Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-07-08
Misesllang.
John and /.

Come, John, said L, cneefIully. IL
raallv is time to 90; if you stay any long
or Shall be afraid to come down ana lock
the door after you"
NV visitor rosa proceeding that al
,,.ovs reminded me of the genius emerging
f,om the copper vessel, as he measured six
feet fhree-and stood looking reproachfully
You are in great hurry to get rid of
me-" lie replied.
Now did Mt agree with him, for he
had made his usual call of two hours and
a half: having. in country phrase, taken
- :. sittino up' with me SO literally that ]
was frequently at my wits end to suppress
the vawn that knew would bring troop
rushing after it.
lie was a fine manlv-looking fellow, this
.Iohn Crawford old for his age-whlch was
the rather boyish period of twenty-five
and every way worthy of being loved. But
Ididn't love him. l was seven years his SEN
ior; and when, instead of letting the worm
ofconcealment prev on his damask cheek,
he ventured to tell his love for my mature
self | remorsclessly seized an English
Praver-book. and pointed sternly to the
clause. :. \ man may not marry his grand
mother" That was three years ago; ana
I added encouragingly, l." Besides, john
Won are Il child and don't know your own
mind
:. Ifa man of nineteen does mt know his
own mind" demonstrated my lover, - |
would like to know who should. But L
will wait for YOU seven years if you say so
fourteen, as Jacob did for Rachel"
You forget" | replied, laughing at his
WAY of mending matters, " that a woman
does not, like wine, improve with age but
seriously, John, this Is absurd; you are
nice boy. and like you-,but my feelings
toward you are more ike 'llo9e Vi iii''i'-
er than Il wife.
The bows eyes flashed Indignantly; and
before could divine his intention, he had
lifted me from the spot where stood, ana
carried me- infant fashion, to the sofa at
the other end Of the room
Il could almost find it in my heart to
shake YOU! he muttered, rs he set me
down with emphasis.
This was rather like the courtshlp OF
William of Normandy, and matters prom
sed to be quite exciting. ;.
Don't do that az lin" said |, with dig
nifty. when had recovered my breath;
. VIII YOU marry me-? asked Joilh
somewhat threateningly.
Not Just ut present. [ replied
ct. The %reat. handsome fellow" thought
as he paced the floor restleSsly why
could MT he fall in love with some girl o
fifteen. instead of setting his affections OF
an old maid like me? don't want the boy
IN NV hands, and | won't have mm
IS to YOUR being twentysix." pursued
John. in answer to my thoughts, - you sa.
its down in the ftmily Bible, and suppo5'
it must be so :; but no one would DeneVe IL
and Tdon't care if you're forty. You lool
like girl of sixteen, and you are the only
woman | shall ever love"
I'm Oh
men have said that same thing before Il
every known language. Nevertheless
when you fairly break down and cry, re
lent-for am dsgracefully soft-hearted-
and weakly promise then and there that
will either keep my own name or tax
yours. For love is II dog in the mango
and John looked radiant at this CONCESSION
It was a comfort for him to know that II L
could not rather the flower himself, no on
else would.
John to my threshold. Our own househol
WAS sadly brc ken up, and l found mysel
comparalivelv Young in years, with Il hal
Invalid father, a large house, and very IL
tIe money. What more natural than
take boarders9 And among the first we
Mr.. Crawford and his son, and sister, WI
had inst been wrecked themselves by u
death of the wife and mother in torelg
land-one of those sudden, uneXpect'
deaths that leave the survivors in a dtZ'
condition. because it is so difficult to imas
inc the cav worldling who has been eall'
hence in another state of being,
Mr.. Crawford was one OF my admir-
tions from the first. Tall, pale with dal
hair and ewes, he reminded me OF Dan'
only that he was hln;isomt; ana lie n
such General air of knowing everythlr
(y,ithotIt the least Op la
try. however, that | was quite afraid
him. He was evidently wrapped up
John. AMI patient with his sister--whl
wa, asking quite enough of Christi;
charity under the sun, for Mrs Shellgro
was IN unmitigated nuisance. SHch
talker, babIing of her own and her bro'
,I;s affairs with equal indiscretion, Al
treating the latter rs though he were
incapable infant.
They staid with Us three years, and dt
inc that time was fairly prosecuted ab(
John. Mrs. Shellgrove wrote me a let
on the subject, in which she informed
that the whole family were ready to
ceve me with open ;trms-a prospect IL
did not find ut all allurlng. They see
ed to have set their hearts upon me as
p..rson peculiarly fitted to train john
the way he should 90. Everything
told, depended on his getting the II;
kind of wife.
4 special interview with Mr.. Cranfo
ut his particular request, touched me c.
sider.blv. =,
Il hope" said he, that you will
refuse NV boy, Miss Edna. He has
his heart so fully upon you, and you
everything that | could desire IN dau
ter. | want some one to pet. feel sI
lonely at times, and | am sure that
4:Il +t Mt N e
drew my hand away from his care
and almost felt like hating John Cranfc
Life with him would be one of ease
Iuv1rv. Int decided | would rather k
hoarders.
Not LONG after this the Cranfords C
cIudcd to 20 to housekeeping, and \
Shellgrove was in her glory. She alw
came TO luncheon now in her bonnet.
gave us minute details of all that had
done and talked of about the house IN
last twenty-four hours.
1t is really magnificent said
lengthening each syllable. Brother
such perfect taste; and he is actually
nishing the library, Miss Edna, after J
suggestion. You see, we look upon
quite rs one Of the family"
That is very good of YOU" | repl
shortly " but | certainly have no expe
ton Of ever belonging to ii"
Mrs. Shellgrove laughed as though
perprtuated an excellent joke.
Young ladies' always deny these thi
OF course: but John tells a different
ry."
ratified the cups and saucers angl
: and my thoughts tloated off not to j.
bat to Johns father. sitting lonely in
library furnished after my suggest
Wash it. after all my duty to marry