Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-05-02


Jones junior and Keturah Kiddle will
conclude to make a match on'tPn d. ri
"Wa'al, it sounded that way, from
what Jones said here the other night.
Pretty good haul for him. responded
one of a couple of caryatides who were
holding up the posts ofthe piazza. .-
MIR. Lazier pricked up his ears like a
war horse. He grasped his umbrella,
and the touch ofthat oracle of lis destiny
seemed to inspire him.
81 can tell you as much about it, 1
s'pose, as any man." he said; land |
can tell you they amt a-going to make
match ont, nor nothing like it. l cal
kerlate to marry her myself She amt
so handsome as some, but can overlook
such things. You tell young Jones
there's many slip 'twixt the cup and
the lip; =" and the prospective bride
groom walked away with lightning in
his eye and the Goldfish under his arm.
As soon as he caught sight of Miss
Riddles cottage his pace slaekened
Its too late to back down now," he
soliloquized; "I've let the cat out of the
bag. If she want So Wa'al, she'll
appreciate what it is to get a we'll
favored man more than if she was one of
the handsome kind herself. 1t would be
drefful disappointment to her if |
should fail her at this pint" and Mr..
Lazier walked up to the door feeling like
the good Samaritan, and entirely uncon-
scious of the incongruity of the Goldfish.
Miss Keturah was at that moment
putting on her shawl to go to class-meet-
ing. and met her suitor on the threshold.
Miss Kiddle," he began, impress
sively, "I've come to"-he had nearly
said, "tell you some good news"-"I've
come to see you on business. I'm man
of few words, so | come to the pint at
once. Iwon't detain you long g"-speak-
ing very fast, lest his mind should
change. "I've heard such good reports
of you that, thinking of it over, I've
come to the conclusion that l couldn't
find woman better calkerlated to suit
me than you"
Miss Keturah looked as if meteoric
stone had fallen at her feet. "Why,
Mr.. Lazier," she said, "this is really
very unexpected. /" ..-. J.. -,
"Oh, of course it's natural you should
be frustrated at first. l oughter have
broken it to you more gradual; but you
needn't try to put it into words. No
matter if you don't know what to say,
we've got an understanding now, and
that's enough" interrupted the lover.
ooh, as 10 knowing what to say, |
know just as well tonight rs | ever
shall, and I'm obliged to you for your
consideration, Mr.. Lazier, but | really
must decline your proposals." and Miss
Kiddle pinned her shawl more closely
| around her, as if no more remained to
be said. ..
"Now you know you don't mean it, y
demonstrated her admirer. 81 know
women; they always say no when they
mean yes"
"But l mean no." said the cruel Ke-
turah. -
"You don't know your mind" per
sisted Mr. L.
Eyes, do," said Miss Kiddle, firmly
land I know it won't change about this
lITatteF. L am in earnest ,-.@ if3-4.stl
"Oh, now don't! You can't mean it
You don't know what you're a-doing,'
cried the rejected suitor, in consterna
ton. Don't say no. I'd sot my minC
on you from the first. You are just
the one tor me. You're just light il
every way. | can't never find you
equal" cried Mr.. Lazier, his blessings
Frightening as they seemed about tC
take their flight. He tried to wipe hi!
eyes on the Goldfish, under the delusior
that it was the Prodigal Son.
" | am sorry to cause you any unhap
piness; but | have several reasons, any
one of which consider sufficient saiC
Miss Kiddle.
"What be theyP" entreated the bache
lor, with vague suspicion of Jones
floating through his mind.
The hard hearted keturah hesitated
81 would rather not give them." she sale
at last. t..... ... ..
| 81 insist on hearing one of 'em, y per
sisted Hezekiah, thinking. "She cam
have any objection to me-" .. .... ..
"Well, suppose youwill consider tht
one | am going to give as one which nj
sensible person would be influenced by
and will call it a woman's reason, bu
the fact is, Mr.. Lazier, you are really toe
homely. am not at all handsome my
self, and I consider that one plain looking
person in a family is enough. Good
night" .v a.r
Mr.. Lazier is still bachelor, and tc
this day breads to go to the store, where
he is liable to be reminded that there's
many slip 'twixt the cup and the hp;'
but Keturah Kiddle has lately married {
well-to-do mill owner, and lives in s
manufacturing town, where she evolves
mission classes, sewing schools and tenn,
perance clubs to her hearts content, anC
| am told that her husband is not only an
excellent "provider,' but q remarkably
fine looking man. n.-Harper's Bagar.