Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1904-12-23
Yours faithfully,

May / call upon you this evening and
receive my answer? Hoping it will be
favorable, l am,
Yours faithfully,
JAMES BARTON.
To say that Miss Lavinia was sur
erised hardly expresses the state of
mind in which she read her lovers
very business-like epistle.
He does not indulge in any senti-
mental nonsense, any way" she
thought. 81 could stand that But
how absurd! Sixty and fifty-fve I
wonder what John will say He would
think me demented to go and get mar
ried now, although women older than
| am do, it. Pshaw! 1t is all non
Bensei"
1t was not long before the aspirant's
letter was thus answered:
Dear Sir:-I shall be most happy to
see you this evening, although l can
not promise unreservedly to give the
favorable reply you express yourself
as anxious to receive. | am not I'M
willing to talk it over, however, if you
would like to do so. Yours sincerely,
LAVINIA ARNOLD.
The gentleman smiled as he finished
reading this concise response, and did
not seem discouraged.
Miss Lavinia was very particular
about her appearance that evening,
and she really looked remarkably we'll.
1t did not seem so very absurd to her,
after all. that she should have lover,
although, of course, her brother John
might think differently.
She received her visitor in a digni-
fed, gracious way that added a great
deal to the impression she had pro-
duced upon his mind and heart.
Now, Miss Arnold" he said, after
little while, please tell me what
objections you have to my suit"
mot one personally" she replied.
Then why did you write in that
way?"
'Mr. Burton, you are sixty years old
and l am ffty-five."
THAT only makes it wiser to arrange
matters as quickly as possible"
But John would think l had lost
my senses"
HE is not the one most interested
in the arrangement. Must we neces-
Sarily consult him?"
Eyes, indeed. have made his home
comfortable for many years. could
MT loQva him Won cna -
you need not do that; we can all
live together"
Every one would laugh at u.s.
LET them; we can laugh, too. Now,
you see, Miss Lavinia, you have not
advanced a single reasonable objec-
tion, therefore, 1 consider that we are
engaged from this very moment"
She looked at him for minute, and
then burst into a laugh that was very
pleasant to hear
you are the most precipitate man
I eEer saw" she declared.
"John," Miss Arnold said next morn
ing, II have something to tell YOU"
what is it?''
Il am going to be married"
WHAT"
And her brother stared at her as II
fearing she had lost her senses.
John" she demonstrated, "do not
look at me as if l were an embodied
earthquake.
That is just the way l feel. But
Of course you are only jesting?"
kEn ~ &C.
for jesting."
Eyes, indeed. But thought you had
coed sense"
"Fhalk you"
"Who is the other"
sc; am engaged to James Barton, who
wishes to be married right away"
II suppose So" was the dry TO
spouse. But what am l to do?"
lust what you are doing now. he
viii not separate us"
HE is very considerable"
John soon became reconciled to the
marriage, however, liking his new
brother-in-law exceedingly; and they
all seemed very happy. But finally
the latter surprised his wife one day
"Lavinia," he said, "supposing We
ma<ry john
1--WE never can do it in this world
DEAR" she replied. 81 really think ht
would rather encounter a mad dos
thaa a manageable woman"
'sLet us try, anyway
'sWhat do you propose to do?"
1 Co. i
She is the sweetest woman in the
wosld excepting one). Only She il
always shy-frightened if a man locked
at her twice"
Then how can we bring her ant
Jonn together?"
"a little finesse will be necessary
"a good deal, I fear. But I will
help all can"
Consequently, the unsuspecting Johl
and innocent Fanny are introduced Il
each other one summer day, to thei
mutual CONSERVATION and astonish
ment.
The two avoided each other as sys
tematically as if fearing some dread
full infection, Notwithstanding the oc
cult arts of the married pair.
Then Mr. Barton said one night:
John, must be excused from crib
bage this evening, but Cousin Fam,
is fond of playing"
mo, MOI" she exclaimed, in evi
dent trepidation; 'Mr Arnold woul
not care to play with me-
mr. Arnold would be most happy t
do so,' he declared, with a suddel
galIantry very becoming with a man
and that man bachelor, and a YER
handsome bachelor, too.
Although they continued to pla
cribbage together in the evening, tina
gentle spinster still avoided the gentle
man at other times most conscientious
ly. He saw 1t, too, and was more az
\ noyed than he would have admitted
| even to himse.s