The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-06-29

Indeed, II she had been rs sympa
thetic rs her mother desired her TO, Elsie
would have had opportunity enough u
exercise these feelings, for her young
betrothed was always in some pickle
and had nearly drowned and nearly shot
himself dozen times, 70 say nothing 81
ordinary tumbles.
Ii was tit for tat, nj all events, for
when Elsie had the measles, Master Har,
old received the Information with a con.
tempuous indifference amounting e
heartlessness. and had indeed said tina,
he did not care. He hated girls, and
this one the worst Of them all.
So. with the ocean between them, the
young people grew 70 maturity, and the
year approached in which they were 10
meet
But meanwhile all sorts Of sad things
happened. Elsie lost both her father
and mother. and away in England Mr..
Harrington died suddenly of apoplcxy
So the two men, who had looked for
ward for so many years to meeting
when their children were married, never
met again. But for those obstinate wills
the whole matter would have been drop
ped, for the last thing the young people
desired was to meet each other. But
the young man was Of age, and the
young lady also, and the property must
be settled, and could not be until the
match was either on or off. The old
lawyers i'm whose hands the affair rested
knew the feeling of their wards, but
they judged that meeting might mend
matters. Atleast, it was necessary that
they should meet. SO Harold, as in
duty bound, was to cross the ocean to
meet his betrothed, and give her an OPP
portunity to refuse him.
The news of his arrival brought into
full activity those feelings Of repugnance
that Elsie had conceived for Harold in
her childhood. Yet there was enough
of worldly wisdom in her head, to teach
her how much better it was to be rich
than to be poor. If he refused her, her
fortune and his also would be her own
by law. She would force him to refuse
her, and then she would return him his,
and all would be as it should But how
could she do this?
The girl sat for awhile in deep revery,
and then arose and clapped her hands
together. A thought had struck her
There was in the house a seamstress-
a vulgar girl, as plain as it was possible
to be, and with as much conceit as any
young beauty was ever blessed with.
Her rough manners and ways Of speech
had become proverbial amongst her own
class, the other servants speaking of her
generally as Crusty Betsy. And this
girl had Of late been occupied in the
room Of her young mistress over some
new dresses. Straight to this apartment
Elsie flew, and, locking the door, sat
down opposite Betsy and said:
~ have something for you to do, and
Ill pay you well for it,
''Just name it, them" said Betsy.
"When was little girl. Betsy" said
Elsie, ''poor papa promised that |
should marry a young gentleman who
lives in England when was grown, and
that if did not should lose my for
tune. Now the time has come and he
i coming, and can't marry him, Bet
~, and want him to refuse me. Do
you underestimate
~ understand, said Betsy, "and If
were you I'D huff him off quick
enough, and make him glad to go, that
woud.''
And | can't think how to do it,
Betsy" said Elsie, :. and If You can you
must do it for me. While he stays you
must pretend that you are Miss Sea-
bright you must wear my clothes, and
take all the airs you possibly can, and
make him as unhappy as possible, so
hat he'll have to refuse you-that is,
me, You know. BE sharp as you can
with him, Betsy-never the least bit
Sind or nice. You'll try, won't you,
BetsyP''
~ can give any one as good as they
'end, miss" said Betsy. "I'm no /
nealy-mouth, and you'll pay me well,
Mss"
iii give You a hundred dollars,
Betsy" said the girl, for you'll save
ne freedom and my fortune; and you'll
lot refuse him, you know, else all would
Ne spoiled
III MANAGE" said Betsy.
Then the two girls left all other work
0 examine Elsie's wardrobe, and soon
Betsy was dressed i'm the most elegant
ttire, her hair powdered, as was the
ustom, and white gloves upon her
lands.
"And l." said Elsie, twill be your
'oor companion, and you must cali me
liss Smith and snub me and order me
bout"
Thus all was arranged when the little
stter Elsie had been 50 long expecting
rrived, and, breaking its blue seal, she
cad that Mr.. Harrington would pay his
aspects to Miss Seabright in an hour.
low Miss Seabright laughed as she sat
Iaiting in the drawing-room watching
etsy sail up and down with all her new
sumption Of dignity! Betsy, with the
host amiable intentions. would have
cen sure Of offending: hnf BETSY. henf ,