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

and David's face Redeemed furiously, till
II seemed 10 drain all color from his
tawhy beard. leaving II positively pale.
Really, David, don't see but you'll
have to marry laughed my mother,
mischieyously, going on with her sew
ing.
His lower jaw dropped As il the re-
mark had been blow, and had hit him
on the chin.
I" You don't think, now, Miss Farms
worth, ] shall be necessitated TO 60 that
lengthP" he gasped.
"Oh no, no; certainly not. only
spoke Of it rs the best means Of securing
permanent help
II don't know but I'd oughter mar
ry," unused David, uneasily. " But the
idee comes 10 me rather sudden. l
hadn't calculated on any thing like that.
and seems 8 il twas too much to ex-
pect of me-fact."
A few days later he again appeared
before my mother, twitching at his coat
collar in the vain endeavor TO hide his
embarrassment
III SO be, Miss Farnsworth," be
stammered, with characteristic cork
screw twist Of the neck-ssif so be /
couldn't get round marrying, what's
your notion about Lovisap According to
the best of your belief, would she be
favorable to changing her sitovation?r
He ended with his head quite on one
side, and tipped backward like chick
ems in drinking, which forced my moth
er TO address her reply to his occipital
curls. She could hazard no opinion on
the subject, she said. She would adj
wise him to confer with the lady herself.
~ hate to, masterly," groaned he
with engaging candor; "but this
know-if ask any woman to have me,
ii III be Lovisa."
Oddly enough, our minister on the
morrow preached an eloquent sermon
on the duty and the JOY of matrimony.
1t Is not good for man to be alone,-
ran the text, and David, in the corner
pew cast down his conscious eyes, feel
ing that he himself was the person in
dicated.
Ii was not good for man to be alone;
he had suspected this for some months,
and now the Bible confirmed his sus-
picion. He wanted to be good; he
wouldn't be alone any longer-fact; not
II he could help IL; and he stole an in
quisitive glance across the aisle at the /
lady Of his heretofore hesitating choice.
lie did more. Benedction pronounced,
he sided over to her, his face glowing
like the perennial carnation in her bon
net, and asked her opinion Of the dis
course. Didn't she think that was a
noble text?
Poor Miss Lovisa, taken quite by sur
prise, murmured something about il 4
being good sound doctrine, but hard to \
live up to, and hurried across the way
TO open her house to her usual Sunday
guests. These were chiefly farmers
wives from different parts Of the parish,
who found in her tiny cottage conye-
nient retreat during the noon intermis-
sions. Here they ate their lunch, al
ways remembering to present a liberal
Offering to their hostess, who in return
poured out for them steaming libation
from the stumpy earthen teapot which
during the morning service stood
upon the kitchen-stoye, putting and
blowing as If it had polypus in its ugly
little pug-nose. These Sabbath dona-
tons were important items toward the
support of Miss Lovisa, who.
save this house and its hum
bic furniture, had no assured patri-
mony. II is true, she often helped her
neighbors in their sewing or household
labors. but never for wages. Ii would
have pierced her to the heart had these
been offered her. She wanted il dis
tinctly understood that she only went
:. 70 accommodate. II her friends felt
disposed TO give her presents, why, that
altered the case. She accepted them
with an alacrity worthy Of Mr.. Dorrit;.
As these testimonials usually reached
her on Sunday, it followed that, wher-
ever Miss Lovisa might be during the
week, the Lords Day was sure to find |
her in her queer little cottage opposite ;
The church. Hither came David in the
twilight Of the Sabbath Of which have
spoken, ambling up the narrow path ,
with his own peculiar gait, quite like that ,
d small boy riding the paternal cane. !
Lovisa, at the moment RECALLING herself
With the diluted dregs Of the company 1
ga, spied him above the inclined rim Of I
he cup, and in her perturbation scalded
ier throat with the boiling liquid. !
"Good-evening, Lovisa,' said he,
'esting his elbows on the sill, as he look Z
N in ut the open window.
Good-evening, Mr.. Yopp,r return I
d she, pushing the tea equipage out Of
light with one hand while extending 8
him the other.
tell-tale crumb Of gingerbread in /
Ter palm transferred itself to Dayid's, 5
md he unconsciously rolled It between i
us thumb and finger as he spun Sec
md thread Of conversation. n
"It's been tolerably warmish day, a
.ovisa." i
Tedious warm" sighed she, adding,
'ratuitously, TO cloak her nervousness, '