Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-01-05

The lieutenant was agitated with al
ternate fears Of losing prize of sucl
inestimable value. He cared nothing
for what she might have, but he loved
her for what she was-a woman with 1
soul. Men make an awkward show o
themselves under the all controlling in
huence of tender passion: and out o
special regard for the sex, prudence
requires that what passed in the lieuten
ants mind should be suppressed. Al
he was tip-toeing backward and forward
in the middle of a dark night before the
prison of his lovely inamorata, deplor,
ing that destiny had interposed barrier
between him and an angelic being who
was speedily to pass forever beyond bis
ken. Winnefreda, equally miserable,
repining in her dreariness, caught q
glimpse of human form.
From the circumstances that he
walked with all the caution Of sentinel
and without passing either way beyond
sight of the house, she saw as only
woman can see, under analogous cir.
cumstances that it was Steinburg. In
a tumult of exstacy she kissed her hand
from an upper window sufficiently loud
toarrest his attention. They had but a
moment to exchange VOWS, when she
heard her father approaching the apart
ment, and she whispered so that the
lieutenant heard, "search the bottom Of
the burgomaster's pocket daily, at the
Hotel de Vile"
Before the old fellow had made
ready for his regular promenade, the
signal when he was about TO move con-
sisted in changing coats. Winnefreda
had deposited, under heap of tobac-
co, frank avowal of her regard for
Steinburg, related all the particulars Of
the proposed marriage, and concluded
by calling all the gods of the heather
calender to save her from such impend-
ing wretchedness.
The enrapturod lieutenant was ex-
ceedingly perplexed about the pocket.
He could not divine the meaning of a
direction so signally epigrammatical.-
After pondering upon it until obscurity
became more obscure, it occurred to
him to call at the municipal hall, and
make inquiries concerning the burgo-
masters pocket. Fortunately, having
doffed the gold laced garments for plain
country habiliaments, he chatted with
the porter on. the steps, gained his
civilities and an invitation to inspect the
whole establishment, a privilege uni
formly accorded to strangers, by pre-
senting him fine pipe with piece Of
coin to cover the bowl.
Every object pleased him; and the
discovery that the countryman was a
man possessing an inquisitive mind, in
duced the porter to be extremely free in
explaining everything that was new tc
him. AT a proper juncture of the
ripening acquaintance, Steinburg asked
him where the burgomaster's pocket
was kept-neyer for a moment sus.
pecting that it was a real bona fde
pocket, belonging to a living man.
Laughing heartily, he told his generous
visitor that by looking into closet right
before his eyes he might see for him.
self.
Everybody laughed about Van Wez-
zels great pocket; consequently the
servants of this municipal edifce knew
as much about it as their betters.-
With a broad grin of derision, which
the porter would not dare to exhibit tc
any one but stranger or inferior, the
veritable coat was pointed out, sus'
pended from the nail that had been
thus honored from the day its proprie-
tor had been elected to the dignity ol
burgomaster.
That was sufficient for Steinburg's
purpose, to know that there was gar
ment belonging to the father of the en-
chanting Winnefreda, and further, that
it had an immense pocket. When the
official was called off in the discharge
of duties in the interior, Steinburg,
watching for convenient opportunity,
entered the closet from the area, and
thrusting hand down to the bottom,
quite smothered in tobacco, found let
ter to his own address.
Reflection afforded him topics in
abundance for the fabrication of An an
swer. 1t was plain statement of his
misery and eommisseration for the fair
writer, who had thus ingeniously con-
triEed to have her cruel, self-willed
father the bearer of dispatches to a
rival of his fayorite Sebritz Van Steig-
ler. His was deposited where he took
the other from, below the superincum-
bent weed, before Van Wezzel's hour ol
departure.
In the meanwhile, Winnefreds was
tortured with apprehensions lest there
should be some unexpected develope'
ment, and all her plans frustrated By
the discovery of the message she had
entrusted to conveyance SO =extraordi'
nary. Her impatience for her father:
return could hardly be Concealed
Regular as the ticking of clock he
entered the house, hung up his coat
and retired to an arm chair in far of
room for a smoke.
To her inefable qualification, the
post had brought a return mail. The
scheme, therefore, worked charmingly
Thus for weeks in succession they ex
changed letters with promptness tha
must have been delightful to them