The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-02-14

generate screams and faints. They are
expressed BY opened mouth and slent
wonder THIS was the case with myself
aud bedfelow, as we sat upright and
stared Right by my side, with her face
within two feet of my own, sal young
woman, not more than seventeen, with
great dark hazel eyes, and such great
masses of brown curls, tucked away under
the neatest little night cap that ever was
She had gathered tie bed clothes with 4
spasmodic jerk, up about her throat, and
with the most rigid, astoni,hed look, as
though doubling she was sleeping or
waking, gazed steadily in my eyes. Menu
ory serves man bul little in such eases,
but if my memory serves me right, it was
| who first spoke. l blurted out with
How came YOU here 2"
"Thc figure stared still in speechless
astonishment, but in moment, as though
awakened from its stnpefaction, spoke;
" Are you Charles Morgan ?"
"Yes. :"
"Wcll, then, Mr. Morgan" said the
figure. by this time calm, and with quite
as much dignity as though i'll the draw
ing room, " am May Stevens, and was
put in this room after an unexpected ar
rival. Horace had gone over to a neigh
boris 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 yis riis to this
May Stevens, that mythical lady, for the
first meeting with whom | had intended
to get up such a snperIative toilet. a
nice style of introduction and nice style
of toilet. And she-she by this time
was as cool as the 3lst of December, and
sat looking mo right in the eyes as | made
some rau bling explanation Of my being
in that extraordinary position. 1t was a
lame explanation, wonderfully mixed up
with prevalent matter, and stammered
and suffered through in a way that should
have disguised any sensible person. She
seemed to be seriously pondcring during
the recital, and at its end, looking at me
as though asking the most simple question
in the world, said:
"What's to be done?"
" Let me jump out the window as |
came in, said | in sickiy tone of voice,
for the thought came to me that TO achieve
this end, | must make some desperate
disT lay OF myself in a style of costume
which | deprecated. She relieved me
instantly with:
g No, that will lot do, there arc people
moving about and you will be seen"
g 1t was now my turn to stanmer out ::
"What is to be done?" For | saw
that the little hazel eyed girl was superb
or to me in presence Of mind and energy
Of action She did not wait long to an
swer my question.
"You must lie still here while | get
up. When | have left the room you can
rise. dress and GO away at The first orpor
tuniIy," was her response delivered in a
quiet, business like manner.
"And so | did Under May Stevens
commands buried my iutruding head
under the ted clothes, and kept it well
covered TILL heard the retrcating foot
steps on the stairs, which was but few
moments, though it seemed an age ; then
with a desperate bound | sprang from the
bed and turned the key on the departed
one. 1t was the quickest dressing ever
made, aid | will venture to say that no
man ever sneaked out of his own apart.
ments more stealthily than |.
That morning we met. May Stevens
and |, at the breakfast table, in the
character of the newly arrived that morn
ing-and were formally introduced, dur
ing the ceremony of which we astouished
every one present, aud planted thorn
of wonder in the sides Of Nettie and Car
rie, by bursting simultaneously into
hearty laugh which we never fai! to re-
peat when the memory of our first meet
ms comes up.
=" And now, Cousin Jane, you have the
whole story of how fist met NY wife.
N--~c IN t,.,,