Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-07-14
ONE DOLLAR PER ANNUM INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE.

| IS 10 10y Ups, dilu lueH IL III
vest pocket had not time to do more the
old clock in the kitchen warned me Solemnly
that my appointed time had arrived and with
| a slow, sad yet noiSeless step left the house
Once out in the air my wonted lightneSS of
spirits returned. | conSoled myself with the
thought that in a few years | should return
again. a strong, healthy wealthy, respected
and influential man, an honor TO my parents, q
| blessing to my friends and the husband of Janet
| | have often wondered since how succeed
ed in getting away from the house with my
! horse aud cart without arousing any one. But
as good luck would have it, | made a triumph
ant exit from the old place, and in few mo-
| ments was jogging fearlessly along towards the
/ home of Janet. My only dread was of the lit
/ tie Fan if after all, she should betray u.s.
what dreadful, desperate mischief it would
be what wretched predicament affairs
would he in groaned aloud at the thought
yet put brave face upon the matter | said
that if it was right that we should go we
should go if it wasn't right, in all probab
/ ty we should stay at home yet, right or not
right, if that miserable little Fan did betray
US, I'd spend all my days in avenging the wrong
that was certain. Was | in earnest did
| | mean it But we shall see.
/ How earnestly and anxiogsly ! gazed to-
wards the chamber window of Janet, as after
! fastening my horse by the roadside, walked
cautiously up the long lane that led up to the
/ doctors house. o, joy inexpresSible the
! waving of white handkerchief in the moon
/ light, told me that everything was right that
/ in few moments | should clasp Janet to nv
breast mine, mine for ever All, how happy
/ | was SO happy, indeed, that | stood still
/ there in the moonlight, with my two hands
/ pressed firmly to my left side, for fear my over
/ loaded heart would burst away from me entire
ly. What figure | must have cut then
/ What an Apollo | must have looked, with my
fine proportions wrapped up in my wedding
suit ! | was slender was tall | was
gaunt am sure | was ugly looking at that
moment.
What possessed me l cannot tell, but from
an old chest | had taken a blue broadcloth
swaliow-tailed coat that had belonged to my
grandfather in the time of the wars, and in
the pride Of my youth had got into it. The
tails came nearly TO my heels, while the waist
was nearly to my arm-pitS The sleeves
reached down to the tips OF nv fingers, hiding
entirely from view the uxuriant pair of white
silk gloves which had allowed myself for the
important occasion. Above this uncouth pile
of blue broadcloth was perched a hat 0 We
stars and moon that looked upon it, testify with
me that it was hat "a hat aud not a stove
pipe, hat and not bootleg That hiatt
looking back at it through the mstS OF twen-
ty-hye years, it seems to have arisen 10 the
stature of two feet full. while its brim appears
little wider than my thumb nail. Ny eyesight
isn't quite as good now as it used TO be and so
| may not see quite rightly. Make all due al
+ lowance, dear reader
| say that | must have looked ugly at that
moment. Be that as it may, thought | was
looking Splendidly thought the figure cut
was an honor to the name of Brown, and |
was proud of il proud as | staked up to ia
nets window, aud placed carefully there the
ladder that was 10 bear Der to my side. Eve
rything was silent about the house. Fate was
surely with US Fanny had been byibed into
I service As | stood there. could see her
light, little figure fit nojSelesSly TO and fro by
the window, aud how | blessed her-blesSed
her, from the very bottom of my heart, for her
kindness
At last Janet commenced descending the
ladder, and as she did so, the moon crawled in
out OF sight under a huge black cloud The We
~ heavens favored Us our success might be
looked upon as fixed Three steps more upon
the ladders rounds, aud Janet's dainty little
feet would stand upon terra frmq beside my
own. The steps were taken, and she held for
= moment foudly by the sleeves of my blue
broadcloth, before We looked up to the via
dow. both with appraised hands to catch a small
bundle Of clothing that Fanny was to throw
down TO Us, anj which we had no other means
of carrying with us
Be quiet, Fan" whispered Janet, as her
sister appeared at the window aud poised the
bundle over our heads " Be quiet, Fan, for
heavens sake, and drop it quickly"
But Fanny still stood there, swinging back
ward and forward, backward and forward, the
huge bundle, without needing Janets earnest
entreaty
Do, do throw it, Fanny dear Do have
some mercy on me What if father should
know of this What II be should be awaken
ed -"
La, give It to her Fan don't plague your
sister, she's in hurryl" called voice at that
moment from the closed blinds Of the parlor
windows, which belonged 10 none other than
Dr.. Stoddard. Give her the things, aud tell
the boys 10 carry out q bag of corn, cheese,
some wheat. and some butter to the cart. ia.
net must have q setting out ODly he still
about il, Fan"
For moment We were petrifed upon the
spot | thought | should fall to the ground
What should we do-run, faint. die, evaporate
I or 90 mad While We stood undecided, two
huge mattresses fell at our feet from the win
/ dow, followed at once Oy sheets, pillow-caseS
I quilts, tabe-clothS, and sundry other articles
necessary 10 the setting up OF g respectable
/ housekeeping establishment
/ Mother, mother, don't one of these new
/ feather beds belong 10 Janet ?" called Charlie
/ Stoddsrd, from one part of the house
Yes, yes, snd bolster, and pair of nice