The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-03-11


old lane, to the spot where the horse was
fastened, and then the wind should not
out run us. f...t... .,..-. r
There was but one difficulty in the way.
Janet's room was shared by her sister
Fanny, little mischievous wicked crea-
ture of eleven years, who to use Janet's
words, ''was awake at all hours of the
night There was but one way: if Fan
ny was reused she must be bribed into
silence. For that purpose | placed In
Janet's hand round, shining dollar.
But Janet needed assistance, so she con-
cluded to make Fanny her confident the
very afternoon before we started, and in
that case prevented all possibility ofrais-
ing the house by a sudden outcry.
Well, the long looked for, and yet dread
ed night arrived at last. How slowly its
Eleaden feet carried away the hours, and
what a strange heartfull Of emotions I
bore up, as I sat by my chamber window
looking out, as l thought, for the last
time, upon the house of my father. The
moon was out in all her splenddr, she was
kind to me, lighting up with her silver
touches all the spots Of which my eyes
might wish to rest upon before went out
in the world wanderer. The broad fields
lay, out smooth and shining before my
gaze; the fields in which had worked by
my fathers side since | was a little boy
ali! dear kind father he had been! at
this juucture my throat began to swell.) }
I turned away from the window.
I sat down in chair and sobbed out
right. / looked around for something to
take with me that my mothers hand had
blessed with her touch. There was a
spinning wheel in the room where | slept;
at the end of the spindle hung woolen
roll. With my knife l half cut and half
tore it of, pressing it ferventiy to my lips,
and then placed it tenderly in my vest
pocket. l had not time to do more; the
old clock in the kitchen warned me sol
emnly that my appointed time had arrived;
and with slow and sad, yet noiseless
step l left the house.
Once out in the open air, my wonted
lightness of spirit returned. / conso.ed
myself with the thought that in few
years should return home again, strong
healthy, wealthy, respectable and inAuen-
tial man, an honor to my parents, and a
blessing to my friends and the husband Of
Janet.
have often wondered since, how I sue
ceeded in getting away from home with
nv horse and cart without arousing any
one. But rs good luck would have it,
mad de a triumphant exit from the old place
and in a few moments was jogging fear
lessly along towards the home Of Janet
NV only dread was the little sprite Fan
if after all she should betray US, what !,
dreadful, direiul, desperate mischief il
would be what a predieamept affairs
would be in. | groaned aloud at the
thought, yet | put a brave face upon the
matter. [ said that if it was right that
we should 90, we would go; if it wasn't
| in all probability, We should stay at home
vet right or not right, if that miserable
little Fan did betray us, I'd spend all my
/ days in avcnging the wrong--that was GER
tain Was in earnest? did L mean it,
But we shall see. ~ 1 ~ #
How earnestly and anxiously gaze6
towards the chamber window of Janet
as, after fastening my horse at the road
side, walked cautiously up the long lane
that led to the DOCTORS house. o JOY in
4 expressible! |! the waving of white hand
kerchief in the moon light told me thai
teverything was right, that in few mo
ments should clap Janet fondly to my
breast, nine, mine forever! All / how
happy i was!-so happy, indeed, that
stood still there in the moonlight, witt
my two hands pressed firmly to my lef
side, for fear my overloaded heart woult
burst from me entirely What "a figure
must have cut thea5!Ii What an Apollo
| must have looked, with my fine proper
tons wrapped up in my wedding suit
was slender, | was tall; was gaunt;I an
fsure Twas ugly looking at that moment.
la What possessed me / cannot tell, bu
from an old chest L had tax en- a blue1broat
cloth swallow tail coat that had belonged
to my grandfather in the time Of wars
and in the pride of my youth had got int
,lit. The tail came nearly to my heels
while the waist was nearly to my larm- pits
The sleeves reached to the tips of my fin
T gers, hiding entirely from viewathe luxu
riant pair of white silk gloves, which Iha'
allowed myself for the important coca
sion Above this unceuth pile of blu
broad cloth was peareheds hat. % y
Estars and moon that looked upenit, testif
, with me that it was a hat Ina hat and no
!, stove pipe, hat and not boot leg l----7tha
q hat looking, back through the mist Q
i twenty years, it seems to have arisen t
the stature Of two full feet, while it's brir
/ appears little wider than my thumb mai
. My eyesight isn't quite as perfect as
: used to be, and so . / may not see quit
l. rightly. Make all allowances, dear reader
f say that [ must have looked ugly a
u that moment. Be that as it may, though
!, that / was.looking splendidly, i though
5 the figure / cut was an honor to the nam
of Brown and | was proud of it; proud q
r 1 walked up to Janetls window, and place
carefully there the ladder that was to bca
. her to my side Everything was sileI
D about the house. Fate was surely wit
u.s.! Fanny has been bribed into seryic,
e IiAsl.I stood there, / could see her littl
I EGgure fit noiselessly, to, and fro by th
!. window, and how I blersed her from th
bottom of my heart for her kindness! 0
: At last Janet commenced, descendin
: the ladder, and as she did SO the. moo