Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-08-26

= Mr.. Pikey resolved now that h
j, would try and set some dis tinguishin
D mark upon their faces; and so he turn
| ed his eyes scrutinizingly from one t
the other. But it was utterly impossi
5 BILE for him to tell one from the other
except that one was dressed to 90 out
and the other was dressed to stay in
; In fact, he thought himself rather Tor,
puzzled than he was before.
The affair was compromised, however
and both ladies went. And they were
still wicked enough to dress exactly
alike agafnl
But Mr.. Pikey's was a resolute heart
He determined not to be vanquisheG
yet. As long as there was life, there
was hope. So he thought proper tc
crowd on.
And thus the acquaintance kept along
always pleasant for both and all parties
For him, it was spliced and varied with
many little uncertainties attendant
on the identity of the two ladies in ques-
ton. When he was as certain as he
could be who one of the sisters was, he
collapsed in a twinkling to find, as he
almost invariably did, that he had been
making himself agreeable to the wrong
onel These little misapprehensions
kept Mr.. Pikey's curiosity in state of
perpetual excitement. They whetted
his thoughts into a remarkable sharp
ness, so that it is to be believed he new
er fairly went to sleep ON any subject,
night or day, at all.
| Matters running on thus for one
month after another, Mr.. Pikey began
to show symptoms of impatience. He
desired to get at the heart of the mys-
terry. He wished now to know whether
he was in fact to become brother-in law
to Mrs. Chester.
To that end, which will be allowed
to be a very commendable one with all
honorable suitors, he went over TO the
house one evening, and invited Miss
Shalott to go with him to the evenings
amusement. For reasons probably sat
isfactory to herself, she went. She en-
Ijoyed the entertainment much, and re-
turned home again in spirits that even
Mr. Pikey thought remarkable.
Once in the parlor, with her outer
garments laid aside, Mr.. =. began to
make himself extremely agreeable. He
spoke of the state of his feelings, Of his
hopes, of what could not fail to bring
happiness to him. as long she lived,
and so forth, and so on. Miss Shaiott
saw well enough how the breeze had set
in to blow, and therefore dcxterously
made some trifing excuse for momen
tarily leaving the room. But only for
minute or two; for in she came again,
and sat down to listen attentivcly TO the
secret confession Of her lover.
T.. l. =,
tale anew, and made a clean breast of it.
He loccd her-and he could keep it from
her not moment longer. He had
wound her name in with the thoughts
of his own, and those two names must
become one His heart was all hers,
and there, too, was his open hand.
Would she accept? Would she say NO,
and send him, soul and body, into a
state of indcscribable misery? or would
she answer YEs-no matter in how low
and gentle voice, for lie could hear it
and so warm his frosty heart with joy
forever? He hung in silent suspense
on her lips for an answer.
"Why, Mr.. Pikey," replied the lady
at his side, affecting the greatest sur
prise in the world, l think you must be
SICdl
Mrs Chester! l am not my sister!'
"Stop, stop!" he cried, in an agony
of confusion and chagrin. ''Did mt she
just 20 out of this roora?"
81 think she did, most certainly"
"And isn't this she who has just come
in again?'
80, no, my dear man. She went up
stairs a moment; meantime, 1 thought
you would feel little lonely, SO 1 came
in to help entertain you!"
Was there ever such luck? Pikey
took his hat and went homo sad and de-
ljected. He felt mortified, disappointed,
but determined 20 sleep upon the mat
ter and try again. The following day
was Sunday, and Pikey stationed him
self at the corner of the street, which
commanded view of the house where
the sisters lived. Soon after, there came
forth Mr.. and Mrs. Chester, arm in
arm, followed by Miss Shalott "Now
is my timc!'' exclaimed Pikey; and he
made a bolt for the sister who was walk
ing alone. He was right this time; he
felt strong in his assurance. lie sat by
her side at church, and walked home
with her, never for moment losing
sight of her, and all the way whispering
such tender things, that Miss Shalott's S
face was radient with bushes.
She acknowledged to little coquctry
and intrigue between herself and sister
to puzzle him; but that evening she
said ycs, and within a month, Mr.. Pikcy
and Miss Shalott were married.
aea- 81 think you must allow, mad