The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-10-19

"'"e'' nuiu tue young lady,
mockingly.
''liow dreadful"
However there would be an entire
~ new theme for tea-table gossip
That would be at least one advantage
OF the new matrimonial method Mr..
and Mrs. So-and. Sos lease will shortly
expire wonder il they intend To re-
new? Neither Of them has said word
yet How are they behaving?
Evidently there were elements Of
strongmindedness in Miss Mulgrovc's
character. But she posse beauty
and grace OF behavior to neutralize
these. She passed as an "odd girl"
among her female friends-none Of
them ever said worse than this. With
men she was distinctly popular. Her
personal charms no doubt partly ac-
counted for the fact; still it was, !
think, chiefly due 10 her ready com
pre- hension Of the masculine tempera-
ment As her own brother said-he
was a naval officer and Walton's in
innate friend Marina makes fun
enough OF MS poor wretches; but at
the same time we are not such blind
puzzle To her AS 10 most girls. She
seems To understand by instinct " hat
mans notions are like, and to ac-
com modate herself To them in what
she says"
1t must not be supposed. however,
that Miss Mugrovc was i'm the habit
OF conversing with all her male ac-
quaintances with just as much free
dom as she did with Richard Walton.
Him she had known for many years.
He and the brother referred to began
their naval career together. When on
shore, they, as lads were in the habit
OF spending part of their holidays to-
gether, And although now both Of
them lieutenants, and serving on diff
ferent ships, il was an understood
thing that friendship with their re-
spcctivc friends should be maintained.
On the present occasion Lieut.. Wal
ton visit had been somewhat longer
than usual. for, unfortunately. he had
been invalided home from the Gold
coast
But his months stay at the parson-
age Marina's father was rector of a
small parish in remote part OF Essex
near the Laidon hills his months
holiday was just coming to an end.
In another three days he would have
to report himself To the admiralty.
And yet am afraid he nad only re-
covered from one maiady to become
the victim of another. Gold coast
fever had been succeeded by the fever
OF love Readers who are skilled in
the diagnosis Of the complaint will al
ready have discovered in his talk
about love and marriage Indications
Of his true state. n state Of mild de-
lirium, when the tongue is charged
with bitterness for that and for those
commonly held most dear.
Another confirinatory symptom. as
1t seems TO me. was that the young
ma still chung to the theme which his
companion had so oddly started; for
after another interval Of silence he re-
marked. rather sobcrly:
II cannot help thinking after all the
lifelong arrangement is the best one.
The true difficulty lies in finding u
satisfactory method of courtship."
"Can you suggest any rules and regu-
lations?' inquired Marina. still in
that calm and slightly sarcastic tone
which gave no clcw TO her real senti-
mrnts.
mo. sailors arc provcrbially unslSill-
full in navigating the ocean of love"
..Nery prettily said. Mr.. Walton
You certainly must be the ships poet
when AT sea-
The young officer blushcd He had
occasionally vcnturcd into verse. and
was wondering whether that wrctched
br other Of hers had ever played the
false friend by revealing the fact.
Possibly Miss Mulgrove observed his
con fusion. and sought to make atone
me mt for causing it by being merciful
to his ignorance about courtship, for
she said. with gracious smile:
II will tell you what seems to me
absolutely the best method OF making
love. on one condition"
-What is the condition."
.Why. that both Of us-as soon as l
have enlightened you--keep absolute
~ silent until Tommy's boat is fin-
ishcd. You promised to have il ready
for him by eleven, and il is now q
quarter past ten"
agreed Your condition - harsn
but practical" said Walton. applying
himself with fresh energy to his task
OF rigging mainmast for the said yes
sci.
well. got my ideal of love-making
through Mrs Simpson"
.Nho is Mrs. " .
Flush. you are not to speak. re-
me mber Mrs. Simpson is the grocer's
wife down in the village; she used to
be our nurse years ago before dear
ma NINA died. and she and ! have al
ways been great friends. One day in
a frolicsome mood inquired IL Mr..
Simpson was very, very nervous when
he asked her to marry him-he Is a
Dire adfully timid man, may say. She
laughed and said:
.'l don't think he ever did ask me
to marry him, Miss Marina 1t isn't
our way. lie used to tease me and |
used to tease him for long time
when he came to the parsonage for
orders. Then one morning he said.
quite serious like: "Will you walk ont
with me, miss?"-it was Polly" at
other times l said | didn't mind; SO