Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1874-03-13
COURTING UNDER DIFFICUA
TIES.

TIES.
Katie Blake was the only dauglite
Of Jacob Blake, the old lniser of West
brook. She was more than cOmmOnl,
pretty, and her frank, engaging man
ner enhanced her charms. At hel
fathers death she would bc heiress t.
scventy-tive thousand dollars; ant
although men pretended not to be in
} tcrestcd by pcculliary affairs in love
yet it is supposed that this prospective
wealth did not lessen the number o
her lovers and adOrers.
Among those most ardent, and per
haps most sincere, was Will yarmouth
a ttle-braincd carpenter, with a heart
larger than his purse, and very littlt
thought OF care Tor consequences
Fortunately, old Jacob never suspected
the parfiality Of his daughter for Will
he would have put her on bread ano
water before he would have consented
to the slightest degree OF intimacy
with Will yarmouth.
Jacob Blake was not in favor OF
marriages. Those who knew his cir.
cumstanccs were not surprised at this;
for Mrs. Blake was a Tartar, with tenn
per enough for two Tartars.
a maiden sister OF Mr.. Blake re
sided in tho family, whose principal
business seemed to be to act as All echo
to her brother and his wife. What
ever they thought she thought too.
She regarded it as II primary sin for
Katie to associate with young men !;
and this doctrine was pcrscveriEgIy
drilled into her niece, who, though she
never disscntcd, had her own views Oh
the subject.
One day Mr.. Blake and wife went to
Dedham to attend a fair, and Miss
Peggy being sent to a friend, Katie
was left alone. Will yarmouth in
some way learned the state of affairs,
and early in the afternoon he came
over to keep Katie company. AS her
parents were not expected home until
the next day, and Peggy not till late
in the evening, Will felt perfectly Sc
cure in stopping awhile after supper:
and he and Katie were hayin. Il jolly
time popping corn in the old-fashioned
frying pan, over the huge wood fire,
when there was u sound Of voices at
the door. ....
"Good gracious" cried Kate, turi:-
ing white with alarm, ''tlieIc is Aunt
Peggy. Oh, Will, what shall we do.
She will scold me to death, and father
will bc furious. Get und II the lounge,
quick. Oh, Will, dO for my saLe.'
Will could not withstand the plead
ing OF Kate's eyes, and deposited him
self in the designated place. Kate
PIT out the light, and darted into an
adjacent room, and in Il moment was
apparently fast asleep.
peggy's voice was heard speaking
softly in the entry: "Be careful, Mr..
Pike, there's a loose board there. l
don't want to disturb my niece. Softly;
the board may creak."
"Peggy, dear, where are YOU? re-
sponded the squcaking voice Of the
Squire, the wi'lower of a year. 81 can't
tell which way you've gone"
"Tlcre, Daniel, be easy. Good
heavens, Daniel Pike! Well lever!
and report burst in the ear like the
Iucorking of a bottle of champagne.
"Oil my" cried Aunt Peggy, what
would Jacob say! l declare ! haven't
been kissed by a man since-'
''Let Jake mind his own business"
rrtortcd the Squire; "you and can
take care of ours without his help"
and then followed report similar to
the first, only more of it.
"DO bc quiet, Daniel, and let me
get a light. Sit yourself down afore
the fire and make yourself ut home"
A light was soon procured. Peggy
divestcd herself of wrappings, and,
bluslling like a girl in her teens, sat
down opposite the Squire.
''It's fine evening"" said Peggy, by
way of opening conversation.
"Vcry," replied the Squire, drawing
his chair close to her and laying his
hand over the back.
"Oh, good gracious, Daniel, don't
sit quite SO near me. THAT isl
don't consider it strictly appropriate.
Mercy! what is thatw
Both listened attentively.
"It was the wind rattling the win
dows, guess" said the Squire. ''Don't
you think you are getting nervous,
Peggy!"
"l thought it was Katie waking up.
And if she should, would never hear
tle last Of it,"
"Hark there's nOisc-I-"
"GraciOus airth. it's the bells. It's
Jake and marin coming back! What
shall do! We're done for. Oh, Squire,
taint right that we should he nothing
to each other. Do help me! What
Shall l do!"
"Tell me where to go, Peggy; say
the word! Ill 60 anywhere for your
sake, if it's up the chimney" IL
"Undcr the lounge, quick! quick!
lOn't delay minute"
The Squire Obeyed, but the space
vas already SO well filled that it was
With difficulty that he could squeeze
himself into so small compass. And
Just as he had succeeded, Mr.. Blake
and his wife entered the room, found
,ring in the dark, tor Peggy deemed it
best to extinguish the light.
Jake made for the fire, which still
,lowcd red with Goals, and fell head
II 49, Il |