The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1851-09-01
" TAIL cREyroK.

10 ulo tuuStuto ~ AsAtos wv - ~ 49, 1911
er than he was expected. 1t was late in the
evening, and, having entered by means oi
his nieht-key, and finding nobody stirring,
he walked leasurely up to bis room,
This was the apartment Mr.. Derby had al
WAYS occupied at Mrs. Covey's house bnt
ON this occasion it seemed 10 him very little
like home. Before leaving town he had
carefully put away all his CLOTHES in his
trunks, and during bis Absence other revo-
hfior1s had been made in the room, which
gave it an air Of strangeness that chilled his
heart.
Not the least disagreeable thing in the
room, was the darkness. Mr.. Derby had en-
tered without lamp, expecting TO find that
desirable article in the old place; butalter
knocking an ink -bottle,a vase, AID snuff
box offthe manile-piece, in his blind search,
he concludes that the wisest course woulo be
to stop swearing and 60 to bed in the dark.
In no very good humor, Ben. Frank Der
by began to mdress. To return home, at
ter On absence Of two weeks, and to be
Obliged to 90 TO bed in such dismal man.
ner, almost broke his heart. He might have
Fuug up the servants, it is true; and ne
might have reflected that his friends were
excusable, since they did not expect him;
but Mr.. Derby chose to be angry and silent.
And where is Margaret Maria muttered
the unhappy man. Oh, faithless daughter Of
an unIeeling landlady! didn't expect this
Of you! When Itore myself from yonr arms
two weeks ago, you protested, with tears IN
your eyes and perfdy in your heart, that
you would watch, with the anxious eyes Of
love. for my return! Oh, this looks like it !
Even now, / know you are making yourself
merry with some fresh conquest. or If you
are sleeping under this roof, you are dream
ing Of pleasures in which ! have no share
So saying, Mr.. Derby threw his trousers on
chair, and began to grope his way.in the
darkness to the head of the bed. At that
moment, merry laugh, close TO lis chamber
door, startled him. Mr.. Derby paused.
Margaret Maria's laugh by all that is false
groaned MIR. Derby. She said she would dc
nothing but sigh and weep during my ab'
sence-and hear her she laughs again =
The false-hearted !-----
Mr.. DIS reflections were suddenly inter
rupted by the sound of hand grasping hi'
door-latch. With considerable trepidation
he flew to lock the door, but before he could
reach it, merry laugh, blaze OF light, ant
two girls burst into the room.
Now Mr.. d. being nther modest person
il WIS, perhaps, lucky circumstance for him
that the closet door was ajar, the retreat con
yenient, and his limbs active. He dodgec
out Of sight before the girls had taken time
10 cast their eyes around them and soonthe
door was shut, and Mr.. DIS ear open.
What time do you suppose ii is? asket
Margaret Maria's voice. There !! the bell
are striking twelve! Oh huint we had I
gay time, Susan?
Gay enough was Susan's reply. Ha ha
but wouldn't your poor, dear, absent Derb.
be amused if he knew -
Ha! La ha Laughed Margaret Maria
NV poor, dear, absent Derby! That is to
good If he knew poor fellow, it woul
break his heart. He thinks ] do nothing bu
sigh and cry during his absence. Am sue
goose? -
Such goose Oh! groaned Derby, in
tensely, painfully interested. Oh! OH!
He ground his teeth and listened
Such goose? echoed Susan. He wouldn'
think SO, If he had seen you eating the oyste
with Dan Robbins.
l only hope, added Margaret Maria, tha
he will keep away week longer.
So that we could have his room?
No-not exactly tllat-but Dan has inri
ted me to go TO ball Thursday night, an
you know couldn't 60 if my poor. dea
absent Derby" should come back in the NEAR
time,
Derby was trembling with cold ard wratl
You mean 10 marry Derby, then? aske
Susan.
suppose / shall. cried Margaret Mari
gaily. like TO flirt with Dan, and il b
bad as many dollars as my "poor, dear, al
sent Derby,"
You would chose Dan?
To be sure would? lie aint such a fo
As
Derby. Ha! ha But what is this?
coat--a pair Of pantaloons.
Goodness gracious! How did they con
here?
Derby was trembling with excitement
burning with rage but now he felt u ne
source of uneasiness. The discovery OF b
pantaloons might lead to the discovery
himself. Had he been dressed, he wOu
have liked nothing better than to confro
the perfdious Margaret Maria but in t
present state, il was not TO be thought Of
He felt himself Dlushing all over, in spite
the cold. To his relief, however, the cir
alter making themselves sure that there "
nobody in or under the bed, did not see
disposed TO inquire into the mystery Of 4
pantaloons; but Margaret Maria exclaimed
"Ph tell you what will do. Sue.
dress myself in these clothes, and go into 1
widow SHADES room. She'll think its mi
and won't she be frightened?
frightened? No! cried Susan. Sh
had two husbands. But do it. See WI
she viii say.
"Iwill. Here's hat, too. How;ki
in somebody to leave Q u his clothes here.
Derby-poor, dear, present Derby-v
breathing very hard; his heart beat heayi
and every nerve shook. What the deu
he was TO do, If Margaret Maria went
With his pants, he could in no manner {
termine; and from the exceedingly inter-
ting conversation which was going Oh,
knew that his worst fears were to be realize
Oh, amt it fit, cried Margaret Maria.
Only turn up the trowsers five or six inch
and shall be fixed. Here, black my upI
lip with this bit Of coal. i must hayl
moustache. Don't be afraid; ! shan't ma
love to- you. Ha ha Amt la DASH
And Derbytould hear somebody kissi
somebody and somebody was laughing al