The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-04-19
ADVENTURES OF BILL JENKINS;
OR,
The First Night Of Marriage.

Bill jenkins was very modest man
and although he had mingled with the
world at barbecues, bar-roOms, and at
many Of the ct ceterd places where men
may occasionally be found-yet he was
modest, very-whenever placed in the
company of ladies. He trembled when
ever a pretty girl would speak to him, and
felt like culprit at the stand when called
upon to ''see Miss So-and-So home" Bill
could never explain or account for this
most singular timidity. He would sing,
frolic, and be as wild as a rover among
men, but a petticoat would unnerve him
instantly.
Miss Lucy Ann Liggins had "set her
cap" for Bill, and was determined to "lead
him or die" Bill, to tell the truth, loved
Lucy, and was as miserable out of her
company as he was timid in it-but, as to
popping the question: that was impossi-
BILE Lucy knit purses, hemmed handker-
chiefs. worked shirt-bosoms, and gave
| them to jenkins, as we'll as several gold
rings, but still Bill would not propose
Lucy declared to him repeatedly that she
| loved him, and that she was miserable
when he was absent from her, and her
happiness in life depended upon being his
wife-but Bill was dumb. At last Lucy
was determined that he should "hear
| thunder" and when he next visited her,
after some preliminary soft talk on her
part, she very atfectionately said:
"Billy, my dear, when are you going to
ask me to marry you? for l want to get
my dress ready"
Bill tainted on the spot, and hartshorn
| ,,...o, ,roro oppEad for half an hpur
before he was finally restored.
"What has been the matter, Miss Lucy
ooh, nothing much: you tainted when
YOU were about to ask me to marry you
but [ told you yes-and, oh how happy
we will be when we are married L will
love you so dearly and as you said next
Tuesday, why, am willing the wedding
should be then-my dear Billy, how l dc
love YOU"
sI am willing, Miss Lucy" was all tha
Jenkins could articulate, while Lucy al
most kissed him into fits.
What glorious victory!
Here we ought to stop, but justice t.
our narrative requires that we should pro
ceed to the finale.
The next Tuesday had come, and Jen
kins was trembling at the approach o
evening. Something seemed to harrow
up his mind, and to no friend, even, woul'
he communicate his deep distress.
"You are not afraid, certainly, to go u
and get married-why, to marry such
beautiful, charming, and intellectual bein;
as Miss Liggins, L should wish that tim
would fly ike news upon the electric tele
graph wire; cheer up, jenkins, my boy
cheer up!"
"Oh,' replied Bill, "you don't kno'
what distresses me. l can go up and Sc
married--that is easy enough but ther
is something-I know it-l feel it, al
satisfied of one think l will never be abl
to do, unless Lucy will assist me"
"Explain YOURSELF replied his trIen'
! "and if | can, with propriety, L will el
deavor to render you comfortable"
But jenkins could not explain. ID
dared not; it was timidity; he saw I'll
Rubicon, but he knew he could not pa
n it; but he was determined to get marrle'
aud trust to luck and Lucy.
/. The night came, and they were ma
ried All were merry the laugh, tt
song, the chat, and the dance made up
lively party until midnight, they CONNIE
ccd to disperse; and at one o'clock, bi