Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-03-17
The Practical Lover.

II was agreed on all hands that Ned Stone
was very practical fellow. He was bro
ker in the city. He had been very poor
man at one time in his life, and had to work
very hard. His industry had in the end,
however, met its due reward. At middle
age he was comfortably crcumstanced.
When he announced 10 his friends, there
fore, that he thought OF taking to himself a
wife, 1t was thought generally that the step
he msditated was prudent one. And
when he further stated that he had made an
offer OF his hand 10 one Georgiana Warren,
the daughter of wealthy merchant, and
that his offer had been accepted by the la
dy, we, of course, hastened TO tender our
heartiest congratulations on that occasion.
Ned Stone spoke of the matter in his
own simple, sober way.
"Well, you know, Pm getting on" he
said, "and If I'm TO marry, its about time
should think OF setting about II. You're
very kind. think 1 shall be very happy
in fact l have no doubt about it-as hap
py as a fellow has right TO expect to be.
One has no right to expect too much. of
course. But I'm quite fond In nv way OF
this Georgiana Warren, and think that
she in her way is fond OF me. She is not
too young or Too old, not too good looking,
nor yet too plain she is sensible and &C.
complished enough; and don't see why /
shouldn't make very good sort OF a hus-
band. Perhaps I'm not very fond OF old
Warren, the father, and perhaps he isn't
very fond OF me. But l don't know as that
matters much. dare say we shall under
stand each other better by and by mean
time, must try and make the best of the
old mans humor, and not run counter TO
him moro than 1 can avoid. And II seems
the old fellow would be no londer OF any,
body else who might want 10 marry his
daughter than he is of me. You see its
our affair-Georgiana' and mine-and not
his; though its hard TO make him see II in
that light But dare say 1t will come
right in the end. That's what tell Georg-
lana, when she takes up with rather gloomy
views about her fathers temper. She has
good sense, aud, think, looks at the mat
ter very much as l do-only, OF course,
she can't help feeling that he is her father,
whereas, thank goodness, lie amt mine"
1t will be seen that Ned Stone was not a
lover 10 Sigh like furnace" As to writ
ing woeful ballad TO his mistress's eve.
brows, don't fancy he could have accom-
plished such feat, even if his life depend
ed upon his doing so. The thermometer of
his love stood at temperate, with no ten
dency toward an upward rise. The "marks
OF love-" as they are generally understood,
were not discernible upon him.
He never said word as 10 the agilated
state oflhis breast, nor to the excitement of
his feelings. He did not regard Miss War
ren as an angel or a goddess. Probably he
would have been the first TO contradict any
allegation that might have been made TO
The effect that she was anything of the kind.
Miss Warren appeared 10 him what she
seemed 10 everybody elsa nice, sensible
English girl.
called upon Stone one evening. He
was alone. He looked little grave, and
held small sealed packet. We discussed
various indifferent subjects; then inquir-
ed concerning Miss Georgiana.
"Oh, haven't you heard?" he answered. |
But OF course you couldn't have heard. l
The affair is of. Our engagement has come |
Ioian enj."
"You don't really mean that ?" ask ed |
in surprise.
"Yes, the things broken off, as people
say. It's hard job, and Pm sorry for it,
but 1t can't be helped"
"Had the lady resented his serenity aud |
discharged himf" asked myself.
AS though he had heard the question. he
went on: "Irs the old mans doings. hope
le is satisfied now. He's the most unrea.
'onable and disagreeable old fellow ever
lad the misfortune to meet"
"But what did he do"
"We fell out about the settlement-that
vas where the hitch arose. Pm sure 1 did
III could to please him. gave up con-
iition amer condition, quite Ia opposition
o the advice Of my solicitor. told him TO
etlle what money he proposed to settle on
Ills daughler-it wasn't much amer all
ust as he pleased-I didn't want to touch
penny OF 1t. He might settle it, told
lin, just as strictly as ever he pleased, or
10 might settle nothing at all upon her, IL
10 liked that better. 1t was his daughter 1
wanted and not his money. And for my
'art I'd take care my wife never came TO
Vant. undertook TO insure my life for
arge amount, aud to assign the policy TO
rustees for her benefit, in case Of my death,
ovenanting, of course, TO have the premi-
ms regularly paid to keep up the insur-
nee In the regular way. thought that a
air arranpemanl hnl IA did nof oontant |