The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-01-20

OSSS& 80 S3Asss
Olivia secretly admired the squire, !
warned them heartily against dispropor-
toned friendships, but the arrival of a
side of venison, with his compliments
dulled the edge of my remonstrance.
That evening poor Mr.. Burchell made
us q visit, and helped US the next day in
the hay field, assisting Sophia with
much assiduity; but had too good an
opinion of her understanding to be un-
der any uneasineas from the attentions
of man of broken fortune.
Shortly after we entertained our land
lord at dinner, and, though he talked
like a flippant free-thinker, he made
himself highly agreeable to Olivia and
her mother, who began to speak exult-
antly of match with the squire's fami-
ly, and defended him with warmth,
when declared:
81 could have been better pleased
with one that was poor and honest than
this fine gentleman with his fortune and
infdelity."
The next morning Mr.. Burchell came
again, and though he was always cheer
full, amiable and even wise, 1 began to
be displeased with the impression he
seemed to be making on Sophia. How
ever, he took himself away when the
squire sent word by his chaplain that he
intended giving moonlight ball on the
grass before our door. Mr.. Thornhill
fetched two young ladies of fashion from
town; neighbor Flamborough's rosy
daughters were brought in, Haunting
with red top-knots, and we had a very
gay time of it, winding up with pray
erS.
NY girls began now to pitch their
thoughts very high, and their pride was
not lowered by fortune telling gypsy
who promised Livy squire and Sophy
lord all for shilling apiecel Then
the two fine ladies from town paid us
visit-Lady Barney and Miss Caroline
Wilhelmina Skeggs!-and though Mr..
Burchell turned his back and cried
"Fudge!" ct the end of each sentence,
we were vastly pleased with their high
life conversation; and my wife struck
up a notable plan of sending our two
daughters to town as their companions,
at stipends of thirty pounds and twen-
| ty-five guienas year. This they very
condescendingly approved, only requir-
ing as a mere form, Mr.. Thornhill's re-
commentator. This he readily gave,
and the expedition to town was speedi-
ly resolved upon, though Mr.. Burcheil
very presumptously sought to dissuade
us from it.
As we were now rising in the world
we determined to sell our old colt,
which had no tail, and buy better one.
Nv son Moses went to the fair with him,
in waistcoat of goslin green, fell into
the hands of prowling sharper, and
brought back only gross of green
spectacles! Then I took our other
horse, Old Blackberry, and sold him
myself to a venerable-appearing gentle
man. who gave me an order on neigh
Dor Marlborough, for five pounds. But
when my honest neighbor saw the
name-"Ephriam Jenkinson," he ex-
claimed:
ssThe greatest rascal under heaven!
This is the very same rogue that sold
the spectaclesw
Invent home detected, but found my
wife and girls in tears over greater
disappointment, for the two fine ladies,
having heard reports of us from some
malicious person, had set out for Lon
don. leaving us to wonder who could
have aspersed our characters thus base
w. By chance, however, Mr.. Burchell
was detected in the villiany of having
sent q warning letter to the ladies at
Thornhill Castle, and, when reproached,
he showed such effrontery that l could
scarcely govern my passion.
.sUnQrateful wretchw I cried, "be-
gone and no longer pollute my dwelling
with thy basenessr
He smiled and departed with tho ut
most composure, leaving US astonished
and enraged at his assurance.
SQUIRE Thornhill continued his at
tentions. but all my wifes art could not
bring him to q proposal. At last it was
resolved that Olivia should marry. ct
the end Of . month, Farmer Williams
| (who was in easy circumstances. Pru-
dent, sincere, and openly devoted to
her), provided the squire did not mean
time declare his intentions. Instead
however. he discontinued his visits end
Olivia seemed contented with the change
in her fate. Four days before her in
tended nuptials, little Dick came rum
ming in crying:
oh, papa, abe II gone-sister Livy
10 gone from M foreverT
"Gone, childr
"Yes-with two ceutlemen in post
chaise-and one kissed her-and abe
crisd-but he persuaded her-and she
said, oh. what will my poor papa do
when he knows I an undonel'"
i "Now thsn," cried, my children.
20 and be miasrnbls, for - shall nsver
enjoy one hour more. And, oh. may
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