M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1856-07-31

requested NE 10 give ner nVe minutes Ot my
time, about two o'clock P. NJ, at the house
OF female friend, where was to mvsteri-
ously inquire for Miss Brown"
"Ah! that certainly begins 10 look like an
adventure"
81 pulled out my watch. twas already
hall.past one. The place of appointment
was in part Of the city with which was
not at all familiar 1t was cottage.house,
with garden in front, near the Eighth-ave-
nue., and not far from Thirteenth-street.
"Love in a cottage! How romantiCl'
stopping Foudeenh-street stage, got
in, and just as the clock struck 2 found myself
walking up and down before the building that
suspected 10 be the object Of my search
The next thing, saw piece Of pink ribbon
dropped, as if by accident, from the parlor
window. recognized the signal, and bodily
proceeded 10 asend the steps and apply my
self to the door bell"
"The pink-ribbon was good. None but q
woman of the world would have thought of
such an eXpedient."
1.-The door was opened by pale, thin,
blight.eyed, rather genteel looking young
woman, plainly but neatly dressed. To my
inquiry for Miss Brown, she responded by
an invitation TO walk in. did, of course
and seated myself upon the sofa, while my
fair interlocutor disappeared through rear
door. i had waited long enough to notice
that the room was furnished with remarkable
economy when Antoinette herself interrupted
my thoughts by her entrance"
"But how she had altered | certainly
should never have recognized her in the street.
She had grown stout and coarse. She had
lost all the spiriluslie air that once made me
one Of her most devoted admirers. Still, it
was reOlly Antoinette; ard, in spite of heI
imper(ectons, | wOs glad to see her. She
seemed equally well pleased to meet me and
an hour was spent in talking of old times
old loves, old scenes snd old adventures be-
fore we became calm enough TO enter upon
the actual business Of our tete-a-tete.
Harry" said she, pressing my hand, '"do
you still love me little bit?'
We'll" ropliel, with laugh for had
no wish to deceive her, "in reason, as Bene
dict says-in reason. That is, condilionally
speaking, Imight, could, would or should, If
you had no husband. He might entertain
serious objection"
20 pshaw! l have no husband now.
have run away from him regularly eloped-
and all for your sake!"
"Ahem! III thought you expected me to
believe such nonsense" replied, 81 should
I put on my hot instanter and go before you
uttered another such complimentary opin-
ion of my intelligence"
"Pooh pooh!' replied Antoinette. "Of
course am jesting, in part. haze eloped,
however, from lyrant of husbands and
what is more, have sent for you to aid me
in expeditipg the elopement of another un.
happy woman from another tyrant Of hus.
| band."
"Ah, indeed. And where is the other
unfortunate fair? Is It she who admitted me
at The door?"
That's the lady. must introduce you.-
Mrs. Wilsonl Mrs, Wilson, All, here she
comes. Isn't she pretty? And how wicked
in her brute of husband to treat her so un-
kindly7 Mrs. Wilson, my dear, good friend
Harry Somers. Mr. Hairy, my dear, sweet
unhappy friend, Mrs. Wilson-the best oil
women and the most wretched Of wives"
81 need hardly say" continued Harry
"that after listening to all that both ladie
had to say, prudently made up my mind t
extricate myself gently from the scheme the!
were concocting. | did not know Mr.. Will
son. had no wish to steal his wife. Anto
inette could no. love, and had no business Il
love. did not wish to steal her. In fact,
was resolved to'have nothing to do with tn
conspiracy; and while they were hurred
planning the means OF escape at my expense
arranging the hour, the signals.and the route
| was revolving in my mind some excuse tC
absent myself for an hour, with full deter
mination TO forget to find my way back
That would have been very ungallant."
"Yes; but very discreet Luckily, Mrs
Wilson looked up at the clock and screamed
Her husband usually returned at p. NJ, ant
it only wanted minute of the time! Herr
was confusion The ladies were in anguish
was delighted. The sound of boot upor
the doorsteps completed the picture. An
toinette hurried me out Of the back door
while Mrs. Wilson hastened to admit her hus
band at the front. was told to punctually
return at P. Nj, and if lamp was placed
in front Of a second story window, to boldly
come inf not, to wait until that token o
perGec: security became visible, and by al
means to come in coach and be prepared t,
travel as far as Boston,"
81 felt, when / reached the street. as il
load had been taken off my heart, and
reached home with just such sensations as
man might possibly have who had escapes
the gallows."
"Buty you returned at nine o'clock, 0
course"
"Nota bit Of it. About nine, though
while was dressing to go to private party
a ring at the door startled me with vagu
suspicion of approaching peril. Twas not
little relieved to find that it was only M
washer-woman. had changed my clothe
entirely for the occasion, and those hat
worn through the day lay upon the bed; so
simply pointed them out to her, and fearin
somebody might come in whom should no
care to see, darted off,"
"And you went to the party7"
"Yes, but the sudden illness of the lady a
whose house it was to be given, had compel
ed its postponement So went to the the
ater. About eleven, l dropped into the Tay
lor's to pick bird and try glass of sherry
At twelve returned home to bed. In fac,
forgot all about the women. | shoul
hardly haye remembered them next day, 70
my miDdwas occupied with the annoying fac
that some rascal, the night before, had en-
tered my room and carried away the complet
suit Of clothes, had taken off. suspecte
the washer-woman at first, and sent for he,
But she persisted that she had not called fo
my clothes yet at all, and denied point blan