The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-04-08
Anoerso1 yntelligenter, !,
slMIM AND l.

JOHN AND l.
aCome, john" said T. cheerfully, cit really
is time to 90; if you stay any longer l shall
he afraid to come down and lock the door after
YOU"
NV visitor arose. proceeding that always
reminded me of the genius emerging from the
eopper vessel, as he measured six feet three
and stood looking reproachfuliy down upon me
"You are in great hurry to get rid OF me-
he replied. -,
Now, didn't agree with him, for he had
made his usual call of two hours and haif
having, in country phrase, taken to sitting
up" with me so literally that was 1requently
at nay wits ends to suppress the yawn .hat l
knew would bring troop rusn!ng alter IT, :
He was a fue, manly looking fellow, this
John Crawford, old fox his age-whch was the
rather boyish period of twenty-two-and every
way worthy of being loved. But didn't love
him. was seven years his senior; and when
instead of letting the worm of concealment
prev on his damask cheek, he ventured to tel!
lis love for my mature self, remorsely seized
an English Prayer Book, and pointed sternly
to the clause-"A man may not marry his
grandmother" That was three years ago; and
added, encouragingly, "Beside, John. you!
are child, and don't know your own mind"
eff man of nineteen doesn know his own
mind" demonstrated my lover, Il would IKE
to know who should. But will wait tor you
did for Rachel"
"You forget" replied, laughing at his way
of mending matters, ''that woman does not,
like wine, improve with age But seriously,
John, this is absurd you are nice boy, and
I like you-but my feelings towards you are
more those of mother than wife.
The BOYS eyes flashed Indignantly, and be.
fore T could divine his intention, he had lifted
me from the spot where stood, and carried
me infant fashion to the sofa at the other end
of the room.
"I could almost find in my heart to shake
youp he muttered, as he sat me down with
emphasis. VIZ,
This was rather like the courtship of Will
liam of Normandy, and matters promised to be
quite exciting. =.
when / had recovered my breath.
"Wil you marry mel" asked John, some
what threateningly.
ssNot Just at present." replied.
The great, handsome fellow, thought, as he
paced the foor restlessly Why couldn't he
fall in love with some girl of fifteen, instead of
setting his affections on an old maid like me !?
don't want the boy on my hands, and won't
have him
Gas to you being twenty-six," pursued John,
in answer to my thought, 'you say its down in
the family Bible, and / suppose it must be so;
but 1 don't care if you're forty You look
like q girl of sixteen, and you are the only
woman I shall ever love-"
Oh, John, John at least i've millions OF
men have said the same thing before in every
known language. Nevertheless, when you
fairly break down and cry, I relent-for am
disgracefully soft-hearted-and weakly promise
then and there that will either keep my own
name or take yours. For love is very dog in
the manger, and John looked radiant at this
concession 1t was comfort to know that if
he could not gather the flower himself, no one
else would.
A sort of family shipwreck had waited John
to nv threshold. Our own household was sad
IL broken up, and found myself compara-
lively young in years with half Invalid ia
ther, a large house, and very little money.
What more natural than to take boarders ?
And among the first were Mr.. Crawford, and
his son, and sister, who had just been wrecked
themselves by the death of the wife and moth
er in foreign land-one of those sudden, un-
expected deaths that leave the survivors in a
dazed condition, because it is so difficult to
imagine the gay worldling who has been called
hence in another state of being.
Mr.. Crawford was one Of my admiratlons
from the first. Tall, pale, with dark hair and
ewes. he reminded me of Dante, only that he
was handsomer; and he had such general air
of knowing, without the least pedantry, how
every that was quite afraid of him. He was
evidently wrapped up in John, and patient
with his sister-which was asking quite enough
of Christian charity under the sun, for Mrs.
tod Knob
talker babbling of her own and her brothers
affairs with equal indiscretion and treating
the father as though he were an incapable in
fant.
They staid with US three years, and during
that time I was fairly prosecuted about John.
Mrs. Shellg:ove wrote me letter on the sub
iect, in which she informed me that the whole
family were ready to receive me with open
arms-a prospect that I did not find at all
alluring. They seemed TO have set their hearts
upon me as person peculiarly fitted to train
John in the way he should 60. Everything, l
was told, depended on his getting the right
kind of a wife.
A special interview, with Mr.. Crawford, at
his particular request, touched me considerably.
"I hope" said he, "that you will not refuse
nv boy, Miss Edna. He had set his heart so
fully upon you, and you are everything that
could desire in a daughter l want some one
to pet feel sadly lonely at times, and I am
drew my hand away from his caress, and
almost felt like hating John Crawford. Life
with him would be one of ease and luxury
but decided that had rather keep boarders.
Not long after this the Cranford's concluded
10 90 to housekeeping, and Mrs. Shellgrove
was in her glory She was at luncheon in her
bonnet, and gave us minute details about the
house.
at is really magnificent" said she, length