Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-04-30

" ~ ~ ~ 49,
A little suspicious that her brother
consider her adventure
Quixotic.
To avoid comment, she did not
inform Philip that she had
met Mr.. Bigelow. He took
frequent opportunities to call upon
her, on SONS slight preteXt or an
hut it always CHANGED To be
when her brother was absent.
IL wonder" said Philip, careless
ly, a5 he sat ny the fire n evening, |
"wIiethtr Mr. Bigelow will not DC
looking for a vile before iong?"
81 don't know" said Esther, and
in her embarrassment dropped half
a dozen stitches from the stocking
she held in her hand.
mot that / approve Of marriage
at least in my own case" said
Philip, not noticing this denIOnstra-
ton, ''but il may be different with
Mr.. Bigelow. He has no sister to
superintend his establishment. l
don't know, however, whether
there is anybody likely to suit him
in this village. Let me see-there
is Miss Preston; she might do"
mo, L don't think she would suit
him at ALL" said Esther, with a
spirit which considerably surprised
her brother. "She knows very lit
tie about housekeeping"
"Why, L thought you and Miss
Preston wer friends" said Philip,
a little puzzled.
We'll, so we are" returned
Esther in her usual tone; "but II
hardly think she would suit Mr..
Bigelow."
"Perhaps not" he rejoined, and
so the conversation ended.
From the conversation which we
have recorded above the reader will
obtain some insight into the char
acter of Miss Esther's feelings to-
ward Mr.. Bigelow. She would
hardly confess it to herself; but, as a
matter of fact, her ideas of marriage
had suffered Il material change
within a brief period.
Meanwhile the gentleman con-
tinued his visits. Oftentlmes he
would ask to see the bed of flowers,
on which Esther rather prided her
self, and sometimes he would petit
ton for seed, being very fond OF
uOW6TS DIS HC ouid1 ohN 'J
anxious to introduce them i'll his
own garden.
On II of these occasions Mr..
BigeIow, after a little visible em-
barrassment, said, hesitatipgIy:
81 would like to ask your advice,
Miss Esther, on a rather delicate
subject, and once of great importance
To myself. There is One thing L
wish to secure to make my estao-
Iishment complete; but L hardly
know in what manner to ask for
it,"
What is it you refer TOP" asked
Esther, unsuspiciously.
"A wife," was the significant re-
ply.
theirs cheeks. She did not trust
herself to speak.
NEED | say that you are the one
whom, of all others, l would seek
to place in that position ?"
He took her unresisting hanu an0
kissed it with all the gallantry OF
young lover. -,
but what will my brother say?'
inquired Esther, when she haC
found voice to speak"
What should he say?" You are
YOUR own mistress, surely"
eyes, but he is always ridicullns
the idea OF marriage, and leouldn'
venture to tell him."
mo need of it. Let's run away
to New York and get married
You know" he added gaily, w
are,both young and romantic, ant
, it would be quite in character"
f Esther at first objected, but whel
. she came to consider that in thi
! way she would be relieved of
: GREAT norton of the embarrassment
; which such a step would naturali,
bring with it, she consented, an
that day week was appointed 10
the departure. She required TIL
r time to make preparations.
r Meanwhile, if Esther had nc
r been so exclusively occupied wit
\ her own affairs, she might haV
noticed that a change had com
q over Philip. He was often absen
evenings, and when at home wa
( more silent and abstract than hi
@ wont. The former she readily a
tributed to the cause which he ha
D Overwhelmingly, a pressure {
business. The latter she did M
: observe, her mind being prr0ccl
u MED. We, who are in the secre
2 NAV take the liberty of folloWIn
him on one of his business calls. !
t was a neat cottage, from who's
front door dangled an immen'
knocker. The door was opened b
the same Miss Preston, who, son,
months before, he thought ing
: do" for Mr.. Bigelow."
: Good evening, Maria" as ne el
\ tered. After Il brief c~OnVerSatlG
about the weather, the crops, an
other standard topics, which, hoy
d ever trivial they may seem, couI
n hardly be dispensed with, he bega
TO show signs of embarrassment
d and finally calculated
e "Maria-Miss PrestOn-l me;
Maria, what ale your opinIo'
about marriage?" ,
t, "Why," said she, Il hard
d know. / don't think | have give
IS much consideration to the subject
r "Because," continued Philip, :
s. find my opinions have suffered
Great change on this point. The
n. was a time when l thought 1T u
ne wise; but now, If l could get a go
G. wife, such as you, for example
should be inclined to try it,"
ne ooh, Mr.. MasOn," said M
lie Preston, in some perturbatlC
IN chow you talk"
Five minutes afterward NJ
rd Preston had accepted the propo'
EN- of Philip, and the two were, TO
ed intents and purposes, engaged:
d, "The only thing | think OF" 81
81 the gentleman, alter a brlef pau:
nd sis that my sister Esther Is a dec.
er ed enemy TO marriage, and l hard
dare tell her l am about to mar
II, If we could only get away and ha
ms the ceremony performed it Wou
: l be pleasanter."
H. "Suppose we go to New YORK
/ suggested the bride elect.
&C. "A good idea. Well go. VIII
can you be ready?"
le- "NeXt Monday morning."
ny So next Monday morning "
OF agreed upon. 1t so happened Il
is Esther was to start on Mond
As afternoon for the same place, w
las the same purpose in view-but
as- this coincidence neither party w
lid aware.
tie The reader will please 60 forws
20 a week. BY this time the resPe