The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-09-14
The one wit hthe Ulster coat on" l


great simplicity.
aha, l thought So" chuckled the
astute Mrs Green. You noticed them .
little, while they noticed you a grea
Ideal Well, its the taller one, l mean
the one with the dark complexion, anc
black moustache. Charles Edgerton i!
his name.
The other one is much the best look
ing, and the most gentlemanly, / think,
said the daughter:
George Merton. Oh, yes, but ht
won't do at all. He is handsome, ant
has plenty of talent, too; but he ha:
neither money nor position. Mr. Ed
gar;on has plenty of both, and he's the
one that will do"
Why, 1 thought and then Sarepta
stopped and bit her lip.
Thought WHAT"
Nothing, only that we were doing q
rather queer thing, discussing those gen
tlemel ju,t as if they belonged to us"
Queer, maybe, but prudent and
then the prudent mother withdrew tC
mediate on the advantage of son-in-
law with money and position.
The fac; goes without saying that there
is more or less wickedness in this world
Ifthere was not, good Mrs Green would
have been spared the surprise, mingled
with humiliation, that had fallen upon
her that same evening.
Mother and daughter had set them
selves down beside the lamp to chat and
sew, and to have altogether a coy even
ing, and when the bell rang and Charles
Edgarton and George Merton were shown
into the room.
Mrs Green was almost astonished out
of all courtesy in contemplating the i'm
pertinence of the young men of our day,
who go calling without waiting for an
introduction. Her surprise was by no
means lessened, but the course of her
contemplation was turned when her
daughter showed her what the girls of
our day are capable of, by welcoming
them very serenely, and introducing
them in matter of fact way to her
mother.
The explanation ifit all was that these
three young persons had met in the
merry summer time in little out-of the
way country nook, where Serepta was
sojourning with a city cousin. friend of
the Messrs Edgarton and Merton.
Mrs Green accepted the situation
gracefully, and was pleasantly courteous
as became so polite a lady. But when
the call was ended, and mother and
daughter we're left again to each others
companionship, Sarepta listened to some
animated remarks.
a nice trick you have played me-
said Mrs Green. Let me go out asking
questions about these two young men.
and you knew all the while, Why didn't
You tell me?"
why, mamma, l didn't know you
wanted TO know any thing about them
The first knew you had found out all /
had to tell, and more, too, so what was
the use?'
well you might have told me before.
and how was it you didn't recognize
them when YOU met them on the street,"
Il did. bowed and they lifted their
hats the first time we met. 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, them"
Il did not count the times, but l think
it must have been about three"
"Humphl Well, I've nothing to do
now but to see that no trouble comes of
al, Your smar:ness. To begin with, |
noticed ihat Mr. Merton Was RI her more
to you this evening than here
was any necessity for. ! want you to
remember that he is not the one that 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 at Mrs Green's house.
Mr. Edgarton was all that could be de-
sired in the way of friendly courtesy
but George Merton was that and more
too. 1t became more and more apparent
that he aimed to become the one who
Tould do.
.Ye came often with his friend, bu
more, often by himself, and one day he
allied not on Sarepta, but on Mrs Green
erself The nature of his errand may
e gathe, ed from remark of that ladys
uring the conversation.
Il am very sorry matters have gone so
,r." she said. @and ] have tried in every
,av to prevent it. All that can do now
to saw that I ne yer will give my con-
ent to your MARI. age with my daugh-
,r. esteem YOU very greatly, but L
,ng since made up m v mind that my
on-in-law must have m oncy and posi-
on"
But my dear madam"
Il have had my say, Mr.. ferton, and
othing will ever make me say different
:. don't mind saying to you that the
lme question from your friend would
ave received very different nsNer.
George Merton went away the n, and
arepta received little lecture frc m her
lother. The girl was little pale but
cry quiet, and her mother thought she
as going to be very sensible. She, felt
little discouraged, however, when Sa-
epta said, quite in her natural voice:
Il know he is poor, and without peei
on, as you call it, but will never mar
: another man as long as l live,' and
lat ended the conversation.
After this matters went on much the
me as usual, except that George Mer-
m came no more to Mrs. Green's house.