The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-02-25
Love ", in a, a steel Trap.
NJ 'THE cOtOs,lt.

] to the blind god dihimself d ] show you in
The sequel o. This brief story. a.-' '.sa 9
"But viii you 60 tonight" s'1 80 /, ],
e ayes. l will." soss5T.,r yisgy - a.
\ "And iE / hays old Bob behind the barn
a twelve, you'll be waiting insids, and we'll
drive to New York and be married right
strsight OF the rsel!',, ,Iglb,ag liza sl,s.s5
"Yes, when all the folks arelin bed and
asleep. I'ii steal out Of the wash house door,
60 to the barn. get in. and Disguise myself.
When you come. put in your finger, liz the
latch, open the barn door, end I'll drop into
your srms ) like ! ripe apple. oh III do
love 10 run away. Won't II be 90 delight.
ful!'s 'tRa 9.' s. 49, 80 y',1 .'<
Tho speakers were Joe Cleavers and
Mary Miller. Inssd not mention thdt they
were lovers. Msry's father wssa prosper
Ous farmer in connecticut, and Mary herself
one Of the widest, most light.headed. 70.
mantle. innocent and sffectienats creatures
ever made after the almost divine model Of
mother Eve. Joe ives a generous, impul.
sive youth, whose parents had once seen
lettering days, but had Of late been unfor,
tunate, sud had fallen into comparative
poverty. f@ ~T ss "%ga 3"'.I~@
Farmer Miller, as he grew rich, grew am
bitious. Mary was his only child. He
looked to her settlement in the world as a
means OF his own social advance, and had
already settled, in his minds eye, suitable
match for her. OF course. Joe's attentions,
therefore, did not meet bis approval; and
while he was unwilling 10 be thought sordid
enough TO rejec, Joe openly for his lack Of
meuns, he had suggested to the young adven.
turer the propriety Of obsenting himself al.
together from Mary's attractive presence. =
This done. he had assured Mary Of his resO-
luton to dispose Of her hand according to
his own notions Of feminine happiness.
] need not say that these facts, operating
upon the mind Of thoughtless, loving. &c.
centric and spirited child like Mary, had a
peculiar effect. That very MOMENT she de-
termined to marry Joe Cleavsrs. He was
evidently prosecuted +! Persecution only
made him dearer to her. She liked him be.
fore, but now she loved him. In fact, the
more she thought Of it, the more she was
convinced that he was an angel, and that
perfect idolatry on her part would only be
an act Of noble devotion. -.
Iffarmer Miller had been a sensible man
and at oil disposed to study human na'ure,
he would have adopted perhaps a very differ
.ent course towards his wayward daughter
He would have Introduced his proposed SON.
in. law aud forbidden her, at the same time,
to indulge in The slightest regard for him
The probability is that she would huve fall.
en- desperately in love with him at first sight,
and given Joe his congo without further cer-
emony; but Farmer Miller had way OF his
own in all things, and ne was Satisfied that
should Mary feel disposed to play him trick.
he was quite able to manage Roland for
her Oliver. ~
The very next morning after he had in
this manner "opened his mind,"".as he call
ed it, to his daughter. he luckily happened to
see Joe Cleayers make his furtive entrance
into the kitchen where Mary wss busily at
her work, but not singing as usual, for she
was brooding over the parental cruelty. az
Fafmer Miller did not permit msny min.
.utes to elapse before he had placed hiniself
in the wssh house, which adjoined tho kitsh-
en-, 90 that he might hear ell that passed be-
tween the discom6tted lovers. He did hear
the dialogue with ! commenced this hislori-
ette. He possessed himself Of the plan Of
the contemplated slopement, and he was
satisfied. ...,.-...
"She 10 going to run away. is shes" he
said to himself. "I'll teach him i lesson, ]
warrant me; aad as for the little gipsy, I'll
settle her business very speedily"
After tee .hat evening, Mary retired to hel
little room, her heart beating with anxiety
for the approach of midnight Her surprise
may be imagined when On hour sftsrward'
she found herselfa prisoner +! She tried the
handle OF the lock. II would not move
What vas to be done! Could It have beer
fastened by accident! She called for hel
father end he came. rt g4 ~
| "What's the matter, MSry?" was his ex
clamation, without, however, opening th'
chamber door. s5 1, a. s.,..5 s5
"My door 10 fast and Iesnnot get out =
/ "Very well, dear,' wss the reply "go Il
bed like good girl, and I'll open il In 'h
I morning" ~.
She knew il was not Of the slightest us
to remonstrats. He must BY some mean
have discevsfedihef design. She could d
nothing but weep and bite her lips IN yea
ation. Il y, ~ t5,,,,-tl.S III.
The next thing the farmer did was I
lyisit the barn. AS usual II had7aslarg
! wagon door, in which was cut for ccmtno
J uss. smaller entrance. The latter "
j secured by tho ordinary latch inside, whic
Was lifted 10 the customary avay, By gthfusiin
I 6nesf through . smsll hole made 10 Ii
door. hsnssth tba latch. for that purpose.
~ FsrmsF Miller remained il the barn Ion
Y snough4to arfsngs matters 20 suit bic pr
Z vstef purpose. snd den esrning edt throua
I lthe stable ihSf aajoiAea, 81 fatket Lay part
"a n..k n ~ Rs.s R,s,.sse ft W " u, :.