The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-09-14
Story of My Oourtship.

complexion, plump and compact. She
was always In good humor, and we soon
became the very best of friends-nay,
more-for who could help being affec-
tionate toward herp Everybody loved
her. When the boatmen called her "a
sweetllttle craft, they expressed though
vulgarly, the sentiment Of my own
heart. was In love with Jemlma, and
Jemima-well, Jemlma was not indlf
ferent to me. had not nerve to ask
her, In so many words, would she ac-
cept my hand and name. spollt
quire Of paper In the effort to utter my
thoughts In letter; 80 at last, on her
birthday, the 10Th of May, / ventured
to present her with an elegant bound
book, and on little slip of paper inside
1 wrote: t
" DEAR JEMINIA-By the acceptance of
this trifilng gift let me know you accept
the giver
ALFRED BARNsTAPLE DOUGHTY"
/ fiattered myself 1t was rather
plucky thing to do, and 1t answered ad-
mirably.
Next time l saw her she was all of
glow, and when we were alone together,
and / was standing rather near her, and
said; "You received my humble offer
ing" she burst into flood of tears, put
her arms round my neck, and spoilt my
shirt front.
Then when she recovered little lido
YOU believe in Niobe ? l don't) she
said
Have you asked pa :"
OF course responded / had not.
"Then do at once,' she said; " for,
goodness gracious me, If he was to find
us out in anything sly, and trying to
keep 1t from him, it would be awful !"
1t is much worse than asking the girl,
especially such peppery old party as
Captain marlborough however 1
screwed myself up, and when Jemima
was down about the place, playing on
our piano, and 1 knew he would be
making his evening toilet by putting on
pilot coat ventured to look in upon
him. After few words on ordinary
topics, such as how were we both, how
the weather, hemmed and began,
{" Captain, am ambitious"
fright boy-climb as high as you
cam"
"Don't encourage me too much Cap
tain; Pm ambitious in your direction"
Boy, you're not going to sea, are
you ?"
" No, Captain; I-I--I-I aspire to
the honor of being your son-in-law
The Captain looked me full in the face
then said:
Have you money 7"
OF course hadn't and he told me to
go and get it before venturing to aspire
| to the hand of Jemima.
"But, my dear Captain" / ven-
tured to expostulate.
sect off my doorstep!"
LET me speak for moment to Jemi-
ma"
sect off my doorstep !"
He accompanied this last instruction
by thrust which sent me staggering in
to the street.
My affair with Jemima was at an end.
The Captain would not listen to reason
that is, he would not listen to me. ALI
the letters 1 wrote to Jemima were sent
back to me. I grew weary, packed up
and packed off with letter Of introduc-
ton to firm in China. Well, the for
tune was not so easy to make, but at the
expiration of twenty years 1 began to
think 1t sufficiently large to warrant my
return to the girl left behind me-" 1
had heard very little from home. Faith
er and mother were still alive, but the
Captain was dead. They had carried
him through the cornfields one sum-
mer's day to the little churchyard, and
there they buried him.
Jemima, understood lived in the old
house and was still single. So-full OF
emotion, all the tenderness for the dear
girl had left behind me rapidly reviv-
ing-off went, carpet bag and every
thing, just as 1 was, to have the old
vows renewed and sealed in the usual
manner.
A maiden with freckled face, much
sunburnt, opened the door. Gould see
Miss Marlborough : The maiden did
not reply, but leaving me where was
retired to the remote back settlement
There heard the following dialogue:
Missus -
"Well, what is itp"
Somebody wants you"
"Who is itp"
A fat old man with bag,'