Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-03-18
JOHN AND I.

and lock the door after YOU
Myvisitor arose-a proceeding that
always reminded me Of the genius
emerging from the copper vessel, - b.
measured six feet three-and stood
looking reproachfully down upon me
You are in . great hurry to get rid
Of me- he replied.
Now, I didn't agree with him, for he
had made his usual call Of two hours
and half; having, in country phrase,
taken to sitting up with me 20 literal
ly that I was frequently at my wits
ends to suppress the yawn that I knew
would bring troop rushing after it.
He was fine, manly looking fellow,
this John Crawford, old for his age
which was the rather boyish period of
twenty.two-and every way worthy OF
being loved. But I didn't love him.
was seven years his senior, and when
instead Of letting the worm of conceal.
ment prey on his damask cheek, he
ventured to tell his love for my mature
self, remorselessly 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, BE.
side, John, you are child, and don't
know your own mind
IF q man of nineteen doesn't know
his own mind demonstrated my lover,
i would like to know who should. But
I will wait for you seven years, If you say
so-fourteen as Jacob did for Rachel
You forget I replied, laughing at
bis way of mending matters, that wo-
man does not, like wine, improve with
age. But seriously John, this is ab-
surd; you are nice boy, and I like
you-but my feelings towards you are
more like those of a mother than wife
The boys eyes flashed Indignantly,
and before l could divine his intention,
be had lifted me from the spot where
stood, and carried me infant fashion to
The sofa at the other end Of the room.
4 could almost find it in my heart to
shake you, he muttered, as he sat me
Down with emphasis.
This was rather like the courtship of
William of Normandy, and matters
promised to be quite exciting.
Don't do..tbat again. said I, with dig
,ity, when ] had recovered my breath.
VIII you marry me ? asked John,
somewhat threateningly.
The great handsome fellow, I thought,
u he paced the floor restlessly; WHY
he fall in love with some girl
IF fifteen instead of settling his affec-
tons on an old maid like meP Idon't
want the boy on my hands and ! won't
have him.
AS to your being twenty-si1,' pur-
sued John, in answer to my thought;
you say it's down in the family bible,
and I suppose it must be 30; but don't
rare if you're forty. You look like q
girl of sixteen, and you are the only
woman / shall ever love-
Oh, John, John at least five millions
IF men have said the same thing before
in every known language. Neverthe.
ess, when you fairly break down and
cry, relent.-for 1 am disgracefully
soft hearted-and weakly promise then
md there that l will either keep nv
own name or take yours. For love is
, very dog in the manager, and John
looked radiant at this concession. 1t
was a com fort to know that if he could
not gather the flowers himself NO one
else would.
A sort of family shipwreck had waited
John to my threshold. Our own house.
hold was sadly broken up and I Sound
myself comparatively young in years
With half invalid father, q large house
md very little money. What more ma
tural 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 mother in q foreign land-one
# those sudden, unexpected deaths
hat leave the survivors in dazed con.
lition. because it is 30 difficult to ina
CINE the gay wording who has been
,alld hence in another state of being
MIR. Crawford was one of my admira-
hons from the first. Tall, pale, with
dark hair and eyes, he reminded me of
Dante, only that he was handsomer; and
he had such general air of knowing,
hat l was quite afraid Of him. He
was evidently wrapped up in John, and
patient with his sister-which was ask
ng quite enough of Christian charity,
ior Mrs. Shellgrove was an unmitiga-
ed nuisance. Such q talker babbling
# her own and her brothers affairs
With equal inliscretion, and treating
he father AZ though he were an inca
pable infant.
They staid with us three years, and
during that time l was fairly persecu-
ed about John. Mrs. Shellgrove wrote
me letter on the subject, in which
The informed me that the whole family
we're ready to receive me with open
lrms-a prospect that I did not find at
Ill alluring. They seem to have set
heir hearts upon me as person pecu-
iarly fitted to train John in the way
be should SO. Everything I was told
depended upon his getting the right
kind ola wife. A special interview with
Mr.. Crawford. at his particular request,
touched me considerably.
4 hope, said he, that you win not
refuse my boy, Miss Edna. He had
bet his heart 20 fully upon you, and
you are everything that / could desire
in . daughter. I want some one to
pet. I feel sadly lonely Ut times, and
am sure that you would just Gil the
vecant niche