Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1861-03-08

wrong. 1t was our traln-Z.Zo
had run off the track, smashing things
generally, and spilling the contents of
several baggage cars along the road, to
say nothing of frightening half hum
dred passengers into condition border
ing on lunacy. This was pretty state
Of things, and to make it still worse, |
was eight miles from my destination, tho,
as it afterwards appeared, not a mile
from the next village, where | heard it
canvassed, tavern, supper and beds
could be had.
was disposed to make myself agreea-
Bile, and accordingly rendered all the as
sistance in my power to the unprotected
females for which got my reward on ar
irving at the haven or refuge--the prom
ised tavern-by being informed that such
a thing as bed for the night was an inn
possible idea, and that with some twenty
more of the male gender, l must be con-
tent with chairs, while the beds were ap-
propriated to the gentler sex. Slightly
disgusted I swallowed my supper and
looked out upon the night. 1t was a
beautiful moonlight, and verging upon ten
o'clock By Jove, would walk over to
Hayatt'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 punctual deliv-
erance at Hayatts the next morning at
my expense,I set forth. Eight miles is
trifle, and just as my watch marked the
quarter after midnight, | went 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 try
ing each entrance, but each and every one
was fastened 1t was Of no consequence !;
my bedroom window looked out upon the
roof of the piazza; would not disturb
the house by knocking; \ bit of climbing
would do the business, and should the
window be fastened | would tap awaken
Horace, who was my roommate and bed
fellow. The thing was executed as soon
as thought of, and my hand on the win
dow, which yielded, and stood in my
own room. By the moonlight which
streamcd in, saw that the bed was oc-
cupied and by the heavy breathing | knew
that Horace was in a heavy sleep. |
would not therefore awaken him, but save
the story of my mshap for the following
day. With this resolution | slipped quiz
etly into bed, and in three minutes | was
obiyious. What ought | to have dream
ed that night But | shall not antici-
pate. | lay facing the windows as the
sun pecped up above the distant hill and
scattered the gray mist Of the morning.
Ny bed-felow was breathing heavily, but
it was broad daylight and there was no
sleep in me,so | was bound Horace should
wake up, and hear the story of the rail-
road break down. turned quickly and
gave the sleeper sudden shake. As rap
idly as my own motion, my bed-fellow
who had lain with his back toward me,
Sprang up to sitting position. There are
such surprises as are without terror, which
actually deprive us of our speech, until
the brain has time to act or reason.-
Such surprises do not generate screams
and faints They are expressed BY open
mouths and silent wonder This was my
case with myself and bcdfellow, and we
sat upright and stared. Right by my side
with her face within two feat of my own.
sat young woman, not more than seven-
teen, with great dark hazel eyes, and such
great masses of brown curls tucked away
under the ncatest little night cap that ev
er was. She had gathered the bed-eIothcs
with a spasmodic jerk up about her throat
aud with the most rigid, astonishcd look,
as though doubling whether she was sleep
ing or waking gasel steady in my eyes
Memory serves a man but little IN such
cases, but if my memory serves me right,
1t was | who first spoke. | bIurted out !;
How came you here ~
The figure stared in specchless aston
ishment, but in moment,as though awak-
encd from its stupetcatiou, spoke;
Are you Charles Morgan ?"
Yes" | stammered out.
"WcIl, then Mr.. Morgan" said the
figure by this time calm, and with quite
as much dignity as though in the draw
ing.room, i" am May Stevens, and was
put in this room after an unexpected ar
rival. Horace had gone over to neigh.
bor's a few miles off, before got here,
and was not to return till to-day. That
is how | was put in this room."
" So here | was sitting vis-a-vis to this
May Stevens, that mythical lady for the
first meeting with whom | had intended to
get up such snperlative toilet. \ nice
style of introduction and nice style OF
toilet, And she-shc by this time was
as cool as the 3lst Of December, and sat
looking me right in the eyes, as made
some rambling explanation Of being in
that extraordinary position. 1t was a
lame explanation, and wonderfully mixed
up with irrelevant matter, and | stam-
mered and suffered through it in a way
that should have disgusted any sensible
person. She seemed to be serious ly pom
dering during the recital, and at its end,
looking at me as though asking the most
simple question in the world, said
" What is to be done?
Let me jump out Of the window as |
came in.' said | in sickly tone of voice
for the thought came to me that to achieve
this end, | must make some desperate dis
play of myself in style of costume which
/ deprecated. She relieved me instantly
with {:
No, that will not do, there are peo-
pie moving about, and you will be seen"
1T was now my turn to stammer out :
"What was to be done?" For | saw