Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-11-26

/ the something being nothing more %
less than the redoubtsble capkain. vh
turned up missing, having allen over
board from the steamboat. Wis out o
a target excursion With histsonlpauy
and sunk like stone. owing lund6ab,
edly. to the ponderous natuFs a ki
responsibilities.
The suddeuness Of this ex8 Is Pete
argued, must certainly aet 4{z6 de
pressing force on the widow ~ <4oagl
be would not give her age Hms &
recover and to be admired, still Ell
quette demanded that q &uls tim,
should intervene. Accordiue}f wher
upon the 10th day after the n1elsueboIy
bereavement, Peter knock31f e tks
widows door. bent upon hi4 f3If Z
tfove, be rather chackled % himseI
that be was taking time by the forelock
The business on which he came wa,
quietly told, and once more the widow
was 10 a torrent of tears.
'0h! Mr.. Robinson she exclaimed
hiding her blushing face in her csmbric,
"why are you SO unfortunate, and
why am 1? You know my esteem for
you--but you are too late! / am al.
ready promised. You know Counsel.
lor Ketchum9-my poor, dear. dead
and gone Hawkins most intimate
friend. He was with him, you know,
when he was called away, and was the
first to communicate to me the awful
intelligence. He was such a comforter,
and--and l promised to have him this
day two mouths!" ...~.
This time Peter was crushed. He
had no words to express his broken.
heartedness, but rushed from the house,
and went on as before, admiring--at a
distance.
1t was months before Peter even Of.
fered to encourage hope, and even then
it flickered. One day be was walking,
in Respondent mood, through one of
the upper avenues. when he heard a
sudden shout, and started. From a
half-fEished building just in front of
him he saw, as he raised his eyes, a
stout Milesian making gyratious in the
air, from a height Of three stories, in
company with a coping stone weighing
somewhat less than half ton-the two
having slipped together, from scaf.
folding at that height. He saw both
Milesian and ,tone strike full upon the
heads Of two gentlemen passing. and
the whole four were in an iuextricable
heap. Like all the other spectators,
Peter rushed to the rescue, only 20 be.
hold, between horror and Joy the last
gssps of Counsellor Ketchum and the
gentleman who was walking with him,
and the perfect safety Of the Milesian
and stone.
This chance Peter would trust to no
passing Of time. Without an instant's
delay more than to satisfy himself that
life was extinct, be hailed a passing
hack aud then sped to the mansion Of
he widowed Mrs. Counsellor Ketchum.
In words Of the most delicate and en-.
Tearing nature. Peter communicated
bis intelligence to the widow and wait
ID the result, and then between the
Iobs and tears, claimed her hand for
he next set. .
'Ohl Mr.. Robinson sobbed the
widow, how can you ask me such a
hing? How could l know that you
would be the first to bring me the aw.
ul news Of my dear Ketchum's decease?
You know how | esteem and respect |
Tou, but--but--I am already en-
,sged!'
'Engagedl' shrieked Peter, ao
ybom?'
4 promised responded the widow
between her sobs, Il promised month
Igo--that il anything happened--I
would marry Col. Snapper
You didl' shouted Peter, the whole
appearance of his face changing in an
Instant, from that Of 6end to a look
# unbridled joy. You did! And
Who are you engaged to after that?'
NO one,' sighed the widow.
will you swear this to me?' said
Peter. .r-ss
Il swear it, replied the widow, slow
y. -..s 1-a1.
And you will marry me after Snap
YER is gomez .-r...... 1
L will said the widow.
DO you swear it, asked Peter fierce
y. -. ii
4 swear it, said the widow earnest
y.
Then you are mine, charming Lucy,
or the stone that ushered the Counsel
or into the next world also took the
Colonel, ! saw it with my own eyes,
The next moment the widow was in
Peters arms, and they were married
n q month.
Which finishes our speculations on
Popping the Question mi
"WHAT Is TO BE, WILL BEl"-II
inew an old man who believed that
Il l. L. IL