The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1859-07-28
3 @oo0 StOrr.
THE ELOPEMENT;
OR, MY FIRST LOVE.

That I was in love was a fact that did j
not admit of a shadow of doubt. ] de- I
ported myself like a person in love; l
talked like a person in love; I looked
like a person in love, and felt like o per-
son in love. The affection that had
taken possession of my youthful heart
was no every day one; / was sure Of that.
There weren't words enough in the En-
glish language to describe the height,
depth, length and breadth Of it's gran
deur. It was destined TO be a grand
accompaniment Of the ages yet TO be: a
fixed principle throughout eternity; q
planet Of surprising beauty In the broad
heavens Of home affections My love
was returned-the strong yearnings of
my nineteen year old heart went out in
the direction of the most beautiful mai
den in all -- shire, and the most beau
tiful maiden in all shire, in return,
sent the yearnings Of her heart out to
meet mine. Twice a week as often as
the week came around, I went up to the
old brown home Of DR. Stoddard to tell
his daughter my love, and as regularly
listened to a recital of its return from
the red lips Of my charming Janet. The
good doctor made merry at our expense,
and his Jolly wife took a wicked pleas
ure in constantly reminding us of our
youth. Janet was tortured by sly re-
ferences to her play house in the shed,
her long-slceved piuafores and panta-
/ let's Of six months before; while I was
offered, while the doctors wife wore q
face of immovable sobriety. an old coat
| of the doctors for my mother to make
Into a dressing-gown for me.
We were, nevertheless, determined 10
be married. We would steal slyly away
from the house while our cruel friends
reposed in the arms of Morpheus bic
us, on "the wings of love-" to the near
est city; Janet would become in mo-
meuts time, Mrs Jason Brown, and /
| Mrs. Jason Browns husband
At once we set about making prepa-
rations for this important journey
Everything, Of course, must be conduc-
ted with the greatest secrecy At twelve
o'clock I was to leave my home steal
thily, get my fathers grey nag noise
lessly out of the barn and harness her,
and to proceed to Janet Janet was to
be waiting for me at her chamber win
dow I was to place a ladder at that
same window; she was to descend that
ladder; we were to fly down the road
through the old lane, to the spot where
the horse was fastened, and then the
wind should not outrun u.s.
There was but one difficulty in the
way Janets room was shared by her
sister Fanny, a little, mischievous, wick
ed creature of eleven summers, who to
use Janet's words, "was awake at all
hours Of the night" There was but
one way for us if Fanny was aroused;
she must be bribed into silence For
that purpose place in Janet's hand a
round, shining silver dollar. But Janet
needed assistance, 30 she concluded TO
make Fanny her eonhdant the very af-
ternoon before we started, and in chat
case prevent all possibility Of her rais-
ing the house by a sudden outcry.
Well, the long looked-for, hoped for,
and yet dreaded night arrived at last
I How slow its leaden feet carried away
the hours, and what a strange heartfull
Of emotions I bore up, as L sat by my
chamber window, looking out, as ]
thought, for the last time, upon che
home Of my father The moon was out
] in all her splendor; she was kind to me
= lighting up, with her silver touches, all
the spots my eyes might wish to resi-
, upon before I went out into the world
= wanderer. The broad fields lay out
smooth and shining before my gaze; the
= fields in which l had worked by ny
fathers side since 1 was a little boy
q ahl dear, kind father he had beenl CA
+ this junoture my throat began TO swell.
= I turned away from the window.
off L could but see my mother onct
more" / exclaimed rubbing my eye
3 with my coat sleeve ono one ever hat
T a better mother than I have"
d I sat down in a chair and sobbed out
10 right. i looked around for something
r to take with me that my mothers hanC
.e had blessed with her touch There was
y spinning-wheel in the room where
IS slept; at the end Of the spindle hung
s, Woolen roll. With my knife / half ca
D. and half tore it of, pressed it forvent
as to my lips, and then placed it tenderl
Is in my vest pocket had not time
do more; the old clock in the kitche
warned me solemnly that my appointe
ID time had arrived; and with q slow, saC
yet noiseless step left the house Ono
nJ out in the open air, my wonted ligh
TO ness of spirits returned. / console
at myself with the thought that in a fe
I'd years / should return again, strong
80 healthy, wealthy, and influential maj
IA an honor to my parents, a blessing
nc my friends, and the husband Of Jane
lo / have often wondered since, how
he succeeded in getting away from hon
ey with my horse and cart without arou
as ing any one. But as good luck wou
OF have IL, made a triumphant exit fro
the old place, and in a few moments vi
jogging fearlessly along towards Il
home Of Janet. My only dread was {
the little sprite Fan; If after all 81
should betray us, what a dreadful, dir
full, desperate mischief it would bel
what a wrotohed predioameut ahai
would be inl 4 groaned aloud at &
"a, thought; yet put q brave face upon
matter; said that If IL was right
should 60; if it WASH right, IN an pro
ability We should stay at home; y
right or not right IF chat miserable ]
tIn Not1 ia hotroy5 ma Tia er,,rH an y