The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-07-15

hhSci IniS HHoI mig, upset The pot o
smilax, let out the canary bird, ant
took my fifty dollar edition Of Beau
mont and Fletcher to stand upen, s,
that she could reach my case of press
ed sea-weed and ferns, that never al
low any one to touch!"
"l'm afraid she is a romp!" saii
Miss Celestia, regretfully.
Il should be in lunatic asylum in
a week if she stayed here I" enunciat.
ed her brother.
"But she's pretty"
Pretty? So is a tiger-cat- is 8
six weeks-old kitteni"
"Well, I'll write to Mrs. Prettyman,
said Miss Celcstia. Mrs. Prettymsr
is the very one to advise me upon
such SUBJECTS"
In about a month back came q letter
from Mrs. Prettyman, announcing tha,
d she had found an excellent position
the orphan daughter of psor Major
Poyntz. Mrs. Peck Puddingham want.
ed a nursery governess for four little
Peck Puddinghams.
"Capital!' said Miss Celestia.
| "Nonsense I" said her brother.
"Why, Luke" cried Miss Celestia
Il thought you wanted to get rid ol
Leslie Poyntz, aud this is certainly 8
most excellent opportunity for"
ga most excellent fiddlesticks I" un
tremendously interrupted her broth
er. ''Leslie is only a child herself,
and what could she do with four ba.
bies? Besides, her education does not
fit her for any such post. 1t has been
superficial in the extreme. 1 am Civ.
ing her lessons now, in thorough bass
and the Latin grammar, every day
"Well," said Miss Goldiland, doubt.
fully, elf she don't annoy you too
much"
10 "Oh, I'll try to get along" answered
the old bachelor, resignediy.
So Leslie Poyntz stay ed out. grow.
ing like lovely wayside flower, con.
tnually coming i'm contact with the
cut.and-dried notions Of the Goldi-
lands, and yet growing dear to them
every day, until she was eighteen.
Aud one day she came into Mr.. Gold
Hands study like brisk, whirling
little breeze.
"What do you think, cousin Luke p
she burst out. "I've had an offer OF
marriage"
Mr.. Goldiland was silent for a mo-
meRt or two. and cleared his throat
before he asked, in a samewhat con-
strained voice:
Indeed! Who is it from?"
"Lieutenant Hartfield,"
You said Yes, of course?"
81 said No, of course!"
"Were you crazy, Leslie POyntZ ?"
almost harshly demanded her guardian
He is rich. young. .handsome-the very
ideal of girls loverv'
"Not my ideal, though" said Leslie,
saucily.
How beautiful and piquant she
looked, leaning up against the carved
bookcase, with her fiax-blue eyes
shining. her cheeks just tinted with
roses, and the loose yellow hair tam
gled like an aureole about her face!
"Do you think you will ever have a
better chance ?" Mr.. Goldiland gravely
asked.
81 don't know" answered Leslie,
hanging her head. "Cousin Luke, are
you anxious to get rid Of me2"
"To get rid of you, child 2 Mol"
He drew her carelessly to the little
lew footstool at his side, her erdina-
ry seat. 't
GAS far as lam concerned l should
like to keep you with me always"
"Then why don't your"
"How can 1? The little bird will
some day flutter out Of the home nest.
"Not this little bird, cousin Luke.
Let me stay with you."
"But you must marry some one,
Leslie" "- 2h' BON
81 like you best, cousin Luke"
"Chiid, you can't marry me.
"Why can't ] marry you, cousin
Luke y" r3'f 'st at-
He looked at her. with sudden
light coming into his face.
"My love-my dcwy-eyed darling,
are you in earnest? Would you
marry me?' I'D
Leslie Poyntz laughed and cried in
the same breath.
"Ah, cousin Luke, how blind you
are, not to have known this long ago.
she sobhed, hiding her flushed face
upon the arm Of his chair.
1T don't seem possible" said Luke.
"Celestia,; Ito his sister, whose hon.
est face just then peeped in at the
door--"did you know that little Les
lie cared for Il dried-up old bachelor
like me 9ns.1
'Good land! knew it long ago,
said Miss Celestia.
'But what will Lieutenant fairfield
say?"
81 don't care what he SAYS" flashed
Leslie. 'A+s
Il can tell you though. He will
say i: is a case of May and December"
"Dear December" whisperedLeslie.I
Il love you'll"
"And if that's the case," said Mr..
Goldiland, 1--WE can afford to despise
the oDipiOn of the rest of the W orld -
TYPE SETTRR.S EvvVnGv