Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-12-22
gelett Stories.
C0URTING IN THE DARK.
BY N. p. DARLING.
Almost divine. eh 2

Almost divine, Ell?
81 think so.
A lady at that moment entered the ball
room. The above observations were made
by a couple of gentlempn who stood direct
ly in front of me, and who had seen the fair
creature face.
| am very susceptible to female beauty,
and therefore my curiosity was slightly
aroused at the mention Of something almost
divine. "Ah good evening, Ned, said
my friend Bangs, coming in and tapping
me on the shoulder. eDid you see Miss
Leighton !"
Miss Leighton-the lady that just came
in ?"
"Yes, don't you know the Leightons ?'
"Why, my boy, Miss Leighton is the
most splendid woman in town--the belle in
fact. Shall make you acquainted ?"
Certainly"
l was soon making my prettiest bow be-
fore the lady aforesaid. She had dark, Ian
gushing eyes, thatcould speak the language
Of the heart much more eloquently than the
tongue fine complexion--rose and lilly
blended a voice as sweet as your loved
one $, and form cotton up from the soft
est Gotten, etc BY the way what would
the ladies do if it wasn't for cotton? But |
didn't think Of any thing of that kind at
that time. was doing my utmost to make
myself agreeable to that being, who, robed
in something soft and gauzy, which do not
know enough about to even tell the name
of, seemed to me--if may use the express
sion-part blood angel.
Then | was fying-she had wings, or
seemed to have--over the smooth floor with
this fair one leaning upon me, to the sound
of the music that, in my ecstacy, seemed
heavenly. -. --e. e..re
| passed delightful evening, and at last
had the pleasure of helping Miss Leighton
into her carriage, and securing a smile and
a sweet Good night" as the carriage roll
ed away.
Next morning | saw Bangs, and my first
words were, ''who is Miss leighton ~
What my boy, has Cupid been up to
his old tricks?'
"Never mind-answer the question -
''Well, then, Ida Leightonis is John Leigh
tons daughter. The old gentleman is veal
thy, has a fine house in town. Miss Ida has
a sister, older than she who, as their moth
er is dead, takes charge of the household
affairs and does the motherly for her sister;
who, considering that she is an orphan,
ought to have the protection of some nice
young man like yourself. No one as yet
has been able to find the tender spot in Miss
Ida S heart.
''Twenty sought her hand to gaid
Aud twenty sought her hand in vain.
Were cut, and didn't come again,
In the ordinary fashion,"
I'm going to call upon her to-day"
said |.
"Beware Don't get entangled in the
meshes of her net, for she'll laugh at you
then"
Don't make me faint
''Well, go on, you have my best wishes, F"
replied Bangs, and he turnedaway and went
whistling down the street.
An hour afterward | was sitting in Mr..
Leighton drawing room. Ida looked as
lovely as upon the previous evening ; and
the contrast between her sister Sally and
herself added, do not doubt, materially to
her charms.
Sally was at least thirty years of age
many times and tried to make he immense
mouth into small one, that it had at last
settled into an aggravated pucker, and her
sharp nose hung over it, as some giant
might bend over to look into the crater of
Vesuvius.
did pity Sally, for knew her face must
have felt uncomfortable.
Ida was very social, and when / arose to
go, felt that had made animpression up
ON her heart. | told Bangs so.
g Really, now, Ned. must confess that |
can't see it, he said, taking out his cigar
case and proceeding to light weed.
"You can't but can. Don't you sup
pose | can't tell?' IIs
"Well, no. You see, my boy, that wo-
man understands her art to perfection -
You'll slip up in your calculations, and then
take the arsenic train for eternity"
"You are quite cool about it. :"
eyes. | have had several friends 60 the
same road, and I'm getting used to it, l
always warned then"
Bangs wasn't congenial, at least that
time and so l left him and sought the soli-
tude of my chamber.
Solitude Bridget was washing and dust
ing, and had turned everything in the room
Ned, soliloquizcd I, "you want a
house of your own, and you want wife to
keep it in good order. Ill see about it.
For two weeks | was with Ida the greater
part of the time We rode together, read
together, and my love grew. stronger, and |
didn't doubt it was returned.
But there was one thing that troubled
me. was fearful that Mr.. Leighton would
not consent to his daughters marrying a
poor young man like myself.
I'VE can elope,'' thought | and as the
old gentleman has cork leg and the gout,
he will not be apt to catch us before it is
everlastingly too late.
But then thought, Ida would not con-
sent to that. She was altogether too good
to disobey her father, and so must win
them both.
Bangs was better acquainted with Mr..
Leighton than |, and so / went to ask his
opinion of the chances ofmy suit being sue,
cessful with that gentleman.
Ned" said he, "don't borrow any trou
BILE at all. If you win the daughter, I'll
vouch for the father" -ns
"You think I can not do that2'
Exactly" ......... ..-.....
II will show you that you are badly mis-
taken, then, Tonight | shall lay my heart
at her feet f"