Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-11-30
" MAN PROPOSES"
BY THENK.

two magnificent fortunes which their
prcfigate sons occupied themselves
most assiduously in spending. The
old men were both dead now, but,
Go" was alive, and on poor Go. y
devolVed the running of the business,
for the present senior partners were
aim 9st strangers to the office. These
latter were rather inclined to DE OF
the fast sort, and although their
knowledge of tho banking business
was limited, let it be said to their
credit that ia the scientific game oil
billiards they were most proficient.
The fair sex spoke of them in awe
struck tones as very Wild and yet,
Judging from the matrimonial traps
set for them, this was not considered
"a particularly der3gatory charac-
teristic. They (Which word, | beg
leave to state, is pelsonal proaoun
referring to Jesse Norton and
Charley Berton) had been class mates
at college. whore to use the classic
vernaeular of that seat Of learning,
they had run together" and being
of thorough congenial tastes and
habits, friendship had outljVtd their
graduation days.
Jesse Norton was the elder, and
probably had q little more of that
commodity entitled "Common Sense,
compared to the other, be was quiet
he was not, however, one OF those
model young men, who implicitly
follow he oil maxim "think twice
before you act" he generally thought
once.
Cha'ley Berton never thought at
ALL lie was one of the genus good
fellow" and was universally liked,
impul;ive, lighthearta and generous
to fault Blt there were deeper
dement's in his tharac er than showed
thems lees on the surface lie was o
true friend, but be could hate as we'll
as love. In spite of bis dandyisin
and wild ways, old gray headed faith
er bad often said : There's some
good in Charley Berton"
The reader, gentle or otherwise,
will pardon my Introducing him Cor
her possibly into such scene Of
eonfusion as was presented by the
rooms of our friends ono pleasart
morning in early summer.
Norton, who was reclining on a
sofa, with a cigar in each hand, man
ufacturing rings Of smoke with zeal
which was commendAll suspended
his operations for a moment 10 ask :
"Charley, do you really IN end to
marry that Montague giIl?'
"S'posc Ill have to, be answered
with confessional cir.
"Why ?"
"WeiI, it has always been kind
of an understood thing, you know,
ever since Nellie and first made
mud pies together, that we'd be mar
ried some day, but never regularly
engaged myself until last spring"
'What did you DO that for z"
Had todd woman inquired af
ter my intentions-wauted o know il
| was trih'n with an innocent girP'
affections, and all that sort of hir g
| got scared and proposed . explained
Charley, punctuating bis remarks
with putf5 Of smoke 81 don't mind
it much, though" he volunteered il
conclusion, except the oil won IN
I'd just as lief marry q pretty CIR
like Nelly, but don. like to marry
the whole family"
"What will become Of me ?" asked
Norton, rather gloomlly.
"Get married yourself"
Thank you; do not care fol
any Of that pie"
"WeIl," and Charley lit another
cigar very complacently, "do wha
you please then; | am not your
keeper"
The idea of marrying at twenty
two," aid Norton; "break it off
Charley, you're not old enough"
"The devil" exclaimed Charley
This was the unkindest cut Of all
He had been called young. Further
than his first exclamation, however
be said nothing, but relapsed int
taciiurnity, thinking, what con-
four ded insolent ass Norton was thi'
morning
Neither of the two felt in a suf
GENTLY good humor to carry on ar
animated quarrel, consequently roth
ing was ssid for some time, unit
Charley, who had been gazing alb
stractedly out of the window, be
came suddenly interested in some
thing outside.
"Look here, Jess, whois that girl?
he said
Don't you know her? | though
every one knew her.
"Why n
"She's talked about good dea.
"You haven't told me who she i
yet"
~ sic Corsoa-srtis s daughter.
"Ksow herY'
"Only ny sight"
How has she distinguished her
sclf?"
Norton puckered up his Fps
Don't ask me be said ask the Cos
sips-they say she is rather forward
l believe. You ought to hear the oil
women talk"
"BIsne the old women" sal