“Miss Mary,” again upspoke Jerry, “you must have seen long before this--but la! your bunch is eaten--have some more grapes, Miss Mary? I like them very much”--and amidst much snubbling and champing, another package of grapes was warehoused by the lovers. Jerry's fix was becoming desperate; time was flying rapidly, and he knew one subject would soon be exhausted, for he could eat but few more grapes. Oh! how he wished that fighting a panther, fist-fight, had been made one of the conventialities of society, and assumed to be declaratory of the soft passion! how quickly would his bride be wooed!--but those infernal words! he could never arrange them so as to express what he meant. “Miss Mary, you must know that I saw Dr. Tensas, to-day, he told me--have some more, Miss Mary, they won't hurt you. I have come expressly to ask you--have another bunch, let me insist. I have come, Miss Mary, to propose--another small bunch”--“Mary, I have come,” he almost shrieked, “to ask you to have--only a few more--Oh! Lord!” and he wiped the cold sweat off. Poor fellow! his pluck would not hold out. Mary, frightened at his vehemence, said nothing, but eat on mechanically, anxious to hear what it was that Jerry wished to disclose. Again he marshalled his forces: the sun was declining in the west, and the morrow would, perhaps, see the “Swamp Doctor,” with his glib tongue, breathing his vows--“Miss Mary, I--I love--grapes--no, you--grapes--will you have me--some grapes--marry me--no grapes--yes, me! Oh! Lord! it is all over! You will--bless you--I must have a kiss. You haven't consented yet--but you must!” The barrier seemed to drop, the spell was lifted off his tongue, and Jerry, in a stream of native eloquence, running the fiercer for being so long pent up, plead his cause; could it be unsuccessful? Oh! no! Mary had made up her mind long ago. Side by side, now, all their diffidence vanished; they sat under the blessed arbour, and discoursed of their past fears, and bright hopes for the future! Jerry held the head of his mistress on his leal and noble breast, and, as in a sweet and pure strain he pictured forth the quiet domestic life they were to lead when married, Mary could scarcely believe that the impudent fellow who now talked so glibly, and stole, in spite of her rebukes, kisses unnumbered, was the timid nervous swain of a few minutes before.