The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1848-01-21

eause you are laggard at W0OIng, Kate
must be sacrificed to a noodle"
mot to be married." said /, with Wig.
orous puff.
Something very like it, or there's no
meaning in white ribbons-and to.mor-
row night too. But what are you blush.
ing at, mani That's new trick you've
learned. POUNDS. but you are in love
with her. Why didn't you tell her so!
A girlthat would marry Bill Jones at
iortnight's notice. would Jump like
trout at comely fellow like you, Was
your modesty your baue, or didn't the old
gentleman take to you, or did you shoot
her chickens? Come confess
But confess | would not. Much as |
needed counsel, ] knew that Frank was
to be trusted with nothing less secret than
an advertisement. He urged me to go
to Plymouth with him in the morning,
and, willing to give up anything that |
might be left alone, | consented
Little pleasure was there in my lonely
thoughts. l tried to find comfort in re
fiecting how unworthy Kate must be Of
my love, if she so soon should take an
other TO her heart. But it was all in
vain; that sweet face would still come
back before me, laden with love, as of
oId;those large eyes, with unshed tears,
as at our cruel paliing, haunted my mem
ory; and then | thought how strangely an.
ger moves proud woman-how willing,
ly she gives up all hopes Of happiness,
rather than seem to yield to one who has
Slighted her love. | could not but sus-
pect that it was for my sorrow, not for her
own JOY, that Kate had sought these ne W
bonds.
PerpIexed and bewildered, | hasten
ed into the street. Led by instinct rath-
erthan reason. my steps turned to the
stage Office. The evening coach was
about starting, and my old acquaintance
Ben was on the box. With no purpose
but 10 be near her loved, | jumped up
beside him. He saw that was in trou6-
lie, and, with the tact of true kindness,
said not word. For an hour we rode
III silence. At length Ben's patience be
gan to totter on its throne, and he turned
to me with polite inquiry, Lost your
grandmother Squire" The cold win
ter AIR, and the sensation of motion some.
what aroused me, and tried to talk as
usual. Ben doubtless suspected the cause
of my trouble, and, in moment, he re.
marked:
We've got the chap inside, that's goin'
to hev the Colonel's darter-likely look
in feller he is tew."
He had led up to my trumps. A law.
yer could'not more cunningly have caught
the train of witness thoughts. The
confidence | had refused to my best
friend, | gave, without reserve, to one
whom had seen but once in my life
In few words | told him my whole
story.
"Well, that's bad, said Ben, 'tu devil
ish bad. The feller isn't much, arter all
If you'd a stuck to the road, you'd a
come out first, but you're distanced now
any way. What dye mean to du? I'm
too heavy for capsize. I'lltry to leave
the chap on the road if that'll accomo
date"
DO it Ben,' said /, vainly endeavorine
to grasp his immense fist, and I'll make
your fortune
wall, | must do my duty; but, if Jones
does git out, my stage won't be KEEP
waiting all day, for him, that's saItiu.'
The possibility of anticipating my ri
val, made me as delirious with hope, a:
before had been stupid with despair
A thousand wild plans rushed to my
thoughts, and each seemed certain o
success. A thousand moving phrases
of love and repentance seemed writer
in light before my eyes. Butthey fec
as suddenly as they came, whenlrefectet
how little promise there was, that Kate
angered. sighted, and apparently f"rgot
ten, would take me back to her heart
would abandon her new love for my an
CRY jealousy. | had just enough reason
within my control, to enable me to sus
pect that ! was making fool of myself.
But even in my dependency, coult
not resist being amused at the pertinacit,
with which Ben drove up to every tavern
within miles of his route, and by his 'fv,
minutes here gentlemen and now ant
then best o. liquor,' tried to bribe MI
Jones 10 rest his foot on solid earth. Bu
Mr. Jones was not to be moved. H,
was fixture. An old traveller woult
sometimes put out his head to suggest tha
we werein new road I'VE always e.
around here Wednesdays checked the
remonstrance. Little impression as thes,
endeavors made on Mr.. Jones' Ben, wa
at last, overcome by them Every do
scent added to our load at least one gas
of brandy, not much affected by the few
drops of water, which "for the looks o
the thing as he said, he scornfully dash
ed att. The frequency of his libation
would have been statistic to the Wash
ingtonians, if Washingtonians there hat
been in those days. He afterwards in
formed me that he meant to get drunk
and leave me to do as | pleased with ih,
stage, as he knew that his "bosses,
would sooner pardon that than an appa
rently intentional neglect Of duty.
t somewhat suspect that Ben, was, at a
times. easy of conviction, as to the proprie
; ty of taking another glass; but, if it real
was his purpose TO get eminently fuddled
seldom have human plans met with sue
I,,n,lnrt rnnnnrr Co. q rt,,,n /. .,I cnuo.