Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-04-01

opposite neighbor around the neck. In hel
bewilderment, she did not Immediately re
lease her hold but, uttered succession O
piercing shrieks, which first alarmed, and
finally convulsed with lauhgter all the pas
sengers.
Fortunately for us, we were near tht
end Of our journey. My opposite neigh
Dor and her companion got out at a neat two
story brick house, about half mile from
the hotel at which I myself stopped.
After passing the night comfortably n
the Coventry Arms, I inquired of the land
lord, in the morning, if he could inform
me where Miss Ethelinda Blackstone re
sided.
"In brick house, about half mile from
here" was the reply.
"a two story brick house, with lilat
bushes on either side of the gate!" in
quired.
'That is the place."
at once jumped to the joyful conclu
sion that my pretty stage companion wa:
the lady to whose hand I could urge SC
strong claim.
1 dressed myself carefully, and about ter
o'clock, armed with letter of introduction
from the Presiden. of the Gift Enterprise
walked over to the brick house.
NY modest knock called to the dool
my pretty stage companion. A blush Of
recognition showed that l was not forgot
ten.
Stammering out something about the
beauty of the morning, delivered my
letter. and accepted an invitation to take
a seat in the parlor. My inamorata left
me to resd the letter in private.
Meanwhile, 1 began to feel the embar-
rassment of my position. Nevertheless l
determined now that l had taken the first
step, not TO faint or falter, with such prize
in view. On the walls of the little parlor
were various neat and tasteful drawings,
attesting the skill of my late companion.
While was busily occupied in examin-
ing these, the door opened, and admitted
the spinster. 1 knew her instantly, by
her long nose and yellowish hair.
"Mr. Bugbee9" she said.
1 bowed.
"T am Miss Ethelinda Black tone, to
whom your letter was addressed"
l was petrifed. 1t was the aunt, then,
and not the niece whose virgin hand l had
won. In my dismay and perplexity l with
difficulty calculated that l was glad to make
her acquaintance.
Il feel, Mr.. Bugbee," said the spinster,
casting down her eyes in modest confusion,
"that-that this meeting is on both sides
an embarrassing one. AS We may both
desire to become better acquainted, may l
ask your company to tea this evening? Our
hour is six"
Hastily accepting the invitation, I seized
my hat, and in very unhappy frame of
mind returned to the hotel.
"If it only had been the young lady," l
thought, 81 should have been delighted,
but ] never can make up my mind to wed
this spinster. A hundred thousand dol
lars would not tempt me?"
L took tea at the house of Miss Ethelin-
da. The young lady, Miss Carrie Black
stone, who proved as expected to be the
niece Of the elder lady, was very demure
and l could now and then detect mischiev-
Gus glance from her black eyes as they
rested in turn on her aunt and myself
She said little, but left the burden of the
conversation to us. AS might be supposed
it was precise, formal, and heavy.
After tea we walked out. | was forced
to offer my arm to the spinster-while
Miss Carrie very demurely :ripped behind.
allow long will this farce be kept up?"
thought !, signing. II am very much
afraid Miss Ethelinda will throw the bur-
den of rejection upon me. She appears to
have taken fancy to me already. Just
my luckr'
/ groaned in spirit, but had to preserve
an outward appearance of cheerfulness.
So it went on for fortnight. Miss.
Ethelinda evidently looked upon me with
favor, while she became more and more dis
tasteful to me, more especially as was al
ready deep in love with her niece. Hither-
to l had no opportunity to speak in private
with the latter. 1t so happened that at
this time, on one of my daily calls, 1 found
the elder lady absent. Carrie assured me
that she would be in soon. Accordingly,
nothing 10th, I decided to await in her
company the return of her aunt.
Before the interview was over, so unu-
sually bewitching proved my companion, l
blundered out my love.
al thought" said she blushing, "that
it was my aunt that-that you"
1 very earnestly assured her that altho'
1 had the highest esteem for her aunt, l
loved only her-that 1 was perfectly will
ing to resign all clam to the twenty thou
sand dollars-that no amount of money,
however large, could satisfy the heart-that
love outweighed every other consideration
and much more to the same effect.
"Since you set so high value upon this
hand" said she, frankly placing it in mine,
81 yield it to you freely; the more freely
that you will not be compelled to make the
sacrifice you anticipated in claiming it. 1t
is myself and not my aunt to whom your
letter was addressed"
aBut your name is Carrie" said ], be-
wildered.,
aMy full name is Carrie Ethelinda," was
her reply, "although to distinguish me from
NV aunt, l am usually called the first"
"But was led to suppose that your
aunt"
"Will you pardon the deceptionl" said
Carrie, smiling. ~ feared that it WAS
nv money, and not myself, which would
prove the greater attraction, and I persuad-
ed my aunt to personate the heiress. Here