Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1877-11-13
MISCELLAREoU Gus.
ALL's FAIR IN LOVE.


~ church one day and fell in love with her
He whispered to his. friend as they went
home together:
Il think she's perfectly lovely, Fred. I
came to town, you know, as in duty bound, to
try TO tall in love with her-that being the
mutual desire Of our parents-but l hadn't
an idea that it would prove such easy work,
or rather that it would be SO impossible to do
otherwise"
''Tes, she's'a pretty girl enough" re-
sPonded Fred. Thornton Iangudly.
"Pretty You cold bIooded creature.
She's beautiful But tell ne, Fred, do you
know her ?"
"No, hare not that agreeable honor.
You know have been away for year or
two till lately, and have never CHANGED to
meet her"
GLOW fortunate, - exclaimed Seton.
''Now let me tell you my idea. Clara is
aware that our friends wants US to marry each
othcr-it was a stupid thing to tell US so,
wasn't it ? instead Of giving us fair oppor-
tunity to fall in love with each other in a
natural manner. And l am much afraid
that it will have the customary effect Of max
ing her dislike me. Now. this is my idea :;
let you and me exchange identity, and will
introduce you-uo-. l mean you intro,
duce me as yourself and yourself as me"
doesn't the young lady know you?"
''No, she never laid eyes on me in her life );
nor | on her till this morning. l asked you
purposely TO take me 10 that church SO that
| could see her without her knowledge. Be
good fellow now, and give mo chance to
win her without prejudicing her against me
by the thought that she must marry me
whether she likes me or not-won't you,
Fred? ?"
Don't be so drcadrully urgent, my dear
fellow There is no reason to fear but what
| will 90 anything in my power for you
just direct my movements and ! will be an
obedicnt puppet in your hands"
And so the matter was arranged and or
the next day the two friends called togeth-
er on Miss Mayo-Fred. presenting himself
as \ Abcrt Seton. and introducing Albert as
his best friend Mr.. Frederick Thornton. The
young lady received them both with charms
ing grace, and the interview passed off ex>
ceIleutly, with the slight exception of appar
ent trauspostions of names on the part Of the
two gentlemen. But after that they did bet
ter, having been careful to keep up their re
spectivc roles even when alone together
Fred constantly addressing Albert as Fred
while Albert cs pcrsistcnt!y addressed Fred
as A bert.
Now there happened to be popularity
in the character OF Miss Clara Mayo that
neither of the friends had calculated upon
She was the most obedient as we'll as the
most affectionate of daughters and having
modcstly fixed her regards on the gentleman
presenting himself as Albert Seton. and find
ing him tall, fne- looking and graceful in ap.
pearance, and simple, welI~bEed and pleasing
in manner, she at once made up her mind to
be in this respect, as in all others, an obe>
dent daughter, and fulfill her fathers wishes.
So, while she was very polite to the friend,
she was something more than polite to the
other; and Fred, in his character of Albert,
found it next impossible to meet the young
lady less kindly and admiriDgly than she had
received him.
This had been going for some weeks,
aud Clara could not help thinking at times
that there a strange persistency in AL
berts friend, for he never failed to make bis
appearance as punctually and regularly as
Albert himself; but whatever she thought.
she had, so far, politely kept to herself, and
had not yet complained of the frequency of
"Mr Thornton's" visits.
Il am making no headway at ALL" said
Albert Seton one day to his friend. "and
think Miss Mayo prefers you to me, Fred"
nat Is only because sHe thInEs am
you" returned Fred misehievously. s.Do
you know AL, I'm afraid we reckoued with
out our hostess in this case It's my belief
Miss Mayo is one of those dreadfully obe-
dent girls who actually prefer to do as their
parents would have them. All her gentle
eucoursgements to me is simply because she
thinks, poor child, she is loving her father"
GOOD Heaven! Do you think 7" in
ter1upted Albert. Then perhaps we had
better confess the ruse at once-indeed it will
be necessary that should tell her the truth,
anyway, for my father is coming to town in a
day or two, and the frs. time we all meet to-
gether at Miss Mayo's drawing room the
whole story will be out"
Fred Thornton listened in secret disnay:
UBconsciously the beauty and grace and
sweetness of Clara Mayo had done their work,
and Fred. Thornton was quite as far gone az