Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1864-03-26

offer 10 escort Rosalle home
It was an audacious act, and Harry
trembled in every limb at the thought oil |
it; a cold perspiraton started out OF every
pore his hair nearly stood erect, ard his |
face flashed hot as the bosom of Vesuyius
He attempted TO sing, but his fine tenor
voice broke down; he cougbed, hcmmed,
fourished his handkerchief, and was at last
oblighed TO sit down in dispair.
The exercises of the evening closed
Harry seized his has and rushed to the en-
| try, where be took his station in full view
! OF the door through which Rosalie would
emerge. Her crimson hood appeared in
the doorway, and his teeth chartered in his
head, but his resolution was unshaken.-
He made a sorte in her direction, knock
ipg over little james Brown the barber,
aud tcarfully mutlatiug the new calash of
Miss VIM, the miiner, in the act but
these were minor affairs, and not worthy
of his notice, lie touched the sholdor of
Rosale.
"Moy 1-may-go home with you to.
nght--this evenipgl' stammered he.
She put her little hand within his arm
and they went cut together into the star
light. Harry seemed to tread on air.
This world was this world no longer, but
the charmed paradise of impossibility, and
he dared not speak lest he should break
the spell.
The Ii:tle lady too WAS strangely silent
and the entire distance to the house of
Judge Flanders was passed without word.
At The door Harry would have bidden his
companion good night, but she retained bis
hand and drew him into the parlor and
there the light Of the chandelier fell full On
the face of the laughing woman, and with
drcd dismay Harry say that not Rosalie,
but Mrs. Judge Flanders herself stood be-
fore him. He had waited OK the aunt and
no. thc niece. Utering an exclamation,
be va. about to retire, but Mrs Flanders
good humoredy detained him.
go don't go" she said kindly, you re-
ally did brave!y. / am proud of you; |
knew from the first that you had made a
mistake, but was fearfuli you would never
try again if denied your escort. Rosalic
will be in soon; wal, for her."
'.indeen, ma'am -I-sh Guild be happy
to-not to--n fact ma am, | believe am
wanted to home"
Starting for the door backwards, instead
Of choosing that by which he had entered
he boltcd out into the dark kitchen and
seize the handle Of the first door that off
cred. Mrs flanders was following close,
but before she could utter single word
his good night. was succeeded Immediately
BY series Of thumps aud rumblings in the
direction of the cellar.
The truth burst upon her at once, that
be had taken the cellar door and fallen
down stairs She seized light aud few
down the steps, There he lay with his
head in Il trough Of ashes md his feet un-
romantically elevated over the shelf of
neighboringng cupboard. He was con.
siderably bruised and stunned bat not 9th
erwise injury. Mrs. Flanders would have
raised him up bu. he anticipated her, and
without. stopping to shake himself, bound.
ed up stairs and made dive for the outer
door, the ashes streaming out behind him
like clowd of gray smoke.
The door was opened from without, and
RoSaie herself appeared. At sight of the
hatless, smoking Harry, she uttered loud
shrek and fell lainting TO the floor, while
our hero dashed over her postrate form and
took shc track for home at a speed une.
qualcd in the ANNALS of foot races
Breathless and used up generally, the
young man reached home, crawled in at a
black window and retired to his bed which
be kept for three days afterwards.
In spite Of all apologies and Aattcring
courtesies from Mrs. Flanders-in spite of
gentle, atfectonate advances from Rosaie
herself, Harry Singleton could never be
tempted to step inside the mansion Of the
judge and Rosole, after waiting Two years
for Harry to make himself agreeable to her,
gave up the vain hops and became the
wife of substantial widow with four chill
dren, whick was quite good beginning.
Harry went on his way alone, as his
mother had feared aad prophesied, and
exemplary little woman set about learning
him to repair stockings and replace bot.
toms with commendable patience, he had
studied for the law, had been two years
admitted 10 the bar, and was a talanted
aud rising young man. Being also wealthy
and handsome, half the ladies iu the vii.
lape were in love with him but ha raya |