Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-11-16
A RUSE OF WAR:


Frank. give my word for it, you'll find
'Lanrelton not bad place, and the girls are
well, there are no finer girls than my grand
daughters"
Old Judge Ransom looked earnestly over
his gold-rimmed spectacles at Frank Halle
toms handsome, indifferent face.
"You certainly are very good, Judge, to
press upon me such a friendly invitation to
visit Laurelton,' and under any other circum-
stances than those we have discussed, would
be delighted to accept. As it isl confess l
haven't the cheek to go down TO your place.
see my pretty cousins, be entertained by aunt
Sarah, and all the while feel that my object and
your object, is to select me wife from among
the young ladies'
That's the sheerest nonsense, boy. Why
on earth shouldn't you marry one of your cous-
ins, and thereby secure Laurelton' in the fam
lily? Somebody'll get the fine old place with
one of my girls-why shouldn't it as well be
you?"
81 suppose you call yours very sensible
view of the case, Judge Ransom But how
can fellow expect TO curb and harness his
fancy and affection to suit-even with Laurel
ton thrown into the bargain?"
''Who's talking of fancies and affections? l
only asked you to run down to the homestead
for the holidays and get acquainted with the
girls; then, if You tall in love with one of them.
all well and good. There's not much danger,
but they'll talk to you Frank You're a fine
fellow, and your five years absence at the Ger
man universities add very greatly to your pop
ularity"
"Thank you, Judge. Surely l ought to be
grateful. and oblige you by fallingin love with
one of my charming cousins
Then, we'll consider it settled, shall WEI
The Thursday before Christmas"
81 guess We can manage it between us. Sa-
rah. Franks agreed to come, and, what's
more, has half promised to fall in love with
one of the girls"
Judge Ransom sat reading his village paper
beside the CHEEKY CRATE; and fat, motherly
Mrs. Ransom sat in her capacious chair, busily
darning socks.
promised to fall il love with one of the
girls? Henry, the idea! You never went and
told him you wanted him to marry one of
them?"
''Of course did. There's nothing like being
open and above board. like young Hazelton,
and told him so, and told him that he was well
coma IN ono of INV oropd dourbtoro 81 -.
relton in the bargain"
swell, Henry Ransom, never would have
believed that you was such "a fool! Don't
you know you've ruined our little arrangement
by going and telling him? Why. there is not
a man living who will take a fancy to girl
that's recommended to him. Well, if you aren't
a nimshiel''
81 Can't see what. I've done so dreadful. -
I'm sure you are as anxious to have him in the
family as l am"
''Of course am-thats why l hate to have
anything spoiled so. My word for it, Frank
Hazeton is of too noble nature to deliberate
ly make love to girl because she is rich; and,
at the same time, l know he will take dis
like to 'em simply because he is sexpected to do
the other thing"
"Seems to me I've put my foot into it, Sa-
rah, according to your way of thinking. I'm
sure meant well enough"
''Oh, l know that Now, if you will just
leave it to me, and agree to go just as say, 1
think it'll end all right, yet. Listen, now, and
see if woman can't beat a Judge in love af-
fairs
And he sat and listened his fine face gradu-
ally broadening until it was one big smile from
eyebrow to chin.
'If you don't deserve diploma" He de-
clared jubilantly.
A magnificent December night, with myri-
ads of frosty-twinkling stars above, and snow
bound landscape beneath them; Frank Halle
ton, wrapped in his Astrachan overcoat, and
his seal-skin cap cozily jammed over his fore
head, thought, as he was driven from the de-
pot to Iaurelton' behind the Judges fast trot-
ter, and in Laurel's big, double-seated, warm
ly y-cushioned sleigh, that the lines might fall to
a fellow in far less pleasant place than that to
which he was going; where the Judge met him
at the door, in the broad banner of warm yel-
low light, streaming from within.
''Come right in, my boy-right in, You're
as welcome as the first flowers in spring
Here's Aunt Sarah waiting to kiss you; aren't
you, eh?,"
Frank found himself in warm, motherly
arms, and laughing and joking, was escorted
to the parlor, where four young girls were sit
ting in apparent ready welcome.
"Whatl have four cousins? Judge, you've
got the best of me. l had no idea my courage
was to be put to such test"
'lndeed you needn't think you are so blessed
as to possess four pretty cousins. These are
all you need lay claim to-Maud and Ida, my
two grand-daughters. These other two young
ladies are Miss Florence and Irma Cloudesly-
visiting 'Laurelton' to assist in entertaining
you"
After such an informal introduction the ice
was Immediately broken; and, before the
merry little circle-broke up that night Frank
caught himself eternally offering congratula-
tions to himself that he had come to "Laurel-
ton.."
"Pretty girls-of course they are pretty, all
of them,' he soliloquized mentally, as he care
fully arranged his white neck-tie, one bright,
merry morning, one month after he had come
to the farm house.
''Theres Maud, with her matchless grace
and her stately dignIfied manner She should