Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-06-17
Counting an Innocent.

In d very pretty little town in one Of
the Western States, lives a very respect
able middle aged gentleman. He and his
wife are strict members Of the Presbyte
rian Church, and they have endeayored
to bring up the family in all that limo
cence, piety and ignorance Of the worlds
~follies, to which strict members Of that
church attain so much Importance. lu
this they have admirably succeeded, for
there certainly can nowhere be found a
more united, well bred and interesting
party.
The eldest daughter having arrived at
a connubial age. had many visiting ac-
quaintances, but none as yet who has as
| pired to her hand, when a young gentle
man from one OF the eastern cities, passed
through the little town in question. He
bore letters of Introduction to our ives.
tern friend from an old and esteemed
acquaintance, and was thus at once ad-
mitted into the family circle. There he
met with the daughter, and his enraptur-
ed senses at nee fell captive to her quiet
beauty.
He had proposed remaining but one day
in town, yet before he had returned to his
hotel that evening, his resolution was ta-
ken. The day heightened into a week,
and the week into a month. Daily had
he adorned himself with every ornament
! that fashion had devised to captivate wes-
tern innocence ; daily had he visited, and
revealing in the sunshine Of her smiles,
felt with what happiness he could trans
port his eastern home. Often and often
had the poor fellow thrown out hints, suf.
fcient, he thought, to betoken the state
Of his feelings, but somehow she would
not take him.
They had often spoken of love, but she
seemed to regard it in a scriptural point
of view. Be kindly a~ffectionate one to
another with brothsrly love. She appear
ed to have never heard OF any other
phase of the passion.
AT length the suspense became intoler
able, and he determined to know his fate.
Dressed to kill, he was early before her
fathers residence, and on ringing the bell
was as usual Immediately conducted to
the drawing room, where he fortunately
found the young lady alone. Now was
his time, he thought so placing himself
beside her on the Sofa. he commenced a
series of telegraphic glances, SO well un-
derstood by proicients in the art. These
however, would not do, and he felt him
elf bound to express more forcibly what
he had to say.
Miss --," be commenced. am
unfortunate. | have long felt the want
OF a friend-not q friend in the usual cold
acceptation Of the word, but one on whom
| could rely, in whom l could conide, to
whom l could pour out my whole heart,
and receive in return, sympathy-and
love. Could you not provide me with
such as l dssire?"
The unsophis!icated damssl raised her
head, looked ON him with a face of SYM
~pathizing innocence, and replied:
Apply to the Savior lean upon him !;
look to him for support and rest assured
that he never will desert you"
The cavalier who at the commencement
of her reply, had resource to his pocket
handkerchief to sti1e a paroxysm of most
irreverent laughter, Gained his feelings
by the time she had finished, took a has,
ty leave, and the next morning put him.
self and baggage on the car, fully salts
fe1 e11ssD Ohu most Improbable way of
passing Inns is In cnnrtinr an inn~ocent.o