Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-02-11

wait till the alternative v as really pres
ented. In the mean tin was partic-
ularly observant of tie pretty faces
whom the placard-An Alarming Sac
ri6ce-drew to our, store. 1 amused
myself by picking out particular young
ladies, and represen ting to myself the
possibility that some one of them might
be the lady who was to bring her inten-
ded twenty thousand dollars.
Without dwelling upon thisnI will
only say that | saw several whom /
should have been perfectly willing to
marry at 4 less hish. fgpre. 7 am awakst
that some OF my romantic young lady |
readers will shake their heads at this |
admission, and brand me. a mercenary |
fellow with heart not large enough to |
be worth having But, my dear young |
ladies, you must remember that, as at
that time Ithad no particular interest in |
anyo young lady, Icwas more likely to
be influenced by the destinations of the
sex generally, and venture to say that
if 1 had happened to meet any of you be
foreI become acquainted with the pres
ent Mrs. Bugbee, Cbe it known am L
married at lasD there is no knowing
what might happen. 1 can imagine
Mrs. Bugbee shaking in her shoes at the
mere .supposition.
To proceed with my story The month
slipped slowly away, as all periods of
suspense do. l should scarcely dare to
say how many mistakes the preoccupied
state of my mind led me to make, such
as returning to customer seventy five
cents more in change than was due her,
on which OCCASION my employer, the
senior Mr.. Harberdasher, severely re-
marked that when made such mistakes
should take care to let them be on the
otherside-that while giving back too
much change was highly rcprehensibic,
giving back too little would be venial
offence which he would readily forgive.
The. month at length drew to a close,
and I, in an excited frame of mind,
walked down to Messrs. Shave & Cos
Office in State Street The office was al
ready full of anxious ticket holders,
who were alternately elated or depressed
by their success or want of it. 1 was
particularly amused by scene which
transpired just before my own turn
came. The applicant before me was a
tall lady of thirty nine or thereabouts,
Exceedingly spare, and very prim in her
ways. Though she did not recognize
me, l remember perfectly having
been introduced to her on one occasion
as Miss Charity Billings. She was the
very picture of prim, methodical old
maid, and professed to have very low
opinion of all mankind, possibly because
they had proved so blind to her varied
attractions. confess l was surprised
to see Miss Charity in such place, as.
had supposed that the pomp and vani-
ties of this world, including of course
filthy lucre, were as nothing in her sight.
However appearances are deceitful.
''Gour Number, ma'am p inquired
the clerk ....-. -.... ...... .-.-.
"5673." Primly pronounced Miss
Charity.
The clerk consulted his list When
he looked up, his face violently strug-
g!ed to retain his gravity ,s =
"You have drawn, ma'am,' said he,
''an elegant rosewood cradle J. ~
Miss Charity's face turned all colors,
and her embarrassment was considerably y
increased by suppressed laugh, which h
her quick ears did not fail to catch.
"Where shall send it e. inquired
the clerk. ..!r !.r..a s...-.-.-..
Miss Charity looked undecided; but
fortunately person with speculation
in his eye, stepped up and offered to
take it off her hands at a reasonable
: rate. Miss Billings at once recovered
her composure and prepared herself ioi
making the most of her prize, which she
, eventually sold to the man 5 -"...l
"No. II ,579 F' repeated L, taking my
} place. p sat.- -s.s + aF ~ F.a
! The clerk, after brief examination
seized my hand with warmth.
'sSir, l congratulate you'll" he ex.
! claimed. "You are the fortunate win
e ner of our first prize ....
I l went home on my head or heels
j am not quite sure which-not, however
until l had ascertained that the name ot
the young lady whose hand 1 had wor
was Ethelinda Blackstone, and that she
lived in Coventry, town in western
New York.
When sober second thought came tc
1 my assistance, l could not help regret
t ting the conditions on which l was t.
become the enviable possessor of twent,
|, thousand dollars. l reflected, with
sinking heart that the lady might be a
c ugly as aGorgon, in which case, sh
n would, of course, insist on my perform
e ing my part of the contract,
S 1 at once petitioned Messrs. Harber
e dasher & Co., for months vacation
merely alleging that important busines
" called me away. L could not he'll
e blushing, when 1 profered the request
/ which lead to meaning looks being ex
Il changed by the other clerks. None Q
l. them however, were in my secret.
One pleasant morning in October,
1T found myself at Oswego, purchasing
D, ticket by stage to Coventry, which, as
d was told, was distant some twenty milo
: from that fourishing city. The stag
1t went farther, but Coventry was one {
y the places on the route. Opposite me
d in the stage sat young rosy cheek e
l. maiden of very attractive appearance
e She was somewhat demure, withal an
y only cast stolen glances at me, which
,e nrafanded not tn sea whila 7 in turr