Middletown transcript., 1875-12-04

OluL ITlcUu, OaUeZ 1uVIuCs VI AooA
vile, to the effect that bis nephew,
John Lacy. was in search Of an eligible
piece of land, and wished to settle down
10 that vicinity. and requested Mr..
Thorne's aid and co operation in the
selection of the same, Minnie opened
the door.
Papa, there is some one down stairs
who wishes to see you Immediately, for
one minute"
.'very annoying" said the old gen
tleman. ''just as / was finishing this
letter of Jacks. However, can seal
it afterward. Minnie. suppose you
glance over it and dot the is and cross
the t's; I'm not so much Of a penman
as l used to be-
And old Mr.. Chester pushed back
his chair and rose from the antique
table to attend to the claims Of his ur-
gent guest. W
Olive Chester was brushing out the
heavy braids of her luxuriant hair. be-
fore the dressing mirror Of her own
apartment, two hours later, when Ma
ME ran in with countenance comically
divided between dismay and delight.
|
my dear Minnie, what has hap
pened ?" exclaimed the elder sister.
dropping the hair brush and letting all
the raven tresses ripple down unheed-
ed over her shoulders.
"I've won the diamond sleeve but
tons. Olive. but, oh didn't mean
to- What would papa say if he only
knew it-and Cousin Jack. too?"
..Sit down, you wild little elf" said
Olive, gently forcing her sister into a
chair. "and explain this mysterious
riddle!"
'.Well, you know papa left me to
look over letter to Mr.. Thorne- land
be was detained longer than he ex-
pected, almost an hour, in fact-and /
couldn't help. amusing myself by writ
ing parody on the letter."
"a parody p
'.Yes-you remember somebody tell
ing US what beautiful daughter Mr..
Thorne had-.so wrote that Jack was
in search Of wife, and had heard Of
Miss Thorne, and wanted to settle in
life. and all that sort of thing. In
short, wherever papa had written land
or estate, l wrote wife! Wasn't it
fun ?" CALCULATED the little maiden. her
eyes dancing with diablerie. "But
you know I never once thought Of send
ing the letter; only wanted to read It
to Jack when | went down stairs.
Well. l signed it with a great flourish
of trumpets, and just then who should
come in but papa and the stranger. Of
course fed, and when l came back
the letter was sealed and safe in Jacks
pocket book. and, Olive, it was the
wrong letter."
ut was rather dim light. and
papa's eyes are not as keen as they
were wont to be, and my impertinent
missive was gone, while the real bona
tide letter lay there among heap of
discarded papers. And I hadn't cour-
age to confess my misdemeanors. papa
is SO opposed to my innocent little
Jokes, and Jack is off with that inde-
letter! l shall certainly win
The sleeve buttons, Olive, but what
tornado there will be when my mischief
leaks out" " ~ "
And Minnie looked so bewitchihgly !
lovely in her alternate paroxysms Of
terror and laughter, that Olive, grave
I'D sister though she was, had not
heart to lecture her as soundly as she
deserved.
The crimson sunset Of the sky next |
evening shone radiantly into the special
'anctum of the worthy old Jabez
Fhorne, Of Thornville, justice Of the /
peace. and chairman Of all the agricul-
ural meetings for ten miles around. 1t
vas no scholarly-looking library, like !;
hat of his ancient comrade, Chester,
out a square, light room, with four un-
windows, and ornamented
With numerous black framed engrav.
ngs Of prize cattle and giant turnips.
de was seated in leather. cushioned
armchair, looking over the files of an
journal, to find some covet- !;
ID information on the subjects of phos-
,hates and super-phosphates, when a !,
ervant brought him a card and letter.
1.-The gentleman is in the parlor. sir" :
Jabez Thornc laid aside bis news d
,aper, glanced at the card, which bore i,
be simple inscription. "John Lacy d
hen at the letter. which purported to n
'e the introductory to that individual. r
l.-.How-ha-from my old college p
hum. Chester, as live. Remarkable ii
bange. in his handwriting. but time e
tiers US all Haven't heard from him s,
q twenty years, and-hello! what is n
his? A pretty cool request, upon my r,
7orld-nephew wants wife and has K
card that | possess daughter-has Il
Dts Of money-wants' me to aid him :,