The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-03-29

Once he half opened his mouth to speak.
but Il sprang together again like his Sn
house door in that dog-day weather.
Lovisa grew each moment more I'M
easy. She was afraid II did not look
well, Mr.. Yopp's standing at her case
ment in the cleaning; she was equally
afraid il would not sound well should
she invite him in; and yet he was her
neighbor-she could not bid him 90.
II suppose grandsir feels your moth
er's death good dcal?" was her next
tremulous remark, thrown out as a sort
Of plank to bridge over the silence.
Yes, father misses her. and | miss
her" said David, crowding the words
out helter-skelter, lest his lips should
close upon them. "Seems : il we
couldn't get along without mother.
And ! was wondering, Lovisa--that Is,
wanted to ask you What say, Loyisa,
amt you willing to take her placer
do wish you would. There's nobody
would suit father SO we'll"
Nobody would suit his father so well
as daughter-in-law, David meant, Of
course; but how was Miss Braun to wrest
this meaning from his words? How was
she to suspect that in begging her TO be
mother to him he had honestly in
tended to ask her to be his wifeP She
was no clairvoyant, but at that moment
a most indignant woman, with an I'm
wonted flash in her eye. Marry Grand
sir Yopp, indeed How old did they take
her TO be?
FEATHER II hardly look for another
partner; his age and infirmities con-
sidered, you couldn't reasonably expect
it," pursued David, in considerate
tone; "and this obliges US TO make some
other arrangement. You see it materially
would, Lovisa."
Whatever she saw, she made no out
ward manifestation, though her anxious
swain glanced toward her deprecatingly
to assure himself that she appreciated
his domestic necessities, and justified
him in contemplating marriage.
"We've had no end of housekeepers,
he Numbered on, :. and none of 'em
gave satisfaction. Now l want some
body permanent-s that's
agreeable, and II take an interest. You
know always set a great deal BY YOU,
Lovisa. Can't make a bargain with
you?"
A matrimonial bargain David intend
ed and desired-nothing less. But his
stupid tongue had this time conveyed to
Loyisa the impression that he wished to
engage her as housekeeper, aud she
hridled at once.
~ don't know what you can be
thinking Of, Mr.. Yopp, TO propose such
a thingi" she cried, vehementlv. al
never did hire out for wages she was
about 10 add; but she recoiled from
the mercenary expression to remark. \
with severe dignity, - have never lived
anywhere except as friend.''
"Well, I'm sure don't want you 10
live with me if you don't feel friendly.-
responded her suitor, very much hurt.
I'D sooner rub along alone fact
I. do feel friendly, Mr.. Yopp-that
i, did; but as to going TO any body's
house in the way You speak OF, l can't
bring myself to do it. -
"What! do you mean for to say, Lo
visa. that you have specific objections
against getting married?r
II was yet so dark that David's ewes.
peering at her from beneath their pro-
jecting buff awnings, could not see the
sudden agitation caused BY his words,
and he took courage.
Because, il you've no specific objec-
tons against matrimony generally, and
feel friendly toward me lndiyidooally.
and I'm so disposed, don't see, Lovisa.
what's TO hinder our making bargain. \
"Oh, couldn't, Mr. .Yopp--I couldn't
anyways, though it's very kind in you
p mention il, "she faltered, incoherent- !
y, while her face, usually like wax
Yellow wax-glowed lurid red.
=" Maybe you're afraid sh0uld't make
vou good husband, Lovisa, because
I'm getting along in years, and never !
had any experience" suggested he.
urning his averted face toward her with
! curvilinear jerk; "but I'D do INV
'est, and mother always gave me credit |
or being willing. Actooally, now, Lo-
Tisa, it does pear to me 'twould con-
'ene both on US II you was to make up /,
'our mind to have me-
Again she shook her head, but more q
eebly this time. David almost fancied I
ne motion might be only the dying vi ,,
'ration OF her former negative, and !
vent away not altogether hopeless. :
At first, as we have seen, the thought '
4 matrimony had been to him rather I
|istasteful than otherwise, cut Lovisa's !
refusal aroused the latent i
ombativeness Of his nature. The more :
he would not marry him, the more de- >
irable she seemed to him, and he never
ct slip an opportunity for pressing his :
uit till he had wrung from her prom 1
'e 70 reconsider his proposal. E
With this weighty subject on her {
mind, she came to visit US and help !,
bout the currant jelly--and precious :
title help she was!
~ feel 50 exercised, Mrs. Farms
,orthl'' she confessed 70 nv mother