The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1875-12-09


1T "The whole affair is so ridiculous, she
III exclaimed
ior l But she adjusted the moss roses, new
nd ertheless, and tripped demurely into the
re ! 81 parlor.
Now if there was determined point
lin Jack Lacys character, it was his aver
I'd sion to women in general; and if there
gaiwas one thing on which he prided him
y tsself, it was his decided old bachelorism.
cad Imagine his vexation and dismay, there
whore, when, after formal introduction,
Gee Mr.. Thorne withdrew, leaving him tete a.
Inptete with the pretty creature in white
'TD9Imuslin and roses. 1t was embarrassing
particularly as Mary blushed
1593ftevery time he looked at her. and evinced
lo,an exceedingly great disposition to laugh.
@- "Well. thought Jack, "the manners and
customs of this locality are very odd, to
SAY the least of it. l came to consult an
IN old man about purchasing land of him,
Ph and he bounces out of the room and
Z sends his daughter. What on earth am
to say to her, I'd like to know p
"a And Mary, glancing shyly in the direc-
ia ton of her companion, came to the con
~ clusion that he had beautiful Spanish
~ eyes," and a mustache decidedly superior
- in style to the hirsute adornments of the
. young gentlemen at Thornyille.
: Mr. Lacy looked up at the ceiling and
ID the consequences would be were he to
4, escape incon tinently through the open
B French window. That would not be
4 very digniied proceeding, however, so
E he resigned himself to destiny by making
some original remark on the weather. 1t
had the much desired effect of breaking
- the ice, however, and he was agreably
.. surprised with the arch vivacity of Miss
Thorne. Only once did she seem con-
whop che hoA hoaY 10
scribing fine grove of cedars that be-
longed to her fathers land, regretting at
the same time that he contemplated the
sale of it.
d II believe should like to become the
II purchaser" said Jack Your father has
told you that had some idea of settling
here2
Mary grew scarlet, and murmured some
sentence or other The conversation was
effectually checked, and Jack, perplexed
at the effect, for which he could perceive
no visible cause, rose to take leave.
i "Will you mention to your father, Miss
Thorne, that will call to see him about
this matter tomorrow morning. he
asked.
All the moss roses 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 reply.
| cry 1Hlsf HAuGb0TSO
Jack, slowly drawing on his glove and
walking down the broad garden patch.
But she is an uncommonly pretty girl
and l shall certainly take an early walk
through the grove of cedars tomorrow
morning before breakfast"
He dreamed of blue:eyed Mary Thorne
that evening, and rose decidedly pleased
that he should have reasonable excuse
for calling at her fathers house go soon.
81 certainly can't be in lover quoth
he mentally. But how Minnie would
tease me if she thought I was in danger
of suing not only for farm but wife.
Old JabeZ Thorne was busily engaged
nipping the dead leaves off his pet lau
rustinus with gigantic pair of garden
scissors that morning, when young Lacy
sprang over the hedge and saluted him
with buoyant good morning"
well, sir" he went on gayly, "Ive
seen the property, and am perfectly de-
lighted. A fine, healthy investment-no
disease about it, I'm convinced"
Hem said Mr.. Thorne, obviously.
And l would like to take second.
more thorough inspection in your society,
sir, if you please"
Really, Mr.. Lacy" said the old man.
sharply, my daughter has not yet come
| down stairs, and"
What the mischief has his daughter
to do with the matter ?" thought Lacy, |
but he said, politely
"Of course will await any time that
may be convenient to you, sir. | OBJ |
served good deal of native roughness,
but l cannot doubt that there is very
great susceptibility to improvement A |
little judicious cultivation will accom-
plish wonders.
LET me tell you young man" began
I NJ inc fOvvariru ron blIf T,aav !
saw that he had unconsciously commit !
ted some arch blunder, and fastened to |
say:
I'm short, sir 1 am determined to Sc
sure this rural gem at any price. What |
is the sum you demand p
Mr.. Thorne fairly sat down on the |
gravelwalk, overpowered with the ava
lanche of wrath which he found impossi
BILE to shape into words.
"Upon-my-word-sirr he began,
you talk as if this was mere matter of
| business?
| Jack was puzzled enough at is the |
way in which / have always heretofore
been accustomed to treat such affairs,
SIR"
"Heretofore-you have been accus-
toned and pray, sir, how many such lit |
tie affairs have you had on your hands p
shrieked old Thorne, growing purple in
the face.
80, several. sir, am not so inexperi- |
enced as you suppose" replied Jack,
smiling.
"Are you not ashamed to confess it ?"
mo, why should be 2
Get out of my garden. you young rep |
rebate" screamed Jabez, leaping up with |
lightning rapidity ITO come here and |
offer to buy my daughter, as if she were
patch of potatoes Go, say
"Your daughter, you Jackadandy"
"But / am not bargaining for your
daughter. I'm bargaining for that land
across the river"
Don't tell me p calculated Mr.. Thorne, |
tugging away at the fastenings of his |
pocket-book your uncle's letter has in |
| formed me of your atrocious intention"
"Will you allow me to see the letter, !
-sr2"
Thorne jerked it out of the compart- |
ment where it lay and tossed it angrily |
! towards Lacy. He opened it, and in |
! spite of his annoyance and modification, |
burst into laughter at the sight of Min !
nie's handwriting.
Its nothing to laugh at, sill" exclaim-
ed Thorne.
MY dear, Mr. Thorne, we are all the |
victims of ridiculous mistake said
Lacy MY uncle never wrote this letter;
it is the work of my mischieyous cousin
Minnie. The genuine document must
have been left behind
And you didn't come to look for
wife p
II came to purchase real estate"
"Whew-w-wl' old Jabez Thorne whis-
tied loud and long, then offered his hand