The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-06-07
JOHN AND I.

:. JOHN AND |. -
"Come, john" said I cheerfully, 1T
really is time to go; if you stay any long
er I shall be afraid to come down ana
lock the door after you"
My visitor rose-a proceeding that al
ways reminded me of the genii emerg-
ing from the vessel, as he meas
ured six foot three-and stood looking
reproachfully down at me.
"You are in great hurry to get rio OF
me-" he said.
Now didn't agree with him, for ne
had made his usual call of two hours
and half; having, in country phrase
taken to "sitting up'' with me so literal
ly that was frequently at my wits end
to suppress the yawn that [ knew would
bring troop after it.
He was fine manly looking fellow,
this John Crawford, ND for his age
which was the rather 5oyish period Of
twenty-two-and every way worthy OF
being loved. But didn't love him. l
was seven years his senior; when, IN
stead of letting the worm ofconcealment
press onlhis damask cheek, he ventured
to tell his love for my mature self, re-
morseiv 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 a child, and
don't know your own mind"
"If a man of 10 doesn't know his
mind >" demonstrated my lover. II would
like to know who should. But 1 will
wait for you seven years, if you say So
fourteen-as Jacob did for Rachel"
"You forgot" I replied laughing at his
way::of mendiug matters" that woman
does not, like wine, improve with age.
But seriously, John, this is absurd; you
are a nice boy, and J. like you-but my
feeling toward you are more those OF a
mother than wife,"
The boys eyes flashed Indignantly,
and before could divine his intention
he had lifted me from the spot where 1
stood, and carried me infant fashion to
to the sofa, at the other end of the room.
II could almost find it in my heart to
shake you!' 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" said with dig
nifty, when recovered my breath.
"Will you marry me?" asked John,
somewhat threateningly.
"Not lust at present." replied.
tsThe great handsome fellow" thought
as he paced the floor restlessly, ''why
couldn't he fall IN love with some girl of
Is, instead of setting his affections on an
old maid like me? l don't want ie boy
on nv hands, and won't have him!
AS to your being 49," pursued John,
in answer to my thoughts, you say it's
down in the family Bible, and | suppose
it must be SO; but no one would believe
it; and don't care if you are 40. Yon
look like girl of is. and you are the only
w9Jf ahp s5 5ohe ct lesst five millions OF
men have said the same thing before in
| every known language. Nevertheless,
when he fairly breaks down and cries, l
| relent-for / am disgracelully soft heart
ed-and weakly promise then and there
that will either keep my own name OF
take his.
| And John looked radiant at this con
cession, for love is a very dog in
manger. It was comfort to know tina
if he could not gather the flower him
self, no one else would.
A sort of family shipwreck had watt
ed 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 determination than to take
boarders? And among the first were
Mr.. Crawford and his son and sister
! who had Just been wrecked themselves
| by the death of the wife and mother ii
| foreign land-one of those sudden, un
ors IN dazed condition, because it ls 81
difficult to imagine the gay wordli ing
who has been called hence in another
state of being.
atoms from the first. Tall, pale, will
dark hair and eyes, he reminded me o
Dante, only that he was handsomer
ami he had such general air OF know
ing everything worth knowing (withou
the least pedantry, however, that wa
quite afraid of him. He was evidently
wrapped up in John, and patient witt
his sister-which was asking quite
enough of Christian charity under thu
sun, for Mrs. Shellgrove was unmiti
gated nuisance. Such talker! babblinl
of her own and her brether's affairs will
equal indiscretion, and treating the lat
ter as though he were an incapable in
FAINT.
They stayed with us for three years
and during that time l was fairly perse'
cuted about John. Mrs. Shellgrove
wrote me letter on the subject, in
which she informed me that the whole
family were ready to receive me with
open arms-a prospect that l did not
find at all alluring. They seemed to
have their hearts set upon me as per-
son peculiarly fitted to train John in the
way he should 60. Everything, wa'
told, depended on his getting the RICH
kind of a wife.
A specialinterview with Mr.. Crawford
at his particular request, touched me con
siderably.
81 hope" said he, ''that you will no
refuse my boy, Miss Edna. He has Sc
his heart SO fully upon you, and you ar
everything that l could desire in ,
daughter. want some one to pet
feel sadly lonely at times, and I am SUR
you would fill the vacant niche"
drew my hand away from his caress
and almost felt like hating John Gran
ford. Life with him would be one o
ease and luxury; hut I decided that
had rather keep boarders.
Not long after this the Cranfords con
Guided to go to housekeeping, and Mrs
She!ligrove was IN her'glory. She Away
came to luncheon in her bonnet, ant
gave minute details of all that had beef
done and talked of about the house il
in the last twenty-four hours.
"It is really magnificent" said she
lengthening out each syllable. ''Brothc
has such perfect taste. And he is actual
ly furnishing the library, Miss Eln!
after your suggestion. You see we lool
upon you quite as one of the family"
"That is very good of you," I replied
shortly; ''but certainly have no expec
tation of ever belonging to it."
Mrs. Shellgrove laughed as though
had perpetrated an excellent joke.
"Young ladies always deny thes
things. of course; but John tells a differ
ent story"
rottlad tho cuns and soucore .>or;l,,