Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-06-01
EVENING STAR,
FREDDY DIDN'T ELOPE.

>N"i hShs' iAc WITH III the DuQ, prey
on his Gamask cheek-and faith Fred
dy's cheek was damask entu ugh at that
time. lie was roSy-cheeked little fell
low, was Freddy, some seventeen or eieh-
teen years of age; clerk in a railroad
Office at the magnificent sum of S4OO Der
annum +; and it was the size of this sal.
ary that csused Freddy's concealment OF
his love; for although he wasn't very
well skilled in the knowledge of this
wicked world, yet he had learned enough
IN his eighteen months business life :"
to know that if he should fly to the father
Of the object of his affection, and, falling
at his feet, should tell him that he loved
his daughter devotedly, distractelly and
wished 10 share bis fortune with her,
come veal, come wee, that that hard
hearted monster in human shape would
coolly enquire what was the fortune thai
he wished earnestly to share-and when
the truth came forth that all his "visi-
BILE means Of support " were the above
named enormous sum, it would be /" all
up with Freddy.
And so Freddy was miserable-miser-
able IN the office where he distractedly
made so many errors that he called down
upon him the wrath of his superiors
miserable IN his room at night, to which
ne never retired without feeling convinced
that be should pass sleepleSs night, and
where his head never touched his pillow
without his falling Instant lneously asleep,
and never waking up till morning.
lie first saw the object of his affection
at dancing.school, weere he fell in love
with her before he ever knew her: and
when he was introduced, and danced
with her but once, he dated his existence
from that dance; all before it was a
blank.
She was a /" bread and butter Miss
fresh from boarding school, where, novels
being strictly forbidden, the girls read
nothing else; and so she had become
deeply impressed with the Importance OF
having a lover, and Freddy presenting
himself in that guise, was at once &C,
copied. L don't mean that he at once
popped" but he saw her home from
dancing, school, and Singing-school, and
called very frequently.
But, though having q lover was very
pleasant and romantic, and all that. vet
being engaged was much more so, and
she wished that Freddy would propose
long before he did so; for Freddy, being
OF course unaware of this state of feeling,
was afrsiu to ask the simple but import
ant question, and SO she sang the song
|" Why don't the men propose z" at him
to no purpose. Three times he cana
prepared and nerved-three times he ief,
his cap and courage in the hall-but the
fourth time, frenzied by the attentions Of
rIVai taller than himself, by at leas!
an inch, and with symptoms of a nous.
tache, he fell On his knees in the hail.
when on the eve of departing, and was
, blest.
Freddy went home and passed, for
once, sleepless night; but when the
gray light Of morning showed itself at
The window, he fell asleep: and when
the bright sun shone in, it shone upon q
happy dreaming boy, dreaming of a
pleasant cottage covered over with hon.
eysuckie, where he and Helen lived hap
pily-where neither care nor sorrow
entered in, but where al was peace and
love.
Freddy was late that morning at the
office, for he had to order his engage
! ment-ring; and when be fitted Ii on
| that evening, it seemed as il the cup o.
his happiness was brimming over.
But every day has its night, and Fred.
dy's ght was Gark one. He must be
married somehow-he couldn't get mar.
ried without her fathers knowing it
and neither he nor she dared to tel
him-and Freddy's night was very dark
But at length = CLEAN of light sho
across the darkness. An elopement-
that was the very thing. When he pro
posed 1t that night it was received will
rapturous bursts of applause. Heller
had read Of how the Count Leonard de
Taborini had borne the lady Ans, lea de
Parodl down rope laCder seventy fee
IN height, and after cutting his way
through seventeen CT her fathers retain
ers, armed to the teeth, had rowed hel
sixteen miles in less than an hour t,
the chapel Del San Pielro, and there
married her in triumph; and although
she scarcely expected Freddy TO do such
prodigies OF valor, and had some doub
as to his ability to perform the like aqua
tic teats, yet they might be closely pur
sued, and it might get into the newspa
Pers headed Romantic Elopement; ,
and, In short, take it for all in all" i
was just the thing; and 60 it was settled
that they should elope on the next Thurs
day night at 10 p. m.
ALI Freddy wanted was friend to ex
plain his absence from the ottice-sni
why he selected Mr. jackson for tha
friend hs never could explain-unles:
Providence sent him there. Perhaps il
was because he was quieter than III,
other clerks. Perhaps it was because b.
had been kind to Freddy. and had taken
him to his room, and had taught hin
something of the noble art ofself defence
perhaps; but at any rate Freddy did gc
to him, although Mr.. Jackson laughed a
love and all that sort Of thing"