The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-06-18
MY COUNTRY BEAU.

"With all my dignity, my noble husband
is credit to me, you say. Let me tell you
about it"
So said the wife of one of our most elo-
quent divines, IN answer to the remark OF a
dear friend who was spending an evening
with her at the beautiful and elegant parson-
age home. The following Is the story she
told:
/ was born and brought up in a flourishing
city of the West, and although it was but
few hours ride to the shady groves and
sunny farms of the country, had grown
to the threshold of womanhood ere
I visited a farmhouse. It was on
the occasion of my Uncle Johns first
trading visit to the city, new railroad
having diverted the grain market from Its
old course, that my first VISIT was deter
mined upon. He lived go miles from the
city, right out in the woods" as he assured
us; and you may believe it was grand
adventure to me.
The very first week reception was given
in my honor by neighborlng farmer, my
uncles now commodIous country residence
being then in an unfinished condition. 1t
was country dance" and some OF the
country customs into which l was initiated
that night were truly astonishing to me.
About II o'clock, at the time when those
living near made their adleux, those liy-
ing at distance being invited, with my
sell, TO remain al nlSut, L OuSclNcQ tuot
most of the young ladies became very weary,
and dropped off, one by one, into remote
corners; when the tallow candles, as they
burned out were left unreplenlshed, till at
last only the light from the capacious fire.
place showed me that each lassie In the cor
ner had been reinforced by laddie who
seemed Just to her mind, judging by the
close proximity which they had assumed to-
ward each other. Just then Cousin Will
who was only a cousin by courtesy, my aunt
being his stepmother-came to me and asked
If he could 'sit up" with me that evening.
Not knowing exactly what he meant, con-
scented, and we took our seats just in front OF
the fast expiring fire.
Cousin Will began by assuring me OF the
great pleasure 1t afforded him to know per-
sonally one of whom he had heard so much;
our conversation, in common with that of
the other couples, being carried on In an
undertone, to prevent confusion, probably.
After a while the flame on the hearth gave
the last flicker and expired; and just then
felt Willis arm pass quietly around my
waist.
"Oh, hoI" thought I, "this is part OF the
programme had not anticipated; but will
see if can not give a little light upon the
subject, and find out If the custom is gen.
eral." SO, without repulsing bIm, gave a
sly poke at the FORE stick with the toe of my
slipper, and brilliant fame shot up; at the
same time I felt Willis arm suddenly re-
moved, and noticed a suspicious autter
among other couples within the radius of
the illumination.
1 then complained of being cold-of course
I was chilly, or I should not have been SO
soIicitous about the fre-and declared my
intention of retiring, which had the effect, l
being the belle of the evening, OF breaking
the party up at least two hours sooner than
usual, have no doubt. Ali that winding
up spark as they called 1t, was quite a
novelty to me; but / soon saw through 1t,
my dear-sOoner, perhaps, than was In
tended, by the light of tibet blazing chunk.
This was not the last of Cousin Will, by
any means, for his fine bay horse became
quite frequent visitor. at my uncle's sta
Bile. He was a splendid fellow cousin
Will mean, not the horse) or, as old
Professor Specimen, OF our natural science
class would have said, "a most perfect
ANIMAL as far as form ard features
were concerned. But alas! the intellect, the
best part of our order of the animal king
dom, was utterly unframed. In other
words, Cousin Will was an unmitigated
greenhorn. But you probably know by ex-
perience, my dear, how hard it is for most
young ladIes-I do not mean the old young
ladies-to get along without the admiration
of the other sex. Well, 1 am afraid I en-
-couraged Cousin Will to somewhat higher
aspirations than was just prepared to an
swer; for he was far superior to any other
young man whom I met at my an.
cle's and the result was just as you have
foreseen, perhaps; if 1 did not fall in love
with him, he made up for all deficiencies on
my part by falling desperately in love with
me.
It was the night before my departure fol-
home, and when Will called, as usual, my
uucle's family, as if by common consent
found other occupations for their time, and
thus left US in solitary possession of the
sbest roora.''
81 am sorry you are going away" he be
gan; 81 don't see how shall ever get along
without you, Sadie.'
My uncle's folks called me Sarah, but ]
had taught Will to use the less plain dimin
utive.
''Oh, guess that will be easily managed, =
replied, in as light q tone as could sum-
mon. for 1 scented q proposal, and 1 really
liked Will too well to mortify him by q re
fussl. And what q figure he would GU
among my city friends, TO be sure, with hi.
uncouth manners and decidedly provincial
yernacular.
But although Will was what Hon. Fit.
Fandoodle would have denominsted de
cidedly, aw, out Of style you know" yet b,
had q spirit brave and strong enough to facs
any fate, and conquer it. too. generally. 81
all my maneuvres, which would have thrown
q city gallant entirely hors du combat only
precipitated matters in this case, for ha
looked me gravely in the face an6
said. ,s as he nsv.r took n,..u1 my y hand
any greater familiarity SINCE the lesson CAV,
him 1t the party-"I will not allow you K
put me off with trifing, Sadie; love you
and although know you have known It al
along, do not choose to let you leave tn.
ueiR1borhood without hearing 1t in words
In plain kings English, if you please, tina
can not be misunderstood, even If 1t IL pretty
we'll hsggled in pronunciation
On, how angry wasI To think he haf
not only completely fooled me in my ct