True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-07-21
4 HUMOROUS SKETCH.
Love and Catnip.
BY EDGAR soMERs.

The dim light of the lamp illumined
the apartment for while, but at last
went out, leaving the loom in darkness,
save when an occasional flash Of light
from the half ex,inguished fire cleaned
for moment upon the obscurity.
In one corner, seated upon a sofa, were
the forms Of gentle maiden and her
sdoring lover. The youth was pleading
= his passion with all the burning eloquence
of impetdous love, and imploring his
chsrmer to name tie happy day that was
to unita them forever. But what was
his grief to find that she did aot meet his
wishes With corresponding ardOr.
"Ah, Susan," he sighed, "have ! then
deceived myself in fondIy believing that
your gentle heart reciprocated my pas
sion I"
III rather think you havs."
"What! you cannot mean that you
do not love me you will not tear from
che sky Of the future the bright sun of
hope, and leave ME to grope forever in
darkness (! Oh, Susan by the happy hours
we have passed together-by all the
bright dreams Of happiness we have ehet-
ished-by the vows you;haye sworn to
love me, I conjure you to revoke what
you have just uttered and promise to be
mine I"
But all unmoved by his appeal, she
curls her ruby lip and scornfully answers,
81 shan't do no such thing"
Merciful Heavens! do I hear Alright!
must then live on in loneliness, with all
nv hopes withered and dead like soil
tary sun.Aower stalk in the chilling win.
teri Nay, by the whole universe | swear
il shall NOT be !! Mark me, ernel one; thou
hast been the bright polar star by which
guided my whole existence. Thou
was. the rock on which | founded my
hope OF happiness and If thou wilt not
consent to be mine, swear by the bla.
zing sun, that when he rises as usual TO-
morrow morning, before breakfast, bis
rays shall shine on me, cold corpse,
beneath the angry waves of the raging
Merrimae--or perchance my bloody re.
mains will be found upon its banks {; and
If these means of death fail me, / will
swallow poison ! do you hear, and expire
for love Of thee. Then you will have
nought to remind you Of him who loved
you better than thanksgiving dinner
save the consoliug reflection that you are
bis murderess!"
But his agony, his threats. affected hel
not. She was as cold as the icicle, thai
10 midwinter hangs from the nose OF tht
town pump. Cruelly--deliberaely dit
she crush his last hope, and then with q
mocking, ipcredulous smile she said
/" You daye'snt do It,"
He sprang to his feet; despair wa
painted on his features; desperation gla
red in his eyes. With his hands claspet
in agony he turned an imploring lool
towards the mistress Of his heart and ex
claimed
Once more / implore you reflect
recall those cruel words or | 60 to fulfi
my threat r. and with his hand upon th'
latch he awaited her decision. 1t cafn'
3 like thunder bolt 10 the unhappy youth
4" You may 60, if you wish,lo grass /"
With one bound he gained the street
furiousIy he dashed along, and turning
the first corner ran against gust of wint
that was rushing the other way. Th
breeze knocked off his tle--it had cos
him V, but the week before, yet h
needed not its loss. Like whirlwint
he swept along the sidewalk, and espyinl
blue bottle ia druggists window, b
made tracks like a longitudinal stripe 0
crude and solidi6ed city milk, towards It
Opening the door with an impetuosit.
that made the clerk spring over the coun
ter and seek safety behind glass case
he fixed his eyes with the lerocity Of
bereaved maternal tigress upon the sin
and trembling attendant and hoarssl.
growled--
I" Poison! give me poison"
"Eh-ah-,Dsat" gasped the horo
stricken clerk from bis place Of refuge.
"Poison! do you hear Z" thundere
the youth furiously.
"With shaking hand the clerk file
a phial and oyerrun the liquid on his ne'
inexprsssibles, but not needing this mil
hap. he placed the significant label "po
b som" on the bottle, and standing on u
Il toe reached i. over the top Of the sho'
case 70 his dangerous customer. Clutch
ing i fercely, the doomed young ma
4 hurled a quarter al the head Of the clerl
and then hurried 10 his lodgings.
When he reached his own room th
excitement had passed, but it was SUI
ceeded by a cool deliberaiion and d
termination that was as absolutely bloc
chilling as a cold pack in December Vi
dressing, he prepared for bed, and The
seizi1g the phial Of poison he drank !
eorlents unfaleringly. Getting into be-
he aroused his chum who had slept thi
the whole Of this terrible scene, and bar
him arise and call his parents and all
send for his false lady.love 10 come ar