The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-09-23


giggled, but of this was not sure.
a. Walk in, sir; she will see you.'
" After moments absence, during which
stood sheepishly in the hall. balancing irston
one heel then on the other, the girl returned
and ushered me into an elegant little morning
room,, hung with crimson draperies and all
alive with the piercing music of two canarles
whose cages occupied the. windows. In a
luxurious easy chair beside writing table sat
lady Of about thirty, whose fresh pretty
face was charmingly set off by a scarlet
cashmere morning wrapper l noticed the
dainty little coiffure of lace that was fastened
above her dark braids-the diamond ring up
on her slender fnger-the small slippered
foot that peeped from beneath her embroid-
cred skirts, in one comprehensive glance, and
came to the conclusion that this widow was
Almost fascinating little creaturet e
!" Simeon Smith p ] apostrophised my
self, you're in luck, old fellow Put your
best foot foremost, my boy, if ever you did it
in your life, for now's your chance'
:" She didn't ask me to be seated perhaps
she was a little timd--so I stood with my
hat insmy hand, while she referred languidly
to little written memorandum on the table.
Perhaps-and my heart sank into my boots
at the idea--she had had more applications
than one for the vacant post !..l ..fa1=-s 5tes
zsif' You are come in answer to my advcr-
tisement this morning p she asked.
"a nodded-and again the blood mounted
to the very roots of my hair. How she could
keep so cool and collected, had not the least
idea; but women are so different from us
men.
r "' What can you do 2 she asked abruptly.
81 hesitated. could dance the Lancers,
plead a law suit, make capital Roman punch.
drive four in hand, play the violin, and cut
| cut charming little work baskets from cherry
stones; but somehow did not like to mem
ton these accomplishments, so hazareled
the bold answer of: ''i y ga
g. Everything. madam p
81 suppose you can bring me good refer
enees?, aa if as sds ~
s"tI assure you, ma'am, they shall be en-
tirels satisfactory a5 ..
s.' Where was your last place p
si9s ere was posing question. Hooked up
at the ceiling, down at the floor; but no in
spiration CAME to my aid as stammered out
with my face afame and my eyes riveted on
! the. lining of my hat:
"tI-to tell the truth, ma'am--I never
have been married! =
"a /" Married p she repeated, oh, that's no
objection | mean where did you live last p
a mentioned the street and mum Der here
my tin sign hung out-she notedit down in
fairy note-book.
the clothes shall furnish !? prefer white
coatsl'
.,"I hadn't any objection to this part of the
programme, as I was decidedly partial to white
/ linen. ~ 81 4...r sl.s
"'I shall want you,' she renar ed, playing
4 abstractedly with her little gold pencil, 'tc
work in my garden occasionally, and to drive
. my horses, when the coachman is not OF
Il hand. How much do you expect month ?
i The point-blank question rather stagger
ed me-I felt hot all over, and modestly init
mated that 1 should leave that to her owl
, liberality , .. f3..ss = fs.-4
8 "'I allowed my last ten dollars month
and his clothing said the lady.
"My hair stood on end. Ten dollars
) month-no wondermy predecessor had walk
i ed out of the world Ten: dollars wouldn'
> keep me in cigars, to say nothing of ki
$ gloves and newspapers.
: h g" Madam quoth ], rneekly, lis not tba
r rather a limited income to allow husband /
a society p si - @ fs tst
e "A husband who's. talking about hus
# bands p calculated the lady, dropping he
pencil and sitting up erect in her chair, he
a dark eyes fixed on me in a most embarras,
t in manner.
e :. Il beg your pardon. ma'au-did not yo
9 advertise for husband ?' @
| H.. 'feI advertised for footman p @
az There is some mistake, ma'am-are yo
, not the widow lady of means WHO. ID,
d 1t'tI am not widow-and if you do n
re instantly leave the ho"se will prove the ia
: by calling my husband to pitch you out
IL the window =
~ "a statue of Balona could not have look,
'g more wrathful as she stood there with flush
eer cheeks and sparkling eyes, but looking b
t. t. witchingly pretty the whilel
y "I saw that was in a hopeless labyrinth
~ mistakes, SO did perhaps the wisest th
~ left me under the circumstances-rush
u home, and by referring to the newspaper, pt
ceived-miserable nlanthat was-that L b
" taken down the wrong address!
5s '.But it might not be too late yet-one
d buff had failed to teach me wisdom-so pi
- eeeded, donkey-like to the genuine wido'
: residence neat little cottage, with VIII
;, muslin's curtains at the windows. s.
no 1tsA A tall servant man came to the door, a
INF to him Istated my errand as explicitly
dv possible, resolved to blunder into no M
~ false positions. ,.5s zea ,. ssF5 81
yofl 6t tttAh-ndeed = said the menial, bland
do when had finished. VERY sorry, sir,
,ck you are too late--my mistress is engaged!
ra- "The demoniac grin with which he S
be the door in my face could not be described
tY had a stack of goose-quills and a Sc
lief, ink E o=...s5..5 =
OTIS. 81 went back to the shadow of the tin s.
oair "a wiser and better man. Pm married N
len, as sott know, to as pretty a little woman
ght ever wore No 3slippers-but courted he
ash the good old fashioned sparkling way, and