman to pick
OUT of dozen, and singular
youth you are not to have your eyes
on one already. However, make
your own choice, and you'll be hap
pier, live longer, and prosper better
in your domestic affairs generally.
With these concluding remarks.
the fond father turned away, and
Tom was left alone to his refec.
|tions.
| Now Tom Jansen was not YER
daut young man; he had seen con-
siderable Of the world for person
of Ills age and circumstances, but
he Fas very diff dent and bashful.
It Was this quality OF his DISPOSE
tion that made him so adverse to
ladies' society, and had occasioned
no little anxiety to old Peter, who
hadalready began to fear that Tom
would be a confirmed bachelor,
hence his desire to kindly assist
Toms matrimonial matters along.
| For some moments after his IA
ther's exit, Tom sat profoundly
thihking; he believed he did have
an ii1expressible sort Of tenderness
forsahe youngest daughter Of Israel
Ives. If not strictly beautiful, she
waaat least a very sensible girl, and
would make practical housekeep-
er. Tom had but little sentiment
in his composition; his tastes were
more matter of fact. The more
Tom thought of matrimony, the
more fixed became his determina-
ton of committing himself as soon
as possible.
A night or two subsequent to the
conversation with his. father, it was
noticed that he attired himself with
unusual care before going out, as
he insisted, to attend the "debating
society,"" His father and mother
each other significantly,
as if they we'll understood what
was nppermost in Toms mind, but
they gave the young man no init
nation that they suspicioned his
intentions.
After lingering look at The
looking-g,ass, Tom started forth in
to the darkness, taking the shortest
road possible to the residence of
Israel Ives.
He soon came to the place he in
tended visiting. A bright light
cleaned out through the front win
dows, with welcoming beams, and
he ,fancied he could see smiling
faces there, yet his heart thumped
50 very ngularly under his shi-
ling satin vest that it was several
minutes before he could make up
lis mind to knock at the door; he
walked up and down the road past
he place several times, to calm
himself, and to think over the
words he proposed saying when in
he presence of Miss Ives.
At last he turned in at the gate,
md walking boldly up to the front
loor, he made his presence sudden
y known to the Ives family, by
means Of the friendly assistance of
he heavy brass kno cker.
Israel Ives came to the door with
faring candle in his hand; lie,
rave q sudden little start of sur :
rise upon recognizing his visitor.
why, Tom!' he said, is this
'ou?'
Is Miss Ives at homer said Tom,
,ervous'y, forgetting in his sudden
to designate tile
'articular Miss Ives he wished to ]
ee. I
Certainly, certainly replied Is
ael, smiling mischievously, walk s
light into the parlor and sit down
nd she will come in presently
Leaving his hat upon the rack in
he hall, Tom did as he was bid;
e sat down upon the outer edge OF I
lie chair and awaited the young ,
ldy's coming. lie heard several
giggles in the adjoining {
oon, and a subdued suggestion
pom the part of Israel that they ::
ad best not act silly and foolish. ,
hen the door opened, and in sailed I
Iiss SopErony Ives, followed by !
'atience, Priscilla, Malvina and ,
,ucy Ives, each simultaneously I
Milling and trying to look as sweet c
nd pretty as possible. They ad- |
anced one by one and gave Tom a +
recting, after which they arranged :
in a graceful group t
bout him; then began the livellest !
onversation Tom had ever listened .
}. lie began to grow uneasy and G
, lose his sclf-1osscssion. This
as rather more Miss Ives than he
ad anticipated meeting. T
At last sudden idea occurred to q
i'm. f
'Girls,' he said, do any of you 1
lay blind mans bluff?' t
rt,lo .,,, l,1;oc oil c,161an lv u