The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-07-24

He can do rs you iI"C, sPuI't'C" nv
brother ,,...,u
"But what would you have done, Matty"
"Why, should just have asked him dowi
for pleasant, coy little visit, and left th'
girls blue eyes do the rest"
Then why didn't you say so:'
"Why didn't you ask meE' laughed MIS-
playfalr.
II wish had-but It's too late now"
THAT doesn't follow, by any means
"Matty, what do you mean?'
And Mrs. Playfair, in most mysterious
series of nhispers with mischievous eyes
and an air OF infinite eSptagleHe tod hcF
brother what she meant.
81 declare" cried the squire, giving the OLD
claw footed mahogany table resoundIng
slap, you women do beat all
1t was glorious winter twilight, when
Herbert Slick reached the Cedars-the SKY
bel,ed with orange brightness, the moon just
steering her silver crescent into view above
the western woods, while the stately ever
greens, yelled and mantled in eimine white
ness, kept guard around the DID, red brick
mansion. And it seemed scarcely an instant
from the time in which the old brass knock
err sounded n summons, before he was IN the
old hall, his uncle shaking his hand, Aunt
Matty helping to remove his fur muillinss,
and four of the prettest girls he had ever
seen gathered around the fire.
care these my cousins?' said Herbert, in
ternally congratulating himself upon this new
wealth of relatives,
mo such good luck, my boy" said Uncle
Slick, chuckllng. "AMy and Clara, come
here and kiss your cousin. Nonsense non
sense; no shyness here" We're all one fam.
lly remember These yellow halrcd lassies
are their visitors, Lizzie and Lucy Saxon"
And so Herbert became acquainted all
around.
Miss Amy Slick was a tall, graceful girl,
with great dreamy eyes, and tremendous
aptitude for poctical quotations. Clara was
/! brunette, altogether on IL smaller pattern,
who laughed and danced about as il the world
were all an amusing Joke Miss Lizzie Sax.
on was a light haired beauty, with cherry
cheeks and the most of bewitChing OF smiles {;
while Lucy Wei, Mr. Herbert Slick came
to the conclusion that Lucy wasn't pretty at
ALL Too pale, too slight too shy; though
Herbert thought of her after he had retired
to rest that night, twice rs ofted as he did of
any Of the others.
MY cousin Clara is certainly the prettiest
of the lott thought Herbert "Heigho it's a
pity fellow couldn't marry'm all. I'll do
my best to please Uncle Slick, and fall in love
with Clara
But love and laughter do not always har.
NOME. Pretty Clara Slick was the most
charming OF companions for half an hour
but when Herbert came to consider it as Il
! life question, it was quite another thing, And
Amy was little tiresOmc with her scrap
books, and her poetry, and her reverics. LIZ.
zie Saxon was well enough, but Lizzie seem
ed 10 be one Of those young ladies who are
made to be looked at only, and had not a
great deal to say for herself. And as for Lu
cy-
/ Tel me, Lucy, what's the reason you
won't go with us tomorrow"
BERTHE Slick had fairly caught the little shy
/ damSel on the broad walnut stairs, where the
bars Of moonlight from the diamond PANIED
Gothic window made the floor look as if it
were inlaid with mother of pearl. She could
not escape him, although she tried despcr-
ately
| "I-would rather not Herbert
/ "DUt why is It? You are fond of skatng?'
he demanded.
az like 1t sometimes" she answered, hang
| down her head like a lily of the valley.
! "Promise that you will go"
/ But Lucy only shook her head.
Lucy, have | said or done anything to Of
fend youE' BERTHE asked, lowering his voice,
and coming little nearer.
you! Oh, Herbert, no.
Then why are you SO cold and shy to
mc?'
Am l."
"lou know that you arc"
81 didn't mean il, indeed" she hcsitated :;
but
"Wcll, what is the butt Come, Lucy, you
shall not escape me now. | rW penetrate
into the mystery of this avoidancc-,his ap
parent GOODNESS toward me"
II don't want to interfere with your un.
cles plans, said Lucy, falcrin. and abashcd.
His plans, Lucy! Speak out plainly;
don't understand you"
"lic wants 20 keep the old Slick property in
the family went on Lucy, below her breath
"hc-hc wants you to like one Of the girls
Clara or Amy"
"Lucy" said our hero deliberately, if there
wasn't another created woman on the surface
Of the whole globe, / would not marry either
Clara or Amy Slick"
"But why not? They arc both beautiful"
Granted; but you see, don't happen to
fancy them"
But you coUld, if you were to try
81 don't believe | could. Love cannot be
guided or controlled, Lucy; 1t goes whittier.
socyer it is sent. At all events, don't mean
to try"
buti IClUC't, your uNClc.
II am very much obliged to him for his
kindness, as matter of course; but can't
sell myself not even for the Cedars and all
his wealth. Besides, Lucy, am not such
donkey as to believe that either Clara or Amy
Slick would marry me merely for the ask.
ing"
Lucy was silent, playing with the silkcn
tasses Of her apron.
Moreover went on Herbert, there's
another reason, more Cogcnt than all the rest,
why don't fancy either of my undcniably
charming cousins"
And what Is that
Because | love some one else"
She lifted her blue, wistlul eyes TO his
yourself, Lucy
"Mc? Oh, HERBERT
ut is the truth, the whole truth and moth.
ing but the truth. My little gold haired fairy,
did you think | was made of castiron, or
granite, to live a whole month In the same
house with you, and not lose my heart? Do
. nm Irlr