The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-11-07
A CURE FOR SPARKLING; OR,
PICKING, UP AN ACQUAINTANCE.

~ III 0Oiudu1, Odu2ul6T OF
highly respectable parents, found herself some-
what unintention1lly detained at the house of
. ffisnl not far distant From her fathers resi-
dcnee, one evening, and before she was
scarcely aware OF the fact, night set in. The
distance tozher- iDnle was but a few blocks,
however, and rs she expected a little gather
ing Of ladies ard gentlemen at her fathers
that evening, She determined upon returning
homeward unattended; and, bidding hsr friends
good Rishts she hurried along upon the walk
towards her residence, into which her family
had recently removed from another part of the
city.
Upon turning the corner, she was suddenly
startled by the approach of a wef-dressed man.
who accosted her with egood evening" and
offered his services to escort her home !
Alarmed for an instant, she would have avoid
ed the stranger, but as he advanced TO her
side, she ventured to turn towards him. and a
glance satisfied her she recognized the young
gentleman as a familiar acquaintance. Dis
guising her voice, and replying in a timid tone,
she accepted his p~roffered gallantry determined
to administer a lessen to her young friend,
which he would not forget. The conversation
which passed was brief, and the beau suspect
ing nothing, as he was not aware that the fam
lily had changed their quarters, tripped along
BY the young lady's side. apparently very well
pleased with his companion. In a few min
utes they halted before a modest brick house,
in p somewhat retired stree at the west end,
and the lady relinquished her attendants arm,
anu prepared TO enter.
"Will you come Elf" whispered the lady.
softly.
"Thank you" was the reply; and his fair
companiin opened the door. Closing it care
fully, they found themselves in the entry, in
darkness.
await a moment" said tho lady, ''and be per
fectly quiet-I will return immediately" and
with these words she assembled the stairs which
led to the parlors.
The first thought of the young man as she
retired, was to open the front door and move ;
for he suspected that all was not as he antici
patel He turned to the door-it was fast.
He fumLled for the latch or lock, or whatev-
or secured it, but it was not to be found /; and
an instant afterwards he heard footsteps ap-
preaching IN the darkness. His heart thumped
against his ribs, and he began to wish himself
safely out of doors again but he was quickly
re- assured by the encouraging whisper of his
new-made acquaintance: who approached him
apparently with much caution.
"Hush |" said she, "all is safe. Be quiet,
now, a moment-rcmove your boots fiom your
feet will return in an instant -
Our hero was content, drawing and off his
0OOS AS lhN NOSSNhSA dho u
them in his Land. he awaited the return of
his lady friend, who had again assembled the
stairs -..- s-
Enteringthe parlor a fewmiuutes afterwards,
the female rogue found some half a score of
young friends with their brothers and bcaux
present, to whom she quickly and briefly
communicated the ad, enture.
"Ive got him in the entry, Town stairs"
said she. 5aPut. out the lights" she said,
'keep perfectly still. don't betray the slightest
breath or sound, and 1 will show you some
sport, in a moment.
The lights were removed, the party ar
ranged themselves around the room-the com-
pany knew the victim intimately-and again
the lady descended the stairs and approached
her friend.
"Softly, now" she said, taking the hard
that was ~unoccupied with the bouts. "softly.
all is quiet up stairs-come," aud she led her
gallant slyiy up the stairway. His boots
d1ngiiHS against the railing. "-sh! !" ex.
claimed the fair one, "for PHYS sake make no
noise ~dr else all is lost" The beau moved
ON grasped his boots more securely at his side.
"nor dreamed of aught save bliss" Least o;
all did he suspect the existence of a hugo rent
in his stockings-but he was u bachelor, and
this was but a trifie
They entered the parlor. All was darkness
and Silence, the lady closed the door behind
her companion, and led him into the centre of
the room. Not a breath was hef I'd, and little
did the gentleman suspect that he was at that
moment surrounded by a dozen persons of his
acquaintance
s.Remain here one moment" said the girl /;
81 will geta light"
The. gallant raised the soft hand which had
conducted them thus far towards-he knew
-
kiss but it was dexteriously withdrawn at the
very enick of time" and his lips came in con
tact with his fingers. q
"Wait a'moment," said his inamorata. leav
ing him ~quickly-and tken passing through.
she disappeared. A minute had scarcely elapsed
but il seemed a month to the little party, who
were nearly choking with the suppressed mer-
rinent; 1T was an age to the victim But
gentles footsteps were again heard, and tho
beau gazed anxiously in the direction of the
door. It7opeued with single movement, d
blaze afllght gushed into the parlor, and be-
hind the face of an old familiar acquaintance !!
"LadiesI and gentlemen" said size. "this rs
Mr. Sntith.3 g
Such a "ha, ha," as went from that little
coterie, at that moment was seldom heard III
the neightorkood, before or since. Poor Smith
stood for a moment. not exactly paralized-,
that would be a faint term-exactly stat"ejzer}
in lis tracks, and he Rugged his boots to his
side, coSnshed, sneezed, choked-then grinned
a CHASTITY smile.
As SON as the paroxysm of laughter was
over. the lady brought forward a chair, and
placingsf It before the %victian, said
PREY be seated, Mr.. Smith"
He oiurned upon his tormentor q look oil
Observation-Disclosures Ike FaistaH' MS wits
Coming qafekly to his relief he replied
Did you h5nL, Cdh!y, Ididmt kn0c yon?'
ThisTwas his first and last effort at picking
up an acquaintance; and it proved to be u
cure for Sparkling" with him. " thin SIX
months he made ample apology for his error
making Miss calIs Mrs. Sufith.
A True WoMAN-When a man of sense
comes to marry, it is a compalion he wants
an artist. 1t is not merely a creature who
can paint or play, sing and dance II Is a De
!. - CT au1 oouneol hIm-OuG|