Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-04-13
SEEKING A WIFE.

bound to respect.
SEEKING A WIFE.
"Well, the formalities are duly
dispensed with, and l find myself in
vested with the property of my late
respected uncle-all regular. And
now, if choose | can set up an es-
tablishment, and keep it in good
style. But never fancied bache-
lor's ball, 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 be-
come the heir of his uncle. RI
81 Declare" he continued, as he
settled into solitary corner in
half empty car, 81 would marry at
once if could find genuine girl.
But how can fellow trust these be-
fiounced and be-fummeried doll-ba
bies who he never sees in any other
way? If could only catch some Of
them out of the company attire,
and know just what they are at
home-wonder if l couldn't? | be-
lieve 1 have plan for it Ill think
night on it, and who knows what
may happen ~
What did happen was that Mr..
George set out at a very unfashion-
able 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 re-
ceive 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 delight
full an evening, admiring Miss Lulu's
faultless toilet and soft, sweet voice
until 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 par
lor. The heavy curtains were drawn,
making the elegant rooms somewhat
dark, but the back parlOr was wide
open and George saw vision.
Miss Lulu, her hair twisted upon
the top of her head about the size
and shape of peeled onion, her fair
forehead adorned with several little
paper horns, her pretty person ar
rayed in a soiled, frayed wrapper,
without belt or collar and her pretty
feet in slippers decidedly shocking,
was tossed over some shining silk, in
consultation with the plain little
body, whom George Guessed at. once
to be her dress maker Their backs
were partly towards him, and quick
ly turning, George beat a hasty re-
treat, saying toIhhnself as he ran.
down the steps, Z ~ y " r..
"The Fates forbid !5 If I had to
live with a,asloYen, j should run
away Farewell, Miss Lulu; I'll go.
to Belle Dorsey's.7 s.7.
At Miss Dorsey's the door was
ajar, but George was about to ring
the bell when the sound of voices
within arrested him. 1t was Miss
Belle herself, yociferously scolding a
httle sister, and George heard the
sound of smart slap, followed by,
a child's sObbing, and the words, in
Bellies own tone, r.s1 oha
|There, you Z meddlesOme little
beast, take that ! PlT teach you to
let my things alone, if l break your
miserable back for it p sraI-1iE
George did not ring, but he beat a
hasty retreat, even quicker than he
had from Miss Granger's, saying to
himself, yLs-
"Cupid save US A scold is worse
than sloven | Ishould take to drink
if | had to live with her; I believe |
will try Miss Baldwin next;
Just as he reached Miss Baldwin's
door, her little seven year-old broth
er came bounding out, ready for
school, 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; moth
er scolds her for laying abed to read
them French books of hers; but it
won't do nc good. May be though,
if tell her you're here, she'll get
up; shall ?,'
ENo, I'll call again. You needn't
say l 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 interest
ing. Three angels tumbled to clay
in one morning, and it is not half
gone, either. Farewell, Miss Lulu.
Good bye, Miss Belle. Pleasant
dreams, Miss Josie. Now Ill make
one more call on Nettie Hayes, and
if she turns out fright OF fury, or
lazy lounger, I'll go home aud be
an old bachelor to the end of nv
days. So hear me, oh, We gods and
fshes-Cupid and Hymen into the
bargain.p
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
knooked-but still without success.
Nobody at home," was his ver-
dict at last, as he turned to go, when
the notes of song foated to his
ear. -rf,,a i,
He paused to listen.
1t 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.
81 am determined to see her."
quothed Mr.. George.
With valiant ardor, he followed
the sound, till it led him into long,