The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1856-08-14

but the sun had not yet disappeared be-
hind the hills when we entered the shady
yard that surrounded the widow Deane's
cottage. The sitting room door was open
and the dear old lady was sleeping in her
armchair, with the sunlight streaming
over her rosy face, and her head resting
heavily on one shoulder. We could not
help wondering how she had ever contri-
we'd to crowd her short, corpulent figure
into the narrow limits of that chair but
a mosquito had long been buzzing about
her face, and at last the unmerciful little
insect aroused her, so that she gave him
a hearty slap with her plump fingers, and
opening her eyes caught glimpse of our
laughing faces.
"Ah! girls, you're amusing yourselves
at my expense" she said, tying her cap
strings and adjusting her spectacles.
Kate apologized for our unceremonious
entrance.
''Miss Anna" said the good lady, with
pardonable vanity, for she had once been
rustic benuty. 'my figure was once as
slight and elegant as Kate's, and I think
she will be as stout as any old lady in
the village by the time she is sixty years
DID,"
How can you be SO cruel, Mrs.
Deane ?" said Kate, +" am sure hope
; | shall never survive it. 1t is too shock
ing to think of for a moment"
g entertained the same opinion when
| was girl, and you see the result, !"
said Mrs. Deane. 's believed then, as
doubtless you do now, in broken hearts,
undying attachments, falling in love at
first sight, and all such sentimental non
sense. My first lover was handsome,
good fellow, but his principles
were somewhat loose, and there was so
little energy in his character that my pa
rents would not consent to our marriage.
Dick proposed an elopement, protested
he should die if persisted in my cruel
determination, and said I would relent
when he should be lying in his cold grave;
and l, silly little goose that I was. believ-
ed every word be said The day after
, this interview, | was standing at the win
dow in melancholy mood, with Helen
Morny at my side, when who should I
see passing the house but Dick. He cast
one wild, desperate glance at me, and
then I saw him rushing toward the river,
his long hair floating ON the wind, and
his coat-skirts streaming behind him
oh he will be killed. he is going to
throw himself into the water I shrek
ed and fell back fainting.''
Here the old lady paused, evidently
agitated by some deep emotion, though
of what nature we could not determine
in the uncertain twilight.
Well" asked Kate. after moment s
, silence, "was he drowned 90
"Oh no. replied Mrs. Deane. and
we now saw she was laughing heartily
| He was only in pursuit of his hat, which
t high wind had just lifted from his head
and carried in that direction. The very
next week he was married to my rival,
Jenny White and my faith in the con-
staucy of lovers was decidedly dampen.
ed
We sat long in the pleasant twilight,
listening to the stories Mrs. Deane related
5 We led her at last to speak of her only
son, wild boy, who had left her many
. years before, and gone off to sea. She
2 once cherished hopes that he would re
turn, but she told us now with falterine
S voice and eyes misty with tears, that the
e vessel in which he sailed had been wreck
ed on the coast, and that all the crew
had ptrished except two sailors who es-
' capped to tell the fearful tale. We were
S sad and silent now, for Willie Dean had
! been a playmate of ours. But Mrs
!. Deane was lively, cheerful woman, and
] soon wiping away the traces of her emo
4 ton, she recovered her usual animation
: and hustled out of the room to procure
S lights. as il was becoming quite dark
a While sat watching the fire-flies flash
: ing about in the darkness, the vine leaves
j were put cautiously aside, and the shad
] low of face, for moment, darkened the
e window. Nor was [ dreaming, for turn
q ng toward Kate, [ saw her glance riveted
e in the same direction. The face disap
S peared, and almost Immediately Mrs
e Deane entered, bearing two flaming tai
t low candles in brightly polished bras:
r candlesticks. simultaneously there was
: a rap at the door, and opening it, Mrs
Deane admitted stranger
e A large cloak shrouded his person.
d The face was SO shaded by an odd Hook
d ing hat slouched over it, that little wa
1t visible except the wild-looking black eye.
o and fierce moustache but the cheek
+ were white and livid as those of corpse
b A stiff bow was his only salutation, ant
d seating himself, he expressed wish t.
see Mr.. Deane.
d I felt the blood run chill to my heart
S for good uncle Jerry had long slept il
tbo ,orroxu houca occ;raoJ Ill H. t.