Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1855-03-17

consequence was that after one week, he could
occasionally be seen sneaking round the cabin
Of his adored with billed shirt peeping up
stf1y around his throat. For thus outrage
ously habiting himself, he was called to ac-
count by the boys, and as such singular con-
duet required an explanation of some kind,
Logwood was compelled to point the widow
as the cause.
Of course every encouragement was given
to him. the comforts of home, and the pleas
sures Of married life were pictured to him in
their most glowing colors by the entire mess,
and no occasion was from that time henceforth
sighted by any of them when in company with
the widow Of exalting Logwood's excellence.
Logwood was pretty well supplied with lucrc;
this the widow had asce!tained beyond doubt'
and the smiles which she had bestowed upon
him during the two or three occasions on which
they had met, made Loewood doubt, like Ri
chard, whether he had not always 'mistook his
person. But smitten he was, there was no
reason to doubt, for never had he been known
to exercise so great care in his dress as during
the month which elapsed previous to his first
attempt to pay the lady regular visit. Seve-
raj times had he attempted it, but as often had
| his courage failed him, until at last, from indi-
cations quite unmistakable, we were made con-
ident that he had determined upon the time to
carry out his resolution, which was to be the
| Sunday evening following Early Saturday
afternoon, he stopped his labors and commen-
ced preparing himself for it by washing and
drying one of the white shirts with which the
presence Of the lady on the bar had induced
him to provide himself, and putting the remain
der of his wardrobe in repair, and the next
morning saw him arrayed in the very choicest
suit that it had probably ever been his lot to
appear in. He walked round quite abstractedly
during the day, apparently unnamed at the
thought of the trial to which he was about
subjectng himself
The boys winked at each other, but said no.
thing. Evening came, and at length eight o.
clock, and Logwood was still in his cabin; but
in fifteen minutes after, the necessary courage
was summoned, and he sauntered slowly to-
wards the cabin of the widow. How matters
would have terminated l am unable to say, had
not accident stepped to the aid of the bashful
lover. As he was passing the door for the
tenth time, the father of the lady in question,
an old man of about 60, happened to discover
him, and invited him in. He at first refused,
but subsequently agreed to step in for a mos
ment,' and the next minute he was in the pre-
sence of his charmer. The cabin was divided
into two apartments, one of which was occu-
pied as a sleeping room or rooms, and the other
answered for the purpose of a dining and sitting
room. He found the lady and her mother at
home, and. with the aid Of their presence, Log
wood managed to make himself quite easy for
the time being. In the course of an hour the
old lady retired to bed in the adjoining room,
and in few minutes after, without giving him
moments reflection the old man bid Logwood
good night and followed suit It was then that
the horrors of his situation began forcing them
selves upon the mind Of the timed lover, as he
saw himself alone in the presence of the widow.
He would have snatched his hat and departed.
but kind of fascination fixed him to his seat,
and there the poor fellow sat, until the sweat
started from every pore of his huge body. The
lady was very agreeable, felt very much at home
and, sympathsing with her timid admirer, did
everything in her power to relieve his embar-
rassment. He attempted to converse with his
companion; but he scarcely knew what he said,
or how to act. The widow pitied him, and
finding that there was no hope of his moving
in proximity nearer her than ten feet, took oc-
cason, while applying little more fuel to the
fire, to lessen that uncomfortable distance by
taking seat within three feet of him. This
was indeed trying to the courage of unfortu-
nate Logwood, and the combined warmth of
blazing fire, from the heat of which he had not
the courage to move, and the excitement of his
situation otherwise, caused drops of prespira.
tion to gather upon his forehead and course
down his face. He pulled his handkerchief
from his pocket and commenced mopping the
sweat from his eyes; but the mustard with
which it had been well busted by the boys was
not calculated to give much relief to his wa
terry optics by the application, and two of the
rogues who were watching the operation with
in through displaced chinking, saw that all
things worked as desired.
OF course, the more his eyes became affect
ed by the mustard, the more they were rubbed,
the more he forced into them. Their could be
but one result; he became as blind as bat; tho
pain was perfecly maddening. He snached his
hat from the bench beside him and relying sole
y on chance in making it, made a rush for the
1oor But he was sadly in error regarding its
point of compass from the spot where he was
standing, for instead Of jumping out of doors
le jnmped into the arms of the Widow, who,
1nable to account fo- his strange conduct, had
sen to her feet and was standing in front of
he bench upon which she had been sitting.
Widow, Logwood, and bench were all piled
lpon the floor together. The lady screamed
Ind Logwood made another plunge for the
loor, which he succeeded in reaching and get.
ing through in some way, just as the old man
made his appearance. But his troubles were
rot ended; the boys had placed barrel in front
If the door, and over it he rolled just in time
o receive bucket of cold water in his face
md eyes, completely drenching him. Now
enabled to see little better, he raised to his
eet, perfecly boiling with wrath, and the first
,bject which met his imperfect vision was the
I'D man who was completely bewildered.-
Logwood, without knowing or caring who
,e was, but believing him in some way connec-
ed with the trick played upon him, knocked
lin sprawling, and started for the river to bathe
lis eyes. -....l 1@ .s ..
In about an hour Logwood returned home,