Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-11-11

81
CORDED, and the carpet>bags were pile
up in the corner of the capacious, oil
| fashioned hail 4! @.sei- .,27f adT o.
How melancholy they looked, thos'
emblems of parting and adieux. No
| even the merry laughter of tbs two O
three youngs.girls, who were gathered
around stalwart, handsome fellow O
about twenty FIVE, could entirely banisl
an impalpable. something sof sadI e,
from the scene. Cousin Jack wa.
going away, the general mischief-make1
torment and tease Of the whole family
andsMr. Chester, sitting by the distant
window, wiped his spectacles every Eve
minutes and DECLARED, pet,ishly, that
the type of the evening paper was 8
terrible trial to old eyes.
SAY, You may laugh, girls" said
Jack, applying himself vigorously to
thtErefractory lock. of a portmanteau.
''Perhaps you may one day discover
that it.isnt such laughing matter
Think of the loss the family is going 10
sustain in my ~es ce'leney II - rs.
'Butyou1l come back soon,E Jack,
dear" coaxed Minnie Chester, the
prettiest and most roguish of all cousins
and one who kept up perfect fire of
practical jokes and girlish tricks at his
expense. SIS s,i+' VS.
There she sat, on the biggest drunk
OF the collection, her brown eurls hang
ms> about her round face, ard her ewes
sparkling with curious mixture Of fun
and tears.
'sIm not at ali certain of that, Miss
Minnie" said Jack, decisively. eff l
succeed in finling location to suit me
l shall probably decide to settle per-
manently at Thornville and turn landed
proprietor on my own account.
''Only imagine our Jack a gentleman
of property" laughed Minnie, appeal
ing to her sisters.
81 don't see anything SO very
ridiculous in the idea,' remarked the
young man, rather piqued at the
amusement of his relatives. Sat all
events, there's one lnuaiculable advan
tage that will result from my depar>
ture." 'ar,a .. ~ r~tt.-. ...t. -t
'And what is that, Mr.. Oracle?"
"The fact that you've played your
last freak on me, you tormentlng little
minx!" -5 n. .g.e D.: e..
Don't be so certain of that, Cousin
jack" said Minnie, shaking her long
curls. "What will you venture | don't
bestc@ a ,,af,ing trick on you yet?
All! haven't settled with you for
several little pieces of impertinence; but
pray don't imagine they are forgotten,
sir y ~ .5".-'s T..i r'.
My diamond sleeve buttons to your
coral necklace that you don't impose
on me within the next three months,
Minnie" said Jack, gaily. - s''''
"Done!" SAID Minnie. ssGirls, you
"a
all hear the wager, don't youi l always
coveted Jacks diamonds" .e -.si.i.
"But you wont have them, mademoi
selle. How dark it is getting in this
cavernous old hail. . Shall q ring for
lights, Uncle Chester? and by the way,
haye you written that letter of intro~
duction to Mr.. Thorne!"
GAN in good time, my boy-all in
good time" said the old gentleman,
depositing his huge, silver bound
spectacles in their case. sYou young
men are all in such desperate hurry.
Tell Betsy to carry a lamp into the
library, girls. And MINNIE, where is
my gold pens won't be very long
about it, and then we well have nice
long evening to gossip over. Jack
prospects" +s<.i't
While Mr.: Chester sat 10 his cosy.
red curtained library, revising the lettei
which, lie had been writing to his old
friend, Jabez Thorne, of Thornville, te
the effect that his nephew, John Lacy
was in search of an eligible piece o.
land, and wished to Sc tie down in tina,
vicinity and requested Mr.. Thorne'
aid and cooperation int the selection O
the same, Minnie opened the door.
"Papa, there isisomefone down stairs
| who wished to see you Immediately fo1
| one, minute. ar
9'Very annoyingl' said the old gentle
man, sjust as was finishing this lette,
of Jacks. However, l can seal j
afterwsrd. Minnie, suppose you glanc
over it and dot the is and cross the Us
I'm rot SO much Of a penitlan as | tiset
ftv be- ale as al
And old Nj Chestet pHshad basl