Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-04-03
JOHN AND |.

sit is really time to go; If you stay
any longer | shall be afraid to GO
down and lock the door after you.
Ny visitor rosa proceeding
which always reminded me of the
genius emerging from the copper
vessel, as he measured six feet three
--apd stood looking reproachfully
down upon me.
You are in great hurry to get
rid of me- he SAID.
Now | didn't agree with him for
he had made his usual call of two
hours and half; having in country
phrase taken to Sitting up with me
80 literally that [ was frequently a,
my wits end to suppress the yawn
that 1 knew would bring troop
rushing after it.
He was a fine, manipulating fell.
low, this John Crawford, old for his
age-which was the rather boyish
period 22-and every way worthy OF
being loved. But didn't love him.
| was seven years his senior; and
when, instead of letting the worm
of concealment prey upon his dam.
ask cheek, he ventured to tell his
love for my mature self, remorsely
siezed an English prayer book and
sternly pointed out the clause, "A
man may no. marry his grandmoth-
err That was three years ago; and
l added encoursgingly, besides J ohm
you are chilu and don't know your
own mind
If q man of 10 doesn't know his
own mind, demonstrated my lover,
i would like to know who should
But will wait for you seven years,
if you say so-fourteen-as Jacob
did for Rachel
you forget replied laughing at
his way of mending matters. that a
woman does not improve with age.
But seriously John, this is absurd;
you are nice boy and l like you
but my feelings towards you are
moro those of q mother than q wife.
The boys eyes flashed indignant.
ly; and before | could divine his in
tention he had lifted me infant fash
ion from the spot whore / stood and
carried me to the sofa at the other
end of the room.
Il could almost find it in my heart
TO shake you'll he muttered as he set
me down with emphasis.
This was rather like the courtship
of William of Normandy and mat.
ters promised to be quite exciting.
Don't do that again. said 1 with
dignity when l bad recovered my
breath.
will you marry me?' asked John
somewhat thresteningly.
Not just at present. / replied.
The great handsome fellow l
thought. as be paced the floor rest
lessIy, swhy couldn't be fall in love
with some girl Of Is, instead of set
ting his affections on an old maid
like ms? l don't want the boy on
my hands and l won't have him,
AS to your being 26,' pursued
John in answer to my thoughts, you
say it is down in the family Bible,
and l suppose it must be so. but no.
body would believe it; and l don't
care if you're 40. You look like a
girl of 16 and you are the only wo-
man | shall ever love-
'Oh, John! Johnl at least five
millions of men have said that same
thing before in everv known Ian
guage. Nevertheless, when you
fairly break down and cry, relent
for / am disgracefully soft heart
ed-and weakly promise then and
there that | will either keep my own
name or take yours For love is a
very dog in the manger and John
looked radiant at this concession. 1t
was a comfort to know that if he
could not gather the flower himself
no one else could
A sort of family shipwreck had
waited John to my threshold. Our
own household was sadly broken up,
and found myself comparatively
young in years, with a half invalid
father, large house and very little
money. What more natural than to
take boarders? And among the
first were M. Crawford, his son aud
sister, who had just been wrecked
themselves by the death of wife
and mother in foreign land-one Of
those sudden, unexpected deaths.
that leaves the survivors ia dezed
condition, because It is so difficult to
imagine the gay wording who has
been called hence in another state of
being.
Mr. Crawford was one of my admi-
rations from the Grst. Tall, pale,
with dark hair and eyes. he remind
ed me of Dante, only that he was
much handsomer; and he had such a
general air of knowing everything
worth knowing (witbout the least
pedantry, however) that l was quite
afraid of him. He was evidently
wrapped up 10 John and patient
with his sister-which was asking
quite enough Of Christian charity
under the sue. for Mrs. Shellg-ove
was an unmitigatcd nuisance. Such
talkerl babbling of her own and
her brothers affairs with equal indis.
erection, and treating the latter as
though he were IN incapable infant
They stayed with us three years
and during that time was fairly
prosecuted about John. Mrs. Shell.
grove wrote me letter on the sub.
Jecr, in which she informed me that
the whole family were ready to re-
ceive me with open arms--a prospec,
that | did not at all find alluring
They seemed to have their hearts
set upon me "a person peculiarly
fitted to train John in the way be
should 60. Everything, | was told,
depended On his getting the right
kind of wife.
A special interview with Mr.. Gran.
ford at his particular request touch
ed me considerably.
Il hope said he. that you will not
refuse my boy, Miss Edna, he has
set his heart so fully upon you and
you are everything that / could de-
sire in q daughter. l want some
one to pet. l feel sadly lonely at
times and l am sure that you would
just fill the vacant niche.
i drew nv hand awav from his