Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-04-06

inviting, shlmmerlng IN the moons soft
light, that the Colonel said:
Minnie, suppose we have row; here is
little skiff. Shall l unfasten from its
mooringP Will you ride, Minnie, while
1 paddle the light canoe"
Il guess I'd best paddle my own canoe
You'll be tipping me overheard likely as
not, if l trust to your brave arm and match
less skill she laughingly replied. You know
tits not very long since
Now Minnie That is a reflection too
severe. And so you would blame mel l
little though this. Let US hasten to the
house then, while you are yet unharmed.-
You dare not trust yourself under my pro-
tection,' said he, letting 60 the rope he was
trying to unfasten.
He steps again up the bank, as if really
piqued. Minnie thinks him offended. He
turns to go home, and for moment Min
ME is undecided what to do. She feels a
good deal hurt at this apparent ill humor
Of the Colonel, and finds her heart swelling,
and the tears filling her eyes; but her wo-
mans pride comes to the rescue, and fear
ing that Colonel Lincoln would think her
only child, or silly school girl, she has
tily brushed away the rising tear drops un-
nnoticed, she thought, by him (but he
marked it all well, the heightened color,
and the perturbed state of her feelings) and
uuconsciously assumed dignifed air. Il
am not, perhaps, altogether the tame thing
he thinks me; puppet to be pulled by a
string merely-or to bear with such ridicu-
lous anger without resentment. can EUe,
Col. Lincoln, guess, even should 1 lose
your friendship. Pshaw this is unpardon-
able And with cold hauteur she sell
dom wore, she turned and walked silently
homeward too.
They had not gone many rods ere mer-
ry voice is heard exclaiming:
Here they are! Little runaway! Why
Minnie, what do you mean? | thought
YOU were not able to sit up, scarcely !
What little trunnt you are. And who i.
with you? Col Lincoln as | live Why
Colonel, | am astonished. Here we have
been hunting and wondering this half hour
We could not believe Minnie had stolen of
alone, and knew of no one with her, ant
sion. So Frank and l started in pursuit.
All this was said breathlessly and excitedly
and Fannie concluded by telling Col. Lin
coin "she guessed he did mean to frightel
them to DEATH
No indeed, Fannie. This wasa thought
less oversight in us. We did not dream 0
coming half so far or being gone near a
long, when VIC came away. am sorry t.
give you any alarm, and will do bette
hereafter. don't wonder at your fears
\ 'Oh never mind, Colonel. There is ne
necessity of your being so very penitent.-
We were not so terribly frightened as thi
lady tries to make appear l happened t,
come to the door just as you were leaving
and, thinking it a fine evening, and that
should like a walk, too, went and founc
Fannie and asked her to accompany me-
She answered with all my heart and tax
ing her guitar, away we went to find Min
ME and the Colonel and have grand time
This is the true reason, but her woman
tongue couldn't stop, you see, till she haC
} spun out all that long yarn
} Now Frank, you scamp, you're real mean
anyway! My woman's tongue! No sir
you needn't try to make up! I'm not go
ing to overlook such sarcasm. Just g
: away Don't attempt that sir! I'll no
be cousin Fannie, nor dear Fannie, an
more
, But Frank goes coaxiugly up again, AM
says: "Fannie, dear! come now, my swee
? pretty cousin, don't be so mad! You kno,
Pm going way of, tomorrow, to be gon
so long
, And now Minnie speaks for the frs
5 time, and says very quietly, so it is scarcel
! heard:
Il wonder is hydrophobia prevaiin
around here's 1t seems 10 me there ar
frightful symptoms
The Colonel thinks it pretty sharp GU
7 but makes no remark. Frank looks Ell
quiringly at her, and asks:
: why Minnie, what's up now9 Wha
terrible hydrophobia symptoms have 20
| witnessed, eh7 You look little like any
thing of that kind, little dewdrop. II
sure your eyes were never softer or brightc
@ than now. What
= Oh no, Frank, of course 1 am not bi
t ten. l am not mad tonight
y And a smile, witchiugly lovely, smooth
n away that cold, hard look, and her face
all Minnie again. She steps up to Fanni
n and begs her to lend the guitar; the
|. touching the strings lightly, she plays
short prelude, and then sings in her clea
r bird-lke tones, sweet as an Eolian harI
I'll paddle my own canoe Ere she ha
o sang two lines, Frank stepsup beside her, an
= with his deep bass voice accompanies he
l As the last notes die away, and are echoe
;, softly back from the wildwood and over Ii
tiny lake, she steals glance at the Colon
l. to note the effect upon him, if possible
It Again she meets that large dark eye beI
l. sesrchingly upon her, as if to read her ver
soul; but she thinks that that is hencefori
a sealed book to you, Col. Lincoln, an
l. I'll tear from its sacred altar the imag
! there formed, yes, even thy name shall /
blotted from this pure shrine. Not even
friend shall you have there, longer Friend
t, no, nor acquaintance even. In oblivion 70
o ever will hide thy name, and forget that
,, ever knew one that could act so cruel an
c base. I'm sure did not mean any wron!
e IT'S too bad and the lips are compressed
l and the resolve seems a settled matter I