The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-07-27
The Masquerade.
A BoY's FRoLIc AND IT'S CONSEQUENCES.

acknow ledge, and one that has cost me dear
ly iD hours Of bitterness, sorrow and remorse.
| had been trsmping over the wet hills, all
day, with the pedlar, who seemed jolly,
frolicking sort OF fellow, enough, and made
the long rough way much shorter and smooth
er by his strange talk. He certainly was
sflicted with what heard our Professor of
Modern Languages term fur de bouche.-
He talked necessarily, in a rattling, discur-
siVe manner, pouring out jests, and stale an
ecdotes, mixed up with certain course SEN
timentalty, while his quick restless eye
wandered over the whole field OF vision, as
uncertain apparently, in lite range as his
tongue.
l had distrusted the fellow at first, but
grew to like him more, fancy, because his
companionship seemed to tighten the way,
than for any qualities I found in him to elic'
it my admiration. And before we finished
our journey became quite confidential with
him, not as have since seen by his own
will, at all, but BY being drawn out by bis
seemingly careless and most purposeless
questions and suggestions.
Thus l had told him why l preferred
walking this last twenty miles over the hill
in this sour wet day, TO waiting until the
next but one, when the regular stage coach
passed-why, in fact, must be at home that
night, because on the morrow my only sister
was to be married, and nothing could induce
me to be absent on such an occasion.
This was perhaps more than should have
told person OF his class, who had no right
to be informed OF the affairs Of one of mine.
But his sklllul remarks, questions, and
moody admiration of details, wrought me to
unwonted confidence. My thoughts were
full ofhome, SO it was extremely easy to talk
of it, and to see the wonder of my compan-
ion excited by what told, stimulated me to
continue, until he knew that my sister was
going with her new husband to the "Far
West"-even to California from which the
bridegroom had returned TO take his bride
That there was large sum of money ant
valuables to q considerable amount in the
house, which the newly welded pair woult
take with them. l even described the wed
ding presents which were unusually ample
and rich, and costly; and my vanity was graf
iisd when saw the look OF simple wonder
growing on the pedlar's face and heard hi;
enthu iastic though coarse exclamation o
delight.
My excuses for this ore that was II sim
pie college youth of eighteen, pl"ted and tx
cited by my approach to my home and W.
wonted festivities, and that was IL skiil,u
hands. Before reached home, | was stiff
ciently under the fellows fiu"nce to p'o
pose ch nging clothes with him, in order
strange churscter--a bit U. harmless mas
queradirg the ssgses'iun -; which seemed
70 come irrm mH. though my thoughts Lax
been led to it by serl' 8 o s'ori o simlI''
frolcs, related by the pt dlar.
He consented to my proposa with seem
ing reluctance, md we stopped in the wood
beneath some shelving rocks that protected
US from the mist like rain, and made the ex
change. We separated there, he taking tn
road to the village, and | going across TIT
fields to my mother's house.
did not take his pack, which he hid il
the crevice Of the rocks, covered by vines,
place where it was not likely to be found
Our plan wac, for me to 60 and crave lodg
ings OF my mothers house, as tired way
farer, leaving the inmates to find out my dis
guise, if they could, while he should tax
lodging at the hotel in the village, where hi
good clothes would be his best passport
though he came on foot and without lug
, gage.
AS approached my home, felt prest
> secure egainst recognition, for knew m
years absence had changed ne much.
was taller, stouter, and darker my Chee
and chin began to show their manly honors
! my voice had deepened in tone while M
:, hair was darker, and worn long, and m
:. companion had completed the metamorphe
:, sis, by fixing upon my lip long silky b!ac
=, moustache.
was confident that l should not b
known, and the result proved that l wa
- right. ... .....
was Hospitality received, and passed tn
evening, in my assumed character, by tn
q kitchen fire. saw my mother once c
twice, when she came into the kitchen
!, give orders for the morrow. | longed
n speak to her but decided to wait, unless sh
could discover me, as | believed she woul
1. once when she looked at me keenly, some
!. thing perhaps familiar in my air or gesture
te attracting her attention. l had the happ
ness OF finding that my coming was anxious
ly expected, and Of hearing many kind an
ID afFectionate illusions to myself. even sa
n. my sister and her bridegroom, as they pas
4 ed into the little room where the nice thing
70 prepared for the wedding breakfast were 81
,s out aud my sister begged my mother
have portion OF oil the delicacies saved Il
me 10 case arrived too late to partake wit
etI the quests,