River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-09-04

! profession, no expectations worth men,
tloning, and was of that peculiar, easy,
| lazy. good natured stamp that would
preclude the possibility of brilliant dis
tinctlon or great wealth accruing to him.
Then again, he thought that Phil, be-
ing good fellow and an excellent COM
panion, must be what he himself had
been at tive-and- twenty-a roue. He took
great pains, therefore, never to permit
either of his daughters to meet the young
gentleman, save at evening parties, re-
ceptiOns, etc, and would have had a
conniption fit,' If he had known that
Alice and Phil met privately, on an av-
erage, seven times, weekly.
"Demme, sir" he once said TO an an
Gent friend "my girls are not unprotected,
| am too old-my HAIR is too white-to
go out on the field myself, but my neph-
ews are plucky boys, sir, plucky boys;
and they would stand up for Alice and
Oracle, sir. as long as they could hold a
pistol!In
Mr.. Southern, after playing very soft
ly and sweetly, the Sixth Air of De Ber-
lot, was seized with desire to smoke q
cigar
In the Southern mansion, the conser-
vatory WAS the smoking-room also, and
thither the old gentleman repaired. 1t
struck him as rather singular that the
glass door between the dining-roo n and
conservatory should be locked and its
curtains drawn on the other side; so he
went around another way, through the
garden, and entered by the outside door
An ingress but little used.
| have already described the picture
that was presented by the interior of the
greenhouse. Let it suffice for the reader
to know that Phil Copely. for the first,
last, and only time in his life, fled ig-
ANONYMOUSLY from quarrel. White hairs
and pretty daughter ought to insure
any old man the respect of all us young
fry.
The next morning Phil was awakened
at 500 OF 900 o'clock-early, for him
by violent rapping at has chamber door
He babe the visitor enter, and in strobe
stalwart and comely man, with an i'm
mense black mustache, and a good deal
OF the Satanic in his eyes.
''Mr. Philip Copely2" demanded he.
"That is my name sir; and you are
Mr.. Rufus Dawes, at your service"
II am glad to see you, sir. have
heard of you often, through your cousins,
the Misses Southern, l think. Excuse
me for receiving you in this manner, but
| rise late and
'Never mind, sir. My business is
very brief. 1t concerns one Of the
young ladies you have Just named. Her
father has told me all, and has sent me
to offer YOU two alternatives, marry the
young lady Immediately, sir, or else meet
me according to the code of honor"
MARRY her. You are crazyl"
Every well, sir. You refuse, then!'
"N-o-o-ol That is just what l most
wish to do, but was afraid that her father
would not hear of It,"
"What? Have you then been perfectly
honorable in your intentlons?"
Phil colored and his eyes flashed.
II should like to see the man who in
sinuates that Alice would dream of any
thing else. Tell Mr.. Southern that will
marry his daughter this afternoon, if she
is willing"
Il suspect that my uncle has judged
you little hastily. / know he was very
gay when he was young, and / suppose
he thinks you one of the same sort.
am glad it has turned out differently
and"
''And ii you will wait till am dressed
we will have drop of something to cool
over it, eh2"'
IF you please"
Alice did not wish to be married that
| a4f
her father was persuaded TO allow them
month for preparations, when he had
discovered how he had deceived himself
but apologized fairly and squarely to Phil
in private.
"Cousin Rufus" and the bridegroom
elect became great friends, and the black
moustache captivated many hearts at the
wedding party.-Neao York Aercurg.