Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1881-01-11
MIscELIAREoUs.
MARRYING THIsGHoobMAspBR
ny D CLARK.

"&aP,S too provekin'!" exclaimed Joshua
- Potter, with a thuack of his 6st on the
bssakfast-tabls that made the deli rattle.
1T is SO, SO it,is,' said Aunt Rachel, du-
tifnlly Ginning in with her husband. aud
casting a reProachfal glance ut her niece.
fatienea Bethel, whess charming eyes shet
rebsiiious flashes through the tears tina.
would come in spite of her strongest efforts.
Goals don't get such chances eyory day.
l tell you" continued Mr.. Peter. ezekiel
Sswpelis is the fo%rehandsdest young farmer
in all Tabeggau, and tho gal ns turns Nm
her nose at him, don't know which side of
her breads buttered."
"That she don'i!" returned Aunt Rachel
"and to think of threwin' over such a man
fer an unbsknowu, a~dventursome school.
naster-"
"It's what I Gall too provOkiD7" repeated
Joshua Potter.
"Aad what's provokin'er STILL" Aunt
Rachel added, "there's Cyathy Goss ready
TO snap at any efcr .'Zek'el may make. aud
ten to one he'll make her one now lest fer
spite, an she'll be JEST neaa enough to saw
as how she cut Patience out"
"Im suro she's welcome to him." was all
the latter dsigned to say, as she rose and
left the room.
"She's jest like her mother" was Aunt
ANOtnlhF would do Ei9-
ter Edith but marry that lits'ry chap, Rich>
ard Bethel, as was shiflsss enough to 70
an die in a year., leavin' hcr with a baby on
her hands. Then she was silly enough to
griave herself to death, an of course thu
baby fell to us. Well, one would a thought
that ohilds early experience would "a been
q warnin' TO her, but it dees seem as IT.
what's bred in the bones tol'akly sartin to
come out in the flesh"
Leaving Uncle Joshua and Aunt Rachel
to finish their talk over family matters, Let
us go back a step and SEQ what gave rise to
il.
A few months before, a gsnteel-lsokinr
young man had applied to the Taboggan
school committee for employment as o
teacher. The COMMITTEES shook their heads
at first. Mr.. Leon Payne might be a very
proper person, but then ho was q total stran-
ger and brought no recommendation. Still,
bis terms were so moderate that it was de-
elaed to take him a quarter on trial.
There was q great deal of erunbling at
hrst. hr. PayRs gave the boys altogether
toe much play, their parsuts thought. Then
ho would often take a hand in their sport.
He-could toss a ball or handle a bat with
the best ct them, and was not above mar
blss even. Ia all of which many saw n
-weeful want of dignity. But sbsn it was
found that the boys Wero getting on faster
in their studies than they had ever dons
before, the grumbling measursbly abated,
and tie fathers of Taboggan were less sean.
dalized when they caught Mr.. Payne in a
crowd of noisy urehins, ''taw" in hand,
"knuekling down" with the rest on terms
Of complete equality.
Mr.. Payne was a strikingly handsome
nan. He became quite a faverite with the
Taboggan bellies, and excited the ire and
Jealousy of a hest of rural swains but for TIE
tact with which he avoided evea the an.
pesraues of rivalry. His attentions TO tie
Taboggan fair were so general in character.
that the most suspicious lover could End
nothing to complain Of in particular. Be-
sides a poor young sehosimaster is no great
"catoh," and that considerations set a good
many minds at ease.
la ono Of his Saturday ranbles, Mr..
Payne had lost his way. and stopped to ask
it of a young lady who came cantsrinr
across his path. When she refined up her
horse and turned her face to meet the cues.
tIener, the latter was 30 struck With admi.
ration thst, for a moment, he forgot to pur.
sue bis inquiries, and whsn be resumed
them, 1t was in a manner SO confused that
several minutes were consumed in Obtains.
the desired information, after which ths
two parted, exchanging bows aRd blushss.
This was the 6rst, but not the last meet,
ing of Leon Payne and Patience Bethel
The young sehoolnaster became a prett,
constant visitor at the house Of Joshua Pet.
ter, Patienee's uncIe-so constant. indeed
that both Uncle Joshua and Aunt Racbs
began to suspect him of designs not Quit,
consistent with certain plans of theirs about
their niece aud 'Zsk'elS awpells,a weII..o-d,
young tarnsr, rich in lands and goods arc
ta'ted calves, whom they had get thsi
hearts on having for a bephew>in>lsw.
For a reason the worthy uncle and aun
esnesalsd their uneasiHess. There wa
nothing in the young peoples meeting .se
talking over books to make the greund Q
direct complaint. But things came to an
other pass>when 'zsk'sl SswpelIs came, on,
day, withla smirking offer of his hand SIC
heart to Patience, and was sent away With
very lively flea. in his ear,
Then Usele Joshua and Aunt Racket laii
their headstegethsr in solemn council.
81. was quite ennat'ral," Unsle Joshui
said. chat agsl sheuld gin a man Tx.
,Zsk'el the mittea, onless there ia another
Teller in the case.
j Aunt Rachel uas.qnite of the Same mind