Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-11-20
OLYMPIA WASHINGTON TERRITORY SATURDAY MORNING NOVEMBER

why, sir, of course it is not best to
be too precipitate on matter of such
Importance.
II this is a fair specimen OF the ris-
ing generation" thought the indignant
Jabez, they are about as impudent a
set OF jackanapes as I want to see. But
owe something to my long friendship
with old Zebedee Chester-I won't turn
the puppy out of doors quite yet."
II suppose it is healthy?" asked
Lacy, blandly.
'What is healthy?"
Your properly. Sometimes in
these low grounds diseases are apt to
prevail, and"
"Does he expect my Mary has the
fever and ague?' thou ght old Thorne,
leaping briskly out of his chair as if an
insect had stuug him. "I'll send my
daughter to you, young man-that will
settle the business at once
And before Lacy could express his
surprise his choleric host had banged
the door behind him and disappeared.
Mary Thorne's astonishment was even
greater than her fathers had been. She
was attired in white muslin, with bou-
quet of crimson moss rose-buds in hei
hair, for some rural party or picnic, and
at first absolutely refused to enter the
parlor.
"What an idea" she exclaimed,
blushing to the very tips of those tiny
sLell-like ears. "To be put on exhibi-
ton like one of your prize cattle! No,
indeed! Let the young man go back
where he came from! A pretty impress
sion he must have of the ladies in this
quarter of the glober' .l
"But, my love, Zebedee Chester is
one Of my oldest friends, and the young
man is really very fine looking fellow,
and rich into the bargain. Go in and
talk to him little while, there's good
girl! I can't stand it minute longer.
And old Jabez wipsd his forehead, on
which the prespiration was standing in
big beads. And Mary burst into an
uncomfortable fit of laughter.
1.-The whole affair is 30 ridiculousp'
she exclaimed.
But she adjusted the moss roses new
ertheless, and tripped demurely into
the parlor.
Now, if there was determined point
in Jack Lacy's character, it was his
aversion to women in general, and il
there was any one thing on which he
prided himself it was his decided old
bachelorism. Imagine his vexation and
dismay, therefore, when after a formal
introduction, old Mr.. Thorne withdrew,
leaving him tete-a-tete with the pretty
creature in white muslin and roses. It
was embarrassing enough, particularly
as Mary blushed every time he looked
at her, and evinced an exceedingly great
disposition to laugh.
"Well," thought Jack, "the manners
and customs of this locality are rather
odd, to say the least of it. / came to
consult an old man. about purchasing
land of bim, and he bounces out of the
room, and sends in his daughter. What
on earth am to say to her, I'd like to
! know?"
And Mary, glancing shyIy in the di-
rection OF her companion, came to the
conclusion that he had beautiful Span
ish eyes," end mustacbe decidedly
superior in style to the hirsute adorn-
ments OF the young gentlemen at Thorn
vile.
Mr.. Lacy looked up at the ceiling
and down at the carpet, and wondered
what the consequences would be were
he to escape incontinently through the
| Er1y,ah xx,ts, NhaA -rA,,l1 ,oR
be very dignifed proceeding, however,
SO he resigned himself to destiny by
making some original remark on the
weather. 1t had the desired effect of
breaking the ice, however, and he was
agre eably surprised with the arch vivac-
ity of Miss Thorne. Only once did she
seem confused; it was when she had
been describing fine grove of cedars
that belonged to her fathers land, re-
GREETING at the same time that he con-
templated the sale OF it.
"I believe should like to become the
purchaser" said Jack. "YouY father
has told you that I had some idea of
settling here~
| Mary grew scarlet, and murmured
SOtne seUttuC1 VI OkuoT. Lho COuNcI-
sation was effectually checked, and
Jack, perplexed at the effect, for which
he could perceive no visible cause, rose
| to take leave.
"Will you mention to your father,
Miss Thorns, that I shall call to see
him about this matter tomorrow morn
lngT he asked.
All the moss -rosses in Mr.. Thorne's
rose-garden could not have rivalled the
hot glow on Mary's cheeks as she fed
out Of the room without word Of re-
ply.
every singular family this, muttered
Jack, slowly drawing on his gloves and
walking down the broad garden path.
''But she is an uncommonly pretty girl
and shall certainly take an early
walk through that grove Of cedars 10
morrow morning before breakfast.
He dreamed OF blue-syed Mary Thorne
| that NIGHT. and rosa decidedly pleased