The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-08-16

that May Stevens, the wonderful, was
about to pass with them.
THE racking Of brain that day, to ere
ate a grand cnscDlbLc Of costume-some-
thing beyond all criticism, that should at
the first glance strike the behoIder silent
with admiration-was indeed terrible
The labor OF writing ''Paradise Lost" was
nothing to it. 1t was early in the day
when l arrived at my city rooms, and, for
six hours, I dressed and re-dressed, COM
pared, selected and re-saIected and at the
end OF that time, had laid out those por-
tions of my wearable goods in which [
had decided to make my first appearance
before May Stevens. 1t wanted still sew
eral hours to sunset, and having got safely
through the great object of my visit, |
thought 1t would not be a bad idea for me
to take the last train and return the same
night to Hyatt's, instead Of waiting over
until morning. No sooner said than done.
packed my habiliments, and away [
went Whizzing and putting over an uE-
interesting road IS provocative Of sleep
SO | found it when the shades Of evening
fell, for to the best Of my recollection, /
was in the very midst OF dream in which
May Stevens, attired in book muslin and
pale blue satin, sat on purple cloud and
admirineIy inquired who my tailor was
Just Is / was about to inform her, there
came crash, and for a moment ! was not
entirely certain whether it was the cloud
that had exploded or myself that had torn
some portions Of my apparel that was
overstrained. 1t required but moment
to awaken lne to the fact that both pre-
sumptiOnS we're wrong. 1t was our train
the 6.Z6-that had run off the track,
smashing things generally, and spilling
the contents OF several baggage ears along
the road, 10 say nothing Of frightening
half d hundred passengers into a condition
bordering on Iunacy. This was pretty
state OF things, and to make it still worse,
| was exactly eight miles from my desti-
nation, though, as it afterwards proved,
not mile from the next village, where,
as | heard it canyassed, tavern, supper
and beds could be had I was disposed TO
make myself agreeable, and, accordingly,
rendered all the assistance in my power to
unprotected females, for which l GOT my
reward on arriving at the haven Of refuge
the promised tayern-by being informed
that such q thing as bed for the night
was an impossible idea, and !, with some
twenty more Of the male gender, must be
content with chairs, while the beds were
appropriated to the gentler sex. Slightly
disgusted, 1 swallowed my supper, and
| looked out upon the night. 1t was Il
/ beautiful moonlight, and yerging on to
ten O'Clock BY Jove, l would walk over
to Hyatt's. No sooner said than done
Giving my carpet-bag into the hands Of
| the landlord, with the most emphatic
charges for Its safety and pmctual deliv-
cry at Hyatt's next morning, at any eX-
pensc I set forth. Eight miles is a trife :;
and Just as my watch marked the quarter
after midnight, | marched up the lane
| that led to the house. They were early
folks AT the farm-early to bed, and early
up. ] walked round the house trying
each door and window for an entrance,
| but each and every one was fastened. 1t
was Of no consequence my bedroom win
! dow look out upon the roof of the piazza !;
would not disturb the house by knock
ing; bit of climbing would do the busi-
ness, and should the window be fastened,
| would tap and awaken Horace, who was
my roommate and bedielow The thing
was executed as soon as thought Of, and
my hands on the window, which yielded,
and [ stood in my own loom. BY the
moonlight which streamed in | saw that
the bed was occupied, and by the heavy
| breathing ! knew that Horace was in a
deep sleep. [ would not therefore, ava
ken him, but save the story OF my mishap
for the following day With this resolu-
tion, I slipped quietly into bed, and in
! three minutes was ObliviOIS.
'NNhat ought | TO have dreamed that
night? But I will not anticipate. [ lay
facing the windows as the sun peeped up
above the distant hills, and scattered the
grey mists Of the morning. Ny bed-fellow
was breathing heavily, but it was broad
daylight. and there was no more sleep IN
me. 50 | determined that Horace should
wake up and hear my story Of the railroad
! breakdown. [ turned quickly and gave
the sleeper a sudden shake. As rapidly
rs my own motion, my bed-fellow, who had
lain with his back towards me, sprung into
| sitting position. There are such surprises
as. without a terror, absolutely deprive us
/ of the power Of speech until the brain has
! time to act and reason. Such surprises dc
not generate screams and faints. They are
! expressed by open-moUthed and silent
wonder This was the case with my bed
fellow and myself, as we sat upright and
stared Right by my side, with her face
within two feet Of my own, sat young
woman, not more than seventeen, with dark
hazel eyes, and such great masses of brown