The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-07-11

me0lately saloI III you VIII allow me 10 Oe
your guide, I shall feel most happy to show
you the way; We can obtain carriage at
the station and proceed thither at once"
was right in my surmise-bOth parties
were profuse in their acknowledgements
young man avowing that it was the very re.
quest he was about to make when antici.
pated him. We arrived in due time at the
station, and having assisted my new acquan.
tances to alight, found little difficulty in
placing them in a carriage, for luggage they
had none, neither portmanteau nor carpet
bag-not even a dressing cuse-a circum.
stance at which, however, l might have en-.
deavored to avoid expressing my wonder,
they seemed to feel it required an explana-
tion at their hands ; both looked confused
and abashed-nor was it until by busying
myself in the details of my own baggage,
that was enabled to relieve them from the
embarrassment the circumstance occasion.
ed.
"Here we are," said I, "this is the Adel.
phi" as we stopped at that comfortable and
hospituble portal, through which the fumes
of brown gravy and ox.tail fOated with
savory odor, as pleasant TO him who enters
with dinner intentions, as it is tantulizing to
the Iistless wanderer without.
The lady thanked me with O smile as
handed her into the house, and very sweet
smile too, and one | could have fancied the
young man would have felt little jealous
Of, if had not seen the ten times more fas.
cinatiug one she bestowed on him.
The young man acknowledged my slight
service with thanks and made half gesture
to shnke hands ut parting, which, though a
failure, rather liked, as evidencing, even
in its awkwardness, a kindness of dsposi.
ton ; for so it is, gratitude smacks poorly
when expressed in trim and measured phrase
it seems not the natural coinage Of the
heart, when the impression betruys too
clearly the mint OF the mind.
GOOD bye," said I, as watched their re.
firing figures up the wide staircase. ashes
deuced prety-and what good figure
did not think that any other than q French
woman could adjust her shawl in that fash.
ion." And with these very soothing refec.
tions betook myself to the coffee.room
and soon was very deep in discussing the
distinct merits Of muligatawny, mock turtle
and mutton chops, or listening to that ever.
lasting pean every waiter in England sings
in praise of the "j)int."
In all the luxury of my own little table
with my own little salt cellar, my own cru.
ct stand, my beer glass, and its younger
brother for wine, sat awaiting the arrival
OF my iure, and puzzling my brain as to the
unknown travellers.
My thoughts turned at once 10 their Ole
track. 81 have it," said I, as o bloody
minded suggestion shot through my brain
"This is an affair of charcoal and oxalit
acd-this is some damnable device of ar
senic or suger Of lead-these young wretch
es have come down here to poison them
selves, and be smothered in that mode lat
terIy introduced among Us. There will bt
double. locked door and smell of carbonit
gas through the key hole in the morning.
I have it all before me, even to the maud
lin letter, with its twenty one verses Of bac
poetry at the foot of it. think I hear the
coroner's charge, and see the three shilling:
and eight pence half penny produced before
the jury, that were found in the youths pos
session. together with q small key and bill
for luncheon at Birmingham. By Jove,
will prevent it though I will spoil their fur
this time if they will have physic, let then
have something just as Dauseous, but not Sc
injurious. My own notion is basin of thi;
soup and slice of the joint, and here j
comes and thus my meditations were ogair
destined to be cut short, and reverie gave
way to reality.
was just helping myself to my secont
slice of mutton, when the young man enter
ed the Ccffee.room and walked towards me
At first, his manner evinced hesitation an
indecision, and he turned to the fire place
as if with some change of purpose, then, q
if suddenly summoniDg his resolution, h
came up to the tab lie at which sat and said
"Will you favor me with five minutes Q
your time :" ~
"By all MEANS" said ], "st down here
end I'm your man; you must excuse me
though, for proceed with my dinner, os Sc
it is past six o'clock, and the packet sails q
seven"
spray, proceed" replied he, "your de
, ing SO will in part excuse the liberty TAX
ia obtruding myself upon you."
He paused, and although I waited for hin
to resume, he appeared in no humor to d.
! so, but seemed more confused than before
, "Hang it," said he, at length, 81 am
very bungling negotator, and never, in m
life. could manage matter of any difficul
ly?
"Take glass Of sherry" said I, "try
that may not assist to recall your faculties.
"No, no." cried he: ~ have taken Dol
tie Of il already, and, by Jove, rather thin
, my head is only the more added. Do 20
know that am in most confounded scrape
J have run away with that young lady; W
were at an evening party last night togeth
er, and came straight away from the suppe
table to the train"
3 "Indeed ~ said /, laying down my knit