The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-04-14

black eyes, and was richly though not
gaudily dressed. She passed down the
opposite aisle with a manner somewhat
naughty, cast furtive glance along the
line OF gentlemen who held papers In
their hands, and finally gave Mr.. Defoe
an uumistakable nod OF recognition.
He returned the salutatiop as if he bad
met an old friend, and Immediately Join
ed her.
"Mr. Defoe, l presume" said the pref
ty lady
1.-The same. and happy to meet you,
Misss Ballou," he replied.
"Tell me, Mr.. Defoe, what you thought
of my advertise ment" -
81 thought it very singular that a fe-
male should want man Of sense and in
dependence for busband-so | answer
ed it. What did you think of my replyl"
II thought much In the FIRST place,
that you were not handsome. and you see
| am not disappointed Also that you
did not mean what you said, which of
course i true"
"Then Why did you answer me ~
"Because thought So You Go not
suppose a sensible woman would adver-
tise for husband with an honest motive.
and | know that an honest an would not
write such letter as you did ] did not
come to compliment you, as you fud.
Il will net complain that you fattcr
me-"
Refreshments were served up, and the
conversation, though necessarily carried
on in low tone, became animated.
Pray tell me, ," said Mr.. Defoe, "tbe
precise motive you had in publishing such
an advertisement, and in meeting me
here"
Il did it for fun. It was always NY
disposition. Do you see that row of men
over there, near where you were sitting,
each with newspaper!' ~
"Yes."
swell, those deluded gentlemen all
came here at my solicitation. They all
answered my advertisement; l wrote to
them precisely as did to you. / wrote
the letter you received, and my sister
Il aae twelve copies OF it, which were des-
patched to as many gentlemen. Seven
Of them, it seems, have accepted the inyi-
tation, and are waiting for me-"
"ADd what will you dol"
"NOtbing. I did not expect to recog-
uize them. I came to enjoy the sport of
seeing them, who expected to fool me,
fooled instead; to watch the ludicrous ex-
pressions of anxiety and disappointment
They are dishonest, selti,h b, igUoraDt men,
[ am sure, or they would not have writ
ten as they did. In fact, | am sure that
an honest nan would not have written at
all. Now see them ! They look over
the top of their papers as if a sheriff was
after them"
"And you came to laugh at them 7"
Certainly. IHiS as nly naeaa9erie Of
tame animals. I took them wild; but |
fancy this discipline will dOmesticate
them"
"Wby is it that you have honored me
above all the rest, and not laugh at my
calamity in common with theirs !"
because you wrote an absurd letter.
I saw at once you did not intend to have
me believe you. But these animals sup
posed l was foolish enough to think they
meant what they said. | would not trust
soul of them with my dinner. They
thought to deceive me, perhaps get some
of my property, and at any rate get into
he society | move in"
"And how did you know | was the per-
son who wrote over the name of Defoel'
"The simplest thing in the world. You
sat there with broad grin on your face
With a look of perfect Indifference. The
paper lay beside you on the table, as l
know it would if | was FIVE minutes be-
hind time. ! ou were thiukiny you had
been sold, and that Betty Ballou had
played you a good trick The others
were anxious and uneasy. They were
m meditatiDg the schemes which brought
them here
"Y our name of course is not Ballou ~
"No more than yours is Defoe," replied
she.
"The "menagerie" was by this time in
a state Of disorder, The animals" un-
easy at the delay of the expected, called
for different articles of Diet and drink,
and one by one withdrew. Mr.. Defoe
also expressed regret ct parting, but SAID
he must go.
AZ ust our acquaintance end here =
he asked.
"Yes, un1css you sE0nW happen 10 gel
acquaautea uaA my huSband, and he
should invite you to his house, in which
case | should be happy to sec you as his
friend. He docs business in - street,
No. | should not like to have him
know of this adventure; but | uu-t have
some amusement. If you ever know him
you will not mention it,"
I bir. Dcfoe pledged his honor not to
reveal the fact to him. and bsde her adieu.
ANOTHER Gas SToRy.-At q hotel in
New York recently, an old gentleman
came down stairs and inquired of the