Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-02-19
BY MISTAKE.

Dy the venerable old gentleman, whose
voice was heard in all parts of the
house at the same time. He had run
in from the garden crying:
martin, Martin! Where is that
precious rascal, Martinp''
Martin was bustling, active servant
IN the family, remarkable for his DO
lite and agreeable manners, which
quite atoned for the ugliness of his
y.sage-not actual ugliness, but ugli-
ness occasioned by black patch over
one of his eyes and another across his
nose. The family of Mr.. Barby con-
sisted of himself and ward, a Young
lady of nineteen, to whom he had
been left guardian by an old friend and
schoolfellow.
lie did not like the idea of being set
as a watch dog over the inclinations of
young girl, butrespect for his friends
memory would not admit of his refusing
to take upon himself the charge.
Seeing the host of suitors ADDRESSING
her, and being unable to separate the
wheat from the chat, he resolved upon
discountenancing them all by express
ing his determination that Mile Wa
''She shall have no husband at all. y
he cried. Better be without a hus-
band, Mile, than to have bad one. .
The wary old man accordingly chose
for Miles maid remarkably curious
looking humpbaeked old woman, think
ing she would lie true to his interests.
But Mr.. Barby was mistaken, for
Julie was remarkably fond of money
a 80 note would throw her into a state
of delirium, during which she contin-
tinued oblivious of all that might be
going on around her.
Martin responded not to his masters
summons. But still the old gentleman
cried
The precious villain! Oh, that my
family should be thus insulted and dis
graced. ] saw him press his lips to
my wards cheek, and the sound of
that kiss still sounds in my earsr'
At this moment Martin appeared and
mildly asked:
Ibid you call. sirpi
Whereupon the old gentleman rushed
upon him, and cried:
POUNDS, you scoundrel! what do you
mean by kissing my ward?n
II, sir?" exclaimed Martin, with a
surprised and innocent look.
''Nillain!-my own eyes have not de-
ceived me. | saw you not ten minutes
ago steal behind Miss Mile and
and --n
'.Sir, sir!" exclaimed Martin, with
ing in Barby's grasp, lit is impossible. .
And thus saying, he struck his hand
10 A.. u IL.
occurred TO him he continued:
'Sir, thought strikes me which
may justify your suspicious. There is
some strange mystery in this.
ysiery! quoth the old gentleman
in an cnra.ej voice. Il think there is. I"
81 confess, SIR" said Martin. with a
tone and look of shame, .'that | did
steal into the garden just now and take
a chaste salute. but on my honor, sir,
l believed the person to be Miss Win
ters' maid, the worthy Julie, to whom
l have the honor OF paying my adj
dresses
"Villainr' repeated the old man,
stamping his foot, but Martin inter-
rupted him:
You know what bad sight have,
sir, he said zone eye entirely gone,
and the other very treacherous, as it is
now proven to be, seeing that | mis-
took the mistress for the maid, and
have thus insulted a lady and offended
a worthy gentleman, whom my incli-
nation and duty have ever prompted
me to regard with profound respect
and veneration.
Mr.. Barby was compelled to admit
that, owing to the defective sight of
Martin, it was possible that such mis-
take might have occurred, and the
..precious villain" was called care
less fellow"
Wishing perfectly to retrieve his
character, he explained to his master
that he and Julie were about to be
married-that she had obtained Miss
w nter's consent, and that he was
thinking of asking Mr.. Barby that very
morning.
The old gentleman expressed his sur
prise that a spruce little dandy like
Martin should want to unite himself
with the old hump-backed Julie; but
Martin clasped his hands, and with
rapture declared her the woman of his
choice and paragon of womankind,
and Mr.. Barby, not wishing to wound
the honest fellows feelings, contented
himself with saying:
''Well, there IS no accounting for
tastes
In the course of the day Mr.. Barby
accidently met Julie in the garden.
well, Julie" he exclaimed, 81 wish
ron iov in the new situation YOU are
going into. y
claw, sir, :" said Julie, Il amt going
into 10 new situation.
"Why, yes, you are; you are going
to get married.
married, SIR echoed Julie, in as
constituent II going to be married?
Law. sir, | wish | was
whats the use, old woman of your
standing there counterfeiting surprise?
/ know all about it. P"
sAll about it?'' squealei Julie, un-
able to comprehend hermaster's mean
inc. Gan about it, sir?"
.sYes, to be sure, about your billing
and cooling. Why, how You look, he
told me so himself. 7
HEP" cried Julie. ''Who?n
why, Martin, to be sure.
"Oh!n exclaimed Julie, and hung
| down her head after affecting to blush.
ssWhat a fool the old woman is, .
| said Barby. IF you were a young girl
| there might be some excuse for this
shyness and tomfoolery. There, get
along with YOU and be good wife. =
and so saving the old gentleman went
his way chucklng to himself at having
| discovered the little love affair between
| Martin aud Julie.
On the following morning Mr.. Barby
violently rang the bell in the breakfast
room.
The servant who attended the sum-
mons he desired would inform Julie
that he had been waiting full half an
hour for her mistress; a quarter of an
hour again elapsed and the gentleman
again rang,
''Send Julie to me-"
Julie slowly appeared.
julio. where is your mistressa"
Mistress has gone out, sir,
/ Gone out. sir, echoed Barby.
"Gone out SO early?n
'.Ycs, sir; they've been gone this
| hour and more. Z
..They. Who's they?n
Mistress and Martin, said Julie
meckly.
mistress and Martin, roared, the
old man. Fire and Furies. What. youl
| intended husband?
NV intended husband. La, sir. how
can YOU imagine anything so absurd?n
'.Why, didn't you confess
Il, ir: no. sir. You only made me