Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1874-03-27
AVANT COURIER.
THE YOUNG SQUIRE.

III the ncigllbOrllood of Roclleste
there IS a small and fertile manor
wilicl, was purchased some years ago
by q young gentleman of large fortune
whom we shall call Mr.. Warner.
Mr.. Warner had seen so much Of tin
world that he was by no means i'll
clincd to follow the general pursuits 0
men. The scenes of dissipation which
Oxford exhibited had driven hin
thence with kind Of disgust, and Il
sought a retreat in the country, wher'
lie might live contcntctl with himsel
and in harmony with those arOun(
him.
One afternoon during the first har
vest OF his being there, he observed
girl, abOat eighteen years of age, com
ing in at the gate Of the field with
small basket in l,ci hand. He went
to meet her, flncying her business was
with him; and as he drew near her lie
was astonis!le.l with her beauty and
mo,lcsiy. She bluslled and c;irtscyed
and when he asked where she was 60
ing, she told him to her father, who
was i'll the field, and to whom she was
carrying some refreshments. Many
questions followed, in answer to which
Mr.. Warner learned that her father,
whose name was Jones, had once pos.
sessel lands amounting to GOO a year,
but that losses, misfortunes, and other
accidents, had fallen heavily upon him
and obliged him to rent little cottage
Oh Mr.. Warmers manor.
On returning home, the thoughts OF
Mr.. Warner were engrOsSed with the
fair Mary Jones. From his hOusckeep-
or, Mrs. Groves, he learned that she
had been educated at a genteel board
ing school; ANA that, during her faith
er's prosperity, many young farmers
and other gentlemen had paid their
addresses to her; but that OH change
Of his condition, some of them fOrsOok
her-wlich conduct she met with the
utmost fortitude.
This was sufficient for Mr.. Warner.
It rivcted his affections, and he deter
mined to make proposals to her father.
In his interview with him, he said: 81
have sent for you, Mr.. Jones, to ask
your opinion III an affair Of some i'm
1Nrtancc-"
"Amytling that can do, sir"
"Nay; ask it of yOu-nOt as a ser
want, but as friend. You have a
daughter, Mr.. JOnes!"
III have, sir"
"That daughter I yesterday con
versed with and I confess to You that
she made very strong impression
upon me. / am not used to ceremony,
and shall therefore tell you plainly that
have no motive but the qualification
of an honorable affection; and if your
daughter can think me worthy OF be-
ing her husband, I shall think myself
made happy by her acceptance Of me-"
"Sir, forgive me-she is poor, and
unworthy your attention; you cannot
mean it-iEdecd You canrOt.n
'Iknow she has not riches to recon-
mend her, but she has virtues that
would add grace to a nobility
The good man shed q tear of thank
fillness, bit it was followed by another
of concern.
II am afraid" he said, ITO tell you
of her situation, but know she never
will he yours. But will send her in
to yon, and you will perhaps learn it
from herself.
He then went into another room,
and soon Mary came out, pale, trenl-
bling and detected. Mr.. Warner en-
deayorcd to remove her fears by telling
her lie came to ask nothing but what
she might reasonably answer. He
then repeated his offer. Mary heard
him with attention, and then made
this reply:
Gas | have no doubt, sir, of the sin
ccrity Of your declarations, l am the
more concerned that I am not able to
accept them; and if the opinion of the
neighbOrhOod be true, that your hui
mainly is equal to your station, you
will not bc offended with me if l OK
plain to you my present situation.-|
When my parents were in prosperity,
thazc were many young men Of the
northumberland some were superior
to me in lilc-whO were pleased to
tiatter me for what they termed my
beauty, and to declare their affection
for me. had then no inclination to
leave my parents, and was too young
to enter tho world. l therefore begged
them to desist from their proposals.
There was one, however, whose return
I conld almost have wished; yet suf-
fered him to CO."
"Excusc my interruption" said Mr..
Warner; "may | beg to know his
namc!"
at is your. Murray, sir, the son Of
one Of your tenants. He took me at
my word, and came no more; and !
endeavored to forget him. About this
time my fathers affairs took an unfa-
vOrable turn; he disposed of his farm
and retired to his cottage. The insin-
cerity of mems protestations now be-
came sufficiently evident to me, and
learned q severe but an instructive
lesson. Some months passed in a state
of uneasiness; when one day, as vas
walking towards the valley by the
waterside, met poor MuAay, whom
had not seen but at distance since |
refused his address ;cs. At first he
would have avoided me, but seeming
to recollcct himself lie came to me.
Some Indifferent conversation passed,
when he renewed Ssfor1ner subject,
and addressed ME in terms which be-
lieve | shall never forget"
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