The bee. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1882-1884, 1883-07-07
JOHN AND I.

Come, John," said |, cheerfully, sit
really is time to go; if you stay any
longer 1 shall be afraid to come down
and lock the door after you"
My visitor rose-a proceeding that
always reminded me of the genii emerg-
Ing from the copper vessel, as he
measured six foot three-and stood
looking reproachfully down at me.
"You are in great hurry to get rid
of me-" he said.
Now didn't agree with him, for he
had made his usual call of two hours
and half; having, in country phrase,
taken to sitting up" with me so liter
ally that 1 was frequently at my wits
end to suppress the yawn that l knew
would bring a troop after it.
He was fine, manly looking fellow,
this John Crawford, old for his age
which was the rather boyish period of
twenty-two-and every way worthy of
being loved. But l didn't love him.
l was seven years his senior; when in
stead of letting the worm of conceal
ment prey on his damask cheek, he
ventured to tell his love for my mature
self, remorselessly seized an English
prayer book, and pointed sternly to
the clause, "a man may not marry his
grandmother" That was three years
ago, and l added encouragingly:
Beside, John, you are Il child, and
don't know your own mind
eff man of nineteen doesn't know
his own mind" demonstrated my lover
81 would like to know who should.
But l will wait for you seven years, if
you say so-fourteen-as Jacob did for
Rachel"
"You forget" laughing at his way
of mending matters, ''that woman
does not improve with age But
seriously, John, this is absurd; You are
nice boy, and 1 like you-but my
feelings toward you are more those of
mother than a wife"
The boys eyes flashed Indignantly,
and before l could divine his intention
he had lifted me from the spot where
L stood, and carried me infant fashion
to the sofa, at the other end of the
room.
Il could almost find it in my heart
to shake your he muttered, as he set
me down with emphasis.
This was rather like the courtship OF
William of Normandy, and matters
promised to be quite exciting.
Don't do that again." l said with
dignity, when 1 recovered my breath.
"Will you marry me?" asked John,
somewhat threateningly,
''Not just at present." l replied.
'The great, handsome fellow /
thought, as he paced the floor restless
ly, "why couldn't he fall in love with
some girl of fifteen, instead of setting
his affections on an old maid like me?
don't want the boy on my hands, and
won't have him.
CAS- to your being twenty-six," pur-
sued John, in answer to my thoughts
You say it's down in the family Bible,
and l suppose it must be so; but no
one would believe it; and l don't care
If you are forty. You look like a girl
of sixteen, and you are the only woman
l shall ever love-"
o John, Johnl at least five millions
of men have said the same thing before
in every known language. Neverthe-
less, when he fairly breaks down and
cries, l relent--for 1 am disgracefully
soft-heartea-and weakly promise then
and there that l will either keep nv
own name or take his.
And John looked radiant at this con-
cession, for love is very dog in the
manger. 1t was a comfort to know
that if he could not gather the flower
himself, no one else would.
A sort of family shipwreck had
waited John to my threshold. Our
own household was sadly broken up.
and found myself, comparatively
young in years, with half invalid
father, large house, and very little
money. What more natural determi-
nation than to take boarders? And
among the first were Mr.. Crawford and
MS son and sister, who had just been
wrecked themselves by the death of