M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1861-02-21
The way / got Married.

issaw an aged and infirm medicant
winding his tortuitous course slowly
and adsspondipgly, whose baggard
countehance bore too distinctly the
traits Of grief and poverty to doubt for
n moment his being a real object OF
charity. He stopped as a gentleman
approached in an opposite direction,
took his hal from bis head, and solici,
ted by a look and trifling inclination,
of his person (needless, indeed, as the
burden Of his years had already per
formed that ofice,) appliance. No
netice was taken of bis silent apDlica-
tion; mechanically the hat was replac.
ed and he continued his way. | ex.
pected, nay, wished to see him exhibit
some sign of disappointment, but alasl
the frequency, ofhis refusals had iu.
ured him 10 meet them at least with
external unconcsrn.
He stopped again as a carriage drew
up to a large house, and which des.
scended ssverally, three elegantly at.
tired females; now, thought !, your
mute appeal cannot be in vain.
was wrong: they entered without
casting glance at the applicant; the
door closed, and again the beggar was
on his road.
Ifelt an irresistible inclination to
follow him father and note his sue.
cess; and with pain not unmixed with
indignation, ! saw him make variety
ofattempts without gaining a solitary
copper, one morsel Of bread, one lock
ofpity or commlseration. Scan this
bep | mentally calculated; and as |
was crossing to bestOw my mite (Which
was my intention from the first mo-
ment beheld him when | observed
a few yards further the little garden
that fronted the cottage Of Frank M.
bad been SO absorbed in ths fate Of
the beggar, thar had 10 idea ! was
30 near to her, who, were convinced
the. goodness Of her heart equallcd the
charms Of her person, | had resolved
to raise from compar ativs poverty to
be the companion ofmy life, the wife
of my bosom. The opportunity struck
me, and cOncealing myself behind a
tree which was opposite the cottage, |
waited the result with anxiety. The
beggar WAS soon in front ofth cottage
and turned his eye 10 the window,
trusting to be observed. From above
the smal! white curtain | saw Frank.
Never did my heart beat so tumultu-
ously, and without cause; il was a mo.
merit that was likely to decide the
happiness or misery Of my future life,
for the reader must credit me when |
assert, that il depended upon Franks
behavior ON the present occasion
whether l should offer myself and
fortune TO her acceptance, or endeavor
10 obliterate her entirely from my
heart. She quilted the window i'm.
mediately, but not before the mendi-
cant had observed her, and who now
turned his eyes earnestly on the door,
in the hope Of ofreceiving assistance.
Il was moment to mo Of the most
agonizing suspense, hardly breathed.
Slowly at lenhth, and with a sigh
which distinctly heard; the old man
was turning from the gate, which had
remain cd motionless. With bitter
feelings, | was preparing to do the
same, when the latch was gently rails
cd, and Erark camo forth with a bas.
ket in her hand. She looked timidIy
around. and seeing no person nigh, in
q moment she was at the side of the
beggar, Omptying the contents Of her
basket into a handkerchief. which she
had knelt on the ground to spread
Never did she look so lovely as at that
moment; she added to her gift a small
coin and was almost Immediately in
the anctuary of her own dwelling,
unseen, aSShe thought by all the
world
-
Six weeks afterwards we were mar
ried; and if Frank does 30 possesses
such graceful airs as those ladies neu-
toned in the first part. of this shoat
tale, she possess es more than an equiv
alent, namely, a heart that can feel for
and relieve the distresSes Of her fellow
creatures.