The Republican journal., 1881-11-03

|
tarts filled with jelly made from the wild
grape and plum fruit cake, sponge cake,
iced cake, and several other varieties, all
in great abundance, fragrant coffee, pre-
pared 10y Charley, who proved himself an
adept. Spiced oysters, pickles of various
kinds also contributed to set off the table.
Miss Minnie Ray presided, and with
| lnlmltable grace performed her part, not
Withstanding seven pair of eyes followed
her every movement. Stephen Blake
! took care to be at her side when supper
was announced, that he might have the
| privilege of escorting her to the table.
Courcy Gordon looked very sharp dag
gers, and then began to tirt with a mar
ried beauty, Mrs Roberts by name. Ned,
Charley, and Jenkins put on white aprons,
or excellent limitations of the same and
| played the part of walters, while James
| Lee cOntented himself with eSc0rting
your humble servant.
"lOu do not Dance" | observed II
hope you are not of those who consider
| such amusements wrong?"
Ear from it," was the reply; II think
dancing one of the most innocent and
healthtul recreations.'
NuSJ llltL, 10 you uOl lnln Us
"Simply because have never learned,
and my clumsy feet would make rather
an awkward appearance on the floor. |
should Warn the ladies to take care Of
their d esses My life" said he, in a
more rious tone, "has been too full of
work every moment has brought its duty
to perform, every day its difficulty to
overcome. | could not turn aside from
the rugged path before me to daily in the
sunshine Of pleasure, lest lost sight of
the grand object of life"
(Which is the pursuit of honor and
fame," said |, inquiringly.
'NOt exactly, if | understand myself
Alright; it is to be lcOrthy Of both. Let
me reach my own standard of moral and
intellectual culture, and shall be content
to live unnoticed and unknown"
'But we are commanded to let our
light shine as we'll as to improve our
talents
"Certainly; do not mean to bury my
self like hermit, only that | endeavor
to cultivate such a frame of mind, that
can be content to labor for my own good
and the good Of the world, unchcered by
its applause"
You will be sure to receive il, )" said /.
"Well, | shall he only too happy"
supper being over, Others joined us, and
the conversation becoming general, he
did not finish the sentence but the party
soon afterwards came to an end us all
parties will, and ! have been told by Il
Every reliable gentleman" that no sooner
had We all departed, than Mr.. Charles
Hale mounted a stick of wood and ad-
dressed the assembled family as follows ::
"Gentlemen, the time for action has
arrived suspense is no longer bearable
No more can we go forth to daily toll
with smiling faces, to meet again at eve
around this tireside in friendly converse
with brotherly love, while rivalry rankles
in the heart. | have noticed this even
ing cloudy brows and glances fierce as
lightning. We can proceed IN peace no
longer. Bachelors Hall will be laid in
ashes 10y the fire Of jealousy we slumber
on a magazine ready at any moment to
explode cannot seek my couch until
some method is devised to avert this
danger
"Well, what shall be done ?" said
Jenkins bringing Charley down from his
Dombastic rather suddenly.
"What have to propose is this We
will allow one week for proposals to be
made to the young lady in question; each
bachelor seeking his own opportunity,
and reporting his success or failure one
week from tonight, Are YOU allagreed p
Six ayes responded, and the self con
stituted President declared the assembly
adjourned for one week.
Each bachelor kept his own counsel,
though the hall was hardly as jolly as
usual, yet the time passed By without any
serious disturbance.
The meeting will please come to or
der said the President; 'and to set an
example of promptness and honesty,
Will just state that your worthy presid-
ing officer has been rejected. Said she
was sorry for me. but she was engaged.
] could not get my courage up till last
night. Who's the lucky fellow, was it
You, Jenkins ~
"Not |, indeed wrote out most
beautiful speech, which forgot at the
important moment Of delivery"
"And consequently failed to reach her
heart said Ned, $50 did |, though
asked her in plain English to share my
humble fortunes. presume she thought
there was but one share
''She don't care for that" said Stephen.
II offered her fCe Thousand dOHarS, and
she said no. wouldn't have thought it
possible any young lady could be 50 fool
ish; she is certainly out Of her wits
"She don't see things in clear spirit
ual light" quoth Abel "however, she'll
be mine in eternity"
every poor consolation for an earth
worm-perhaps she did not want any of
u.s. it is we'll we saved bloodshed and
broken bones, and went ut the matter in
peaceable nineteenth century STYLE" re-
marked the President. "Come, Lee, you
report
''Well, asked her to marry me, and
she said'-here he paused long enough to
excite half dozen curious what's 'she
said yes'
"Egadm "Thunder" "You don't say
50" "I want to know " We're some of
the eXclamations heard from all except
Gordon, who sat in naughty silence for a
time, and then quietly said: 81 believe
you are the only one would congratu-
late"
"And | !" "And | y said several others
eve all acknowledge your superiority'
"Thank you for the compliment" said
Lee, "it is entirely undeserved."
EXclamations of wonder and surprise
were numerous when Minnie's choice was
made known. | only wondered if she
was worthy of him.
Time has proved her really his "af
tinity," and noble woman. They have
i A.. I 4 1 -
Lee no longer treads the rugged paths of
adversely - not seeking fame. Fame
came to him, and found him worthy of
her highest honors.
Minnie never regretted her choice.
She said: ole always elevated me to a
purer, better atmosphere. In his society,
| felt desire to become holier and wiser.
The performance OF duty, however dis
tasteful, became a pleasure, because it
contributed to the perfection of charac
top In Il &c, 70, 1,o