The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1848-05-05
THE HUMBLE LOVER.
By WILLIAM coMsrocK.

By WILLIAM coMsTocK.
! Several years since, young Sorihernel
was walking down Broadway with his bride
As The throng was great, and this couple
were engaged in pleasing conversation, they
did not immediately preceive tina, they were
followed by young man, who took every
occasion 10 approach The lady and touch bel
with his elbow.
AT length, however, they were surprzed
by the tones of a siiang, voice near them.
Let that woman ilone-she is married
woman know her well. Dropher at once
You ought to be ashamed to play your pranks
with married woman
Both turned and saw the intruder, who
had, by this time, placed himself at the lady.
side, and offering her his arm, continued
Let 60 ofhim, good woman, and come
with me. Ill take you home to your family
Surprised and irrialed, the young husband
was on the point Of Tel ling The oificious med
dler to the earth, with blow OF The fist,
when il occurred TO him that the lad must
be either an idiot or a Bedlamiie; and, up
on closer survey Of his countenance, he
was convinced that the offender was irres.
ponsible for his actions. The same high
sense of honor that had once induced the
Souiherner 10 risk his life in single combat
with the asperser of his repuia alton, now check
ed his anger aud unnerved his arm. He
scorned TO offer violence TO a man whose
mind had los, tho guidance of reasou. lie
commanded the youth TO desisi, but he was
not attended 10.
The young man persisted in following the
couple, offering the lady his arm, and bid
ding her husband release her and give her in
TO his custody. This singular scene began
o attract The notice oil others.
Men and women stopped TO gaze, and, as
he Souihener lifted his eyes, he saw a
chimney -sweePer grinning from ear to ear,
while surveying the group below from his
lofty perch, in The top OF chimney, on the
opposite side Of the street. The situation
Of The gentleman was peculiar. He was on
'he point Of releasing The lady, aud permit
ing her TO enter store, while he should
Zeal alone with the intruder, when another
individual joined the group. This was a
middle aged man, in The dress Of an ordina-
ry mechanic, who laid his hand on the shout
der OF the youth, and siernly dade him 60
home.
The unfortunate obeyed, but not until he
had repeated his demand that the married
woman should be released.
The stranger, who proved TO be the faith
er Of The offender, then approached the
Souiherner, and politely thanked him for his
moderation, apoIogizing on behalf Of the
youth, wi h more grace and in better language
than cou'd have been expected from a man
~ green jacket. The Soulherner became
interested in The conversation of the other
md, when he reached his hotel, he invited
MIN to hts room, where the following hisio-
~ ofihe unfortunate youth was given by the
/ father:
My unhappy boy does moi always behave
in So rude manner. In order TO alleviate
his distress of mind, he occasionally swal.
lows glass oiIiquor. 1t requires but a
-mill quantity to upset his reason, aud then
ne is a prey ofvan imaginaIions. When free
from the influence Of arden, spirits, he is per.
tec,ly sane, aud behaves discreeily. have
,lready hinled that he is suffering from dis
appointed love.
Several years ago procured hun siua.
lion in a merchant house in This city. He
vas an under clerk, and gave great sstisfac.
lion TO his employer, who boarded him in
his own family. II was generally believed
that he would become an excellen. accoun-
Iani and salesman. The merchant had sew
eral daughters. The youngest was near the
age of my son, and was very beautiful. She
was jus, ripening into wumanhood, and her
graces made an impression upon the heart
Of the lad, which can never be effected. Bul
I am little before my story, for ! should
have told you that Edward---ior that is my
sons name-was always remarkable for his
candor aud sincerity. He knew nothing oil
ART or disguise, and, even in his early child
hood, be never had recourse TO assimilation
10 hide o fault. Ii seemed impossible for
him 70 swerve from The truth on any occasion.
It was this peculiar disposition which led him
10 take every thing for gospel that was told
him, as he had no conception Of fraud or de-
Iceipi. was pleased with the simplicity Of
character which SO strongly marked my son,
land forbade any one TO jest in his presence,