The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-11-13

tNo OAPAatlou VI ~ Wis tuHV THESE
yonug persons had met in the merry
summer time in an ont Of the way
country nook, where Sarepta was SO,
iourning with city cousin, friend Of
the Messrs. Elgerton and Merton,
Mrs. Green accepted the situation
gracefully, and was pleasantly courteous
rs became 80 polite lady. But when
the call had ended, aud mother and
daughter were loft again to each others g
companionship, Sarepta listencdto some
: animated remarks.
+" A nice trick you played me |" said
Mrs. Green. "Let me go out asking
questions about those two men, and
you knew all about them nil the while |
Why didn't you tell mel"
"Why, mamma, I didn't know that
you wanted to learn anything about
them. The first I knew you had found
out oil had to tell, and more too 80
what was the usei"
"Well, you might have told me be-
fore. And how was it you didn't recog-
nizes them when We met on the street,"
~ did ; I bowed and they lifted their
hats tho first time We met them. You
did not see them at all that time, for
you were busy looking at Mrs. Bunce
and her new cloak."
"The first time Did we meet them
three times instead Of twice, theni"
81 did not count the times, but I
think it must have been three"
Humph Well, I've nothing to do
now but to SEE that no trouble comes
OF all your smartncss. To begin with,
I noticed that Mr.. Merton was rather
moro attentive to you this evening than
there wns any necessity for. l want
you to remember that be is not the one
who will do"
There was no reply to this injunction.
Perhaps it was not heard, and subse-
quent facts rendered this all the more
probable.
The two young men prolonged their
stay in the village, and made frequent
calls together ut Mrs. Green's house.
Mr.. Ede eertor was all that could be de-
sired in the way Of friendly courtesy,
but George Merton was that, and more
too. It became more and more apparent
that he aimed to become the one who
would do.
He came often with. his friend, but
mora often by himself, and one day he
called not on Sirepta, but upon Mrs.
Green hersclf. The nature OF his or.
rand may bo gathered from remark
OF that lady's during the conversation.
"I nm very sorry matters have gone
so far" she said, "and I tried in every
way to prevent it. All I can do now is
to say that will never give my consent
to your marriage with my daughter. 1
esteet. you very greatly, but I long
sinco made up my mind that my son.in.
law must have fortune and position"
"But. my dear malAm
"I havc hal my say, Mr.. Merton, AMI
nothing will ever make me soy different
ly. l don't miud saying to You that tho
same question from your friend would
receive very different answer"
George Merton went away then, and
Sarepta received little lecture from
her mother. The girl was little pale,
but very quiet, and her mother thought
she was going to be very sensible. Sho
felt little discouraged, however, when
Sarcpta said, quite in her natural voice:
I" know ho is poor, and without po'
sitiou, as you call it, bnt will never
marry any other man as long rs liVeH
and that ended the conversation.
Alter this matters went on much the
samo MS usunl, except that George Mer-
t,u came no more to Mrs. Green's house.
Sarepta was n little quieter than Of old,
but altogether acted in practical man
nor, that gave her mother very great
encouragement.
One afternoon the young lady dressed
10 20 out for walk, aud stood for n
time with ono foot on the fender bur,
listening to her mothers talk, which ran
pretty much in this strain toward the
close
"I haven't seen Mr.. Edgerton for
twJ or three days, have youf And
his friend seems to have disappeared
altogether. must say it was very pro-
per Of him not to come here after gave
him so decided an answer. Why, bless
my soull Here lie is now
And there, sure enough, he was, step
plug leisurely in through the open door
OF tho room. He had evidently screwed
his cou1age up, and WIS keeping it up
by n little bit Of bravado rot quito ua-
turul to him. His hat was pulled tight
upon his head, his step had tho least
suggestion Of n swagger in it, and he car
ried his hands in the pockets oil the
short, odd looking jacket which he wore
for the apparent purpose OF making him
look unnecessarily independent. ,
His manner put Mira. Green on the
offensive, as il it were challenge. Her
face took on its hard, set look, her
hands folded themselves together under
her apron, and she stood looking at him
very frigidly, aud failed to notice That
her daughter was not 80 much surprised
as she ought to hare been. =,
"Gooi afternoon, Mr.. Merton" said
Mrs, Green, very much as il he had
been II sewing machine agent. ave
wero Just speaking of-your friend"
"Ah, Charlisl Yes, poor fellow, he
has gone back to tho city. He really
needed n longer rest, but he couldn't
take it without losing his situation, and
le cannot afford TO do that"
"His situation1 Why
J ayes, you know he is q bookkeeper;
But, no; l remember now, my friend
Mrs. Garwood got our names mixed IN
telling yon about u.s."
HI sec," said Mrs. Green. in q tone
that implied many things.
"But come, dear, il You arc ready
we will go for our walk now," said
George, III queer, hurried way. 81
Just dropped in, Mrs. Green, to take my