Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-05-23
Seeking a Wife.

Well. the formalities were duly dis
pensed with, and find myself invested
with the property OF my late respected
uncle-all regular. And now, if
choose, l can set up an establishment,
and keep it up in good style. But
never fancied a bachelors hall, and
where is the pretty Beatrice to make
me Benedict ?"
So ran George Herbert's soliloquy
as he walked home from his Office one
evening soon after he had become the
their of his uncle"
al declare" he continued, as he set
tied into a solitary corner in a hall
empty car, 81 would marry at once if j
could find genuine girl. But how
can a fellow trust those be-hounced
and be fummeried doll-babies whom
he never sees any other way. IL /
could only catch some of them out OF
| company attire, and know Just what
they are at home wonder if / couldn't?
1 believe L have a plan for it I'll
think night on it, and who knows
what may happen?'
What did happen was that Mr..
George set out at very questionable
hour next morning to call upon some
/ of his friends.
1t was so early an hour that he knew
they would not be expecting him or
ready to receive him, and that was Just
what he wanted.
His first call was upon Miss Lulu
Granger, where only the night before
he had spent so delightful an evening,
admiring Miss Luln's faultless toilet
and soft sweet voice until a late hour.
A servant who was sweeping the
front steps told HIM Miss Granger was
in, and as the door stood open, George
stepped unceremoniously in, too, and
walked into the front parlor.
The heavy curtains were drawn, maxi
ing the elegant room somewhat dark,
but the back parlor was wide open and
| George saw q vision.
Miss Lulu, her hair twisted upon the
top OF her head about the size and
shape of peeled onion, her fair fore
head adorned with several little paper
horns, her pretty person arrayed In a
soiied frayed wrapper, without belt or
collar. and her pretty feet In slippers
decidedly shocking, was tossing over
some shining silks, in consultation with
plain little body, whom George
guessed at once to be her dress-maker.
Their backs were partly towards him
so they did not see him. and, quickly
turning, George beat a hasty retreat,
saying to himself as he ran down the
steps
1.-The Fates portend If / had to
live with sloven, should run away
Farewell, Miss Lulu I'll go to Belle
Dorsey's
AT Miss Dorsey's the door was siar
but George was about ringing the bell
when the sound of voices within ar
rested him.
1t was Belle herself, vociferously
scolding a little sister, and George
heard the sound of smart slap, fol-
lowed by a child's sobbing, and the
words, in Bellies own tone
"There, you meddlesome little beast
take that I'll teach you to let my
things alone, if break your miserable
little neck for it :"
George did not ring, but beat a re-
treat even quicker than he had from
Miss Changers saying to himself
Cupid save us A scold is worse
than sloven / should take to drink
if had to live with her 1 believe I'll
try Miss Baldwin next"
Just as he reached Miss Baldwin's 3
door, her little seven year old broth er
came bounding out, ready for shool,
and George asked him if his sister
Josie was in.
81 suppose you're Josie's young man
amt you ?" said the boy. Lord, yes,
she's in. She's in bed, and will be
these FIVE hours. Josie never gets up
till dinner time. Mother scolds her
for layin' abed to read them French
books o. hers, but it won't do no good.
Maybe though If l tell her you're here,
she'll get up. Shall ??
"No, III call again. You needn't
say was here, and there's shilling to
buy some cakes with"
And as George walked away he burst
into laugh, saying
Bless ME, but this gets interesting.
Three angels tumbled to clay in one
morning, and it not half gone either
Farewell, Miss Lulu. Goodbye, Miss
Belle. Pleasant dreams, Miss Josie.
Now, I'll make one more call on Nettie
Hayes, and if she turns out fright or
fury, or a lounger, III go home ard
be an old bachelor to the end of my
days. So hear me, oh We gods and
fishes-Cupid and Eymen into the
bargain"
With which ferocious oath George
bent his steps TO the Hayes dwelling
and rang the bell.
he rang twice, but no answer came,
and then he knocked, still without sue
cess.
Nobody at home" was his verdict
at last, when he turned to go, when the
notes of song hoated to his ear.
He paused to listen.
IL was the voice of Nettie Hayes, for
he had heard her sing the same song
often, and it seemed to come from the
back part of the house.
I'm determined TO see her." quoth
Mr.. George. .....
With valiant ardor he followed the
sound, till it led him to long, latticed
porch behind the house. He mounted
the steps and beheld Nettie Hayes in a
calico dress, and white apron, her
pretty hair falling in a simple, close
knot, her sleeves pinned back from her
pretty round arms, her soft hands fly
ing busily, and her sweet voice singing
merrily, over huge ironing table,
with a well-filled clothes basket beside
her.
"Goed morning, Miss Nettie," said
George close beside her, with his nat
lifted.
Nettie started, and nearly dropped
her iron.
''Why, Mr. Herbert, did you drop
from the clouds p, she asked, blushing
and smiling in pretty confusion.
mo, came the legitimate way, by
the front door, but neither ring nor
knock could rouse you, SO l took the
liberty of coming round
81 could not hear the bell" said Net.
lie, and you might have knocked
half day ithoutanyone hearing it. Our
girl is sick, and ma and / have the
work to do for a day or so till she gets
better, SO I'm helping with the ironing
TODAY, you see. Come in the house