The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1865-03-23
Az that moment I could have eudrcIed

The ridiculous story Of my adventure
got wind; aud no doubt Willspread Il, and
was :he laughing stock of the village.
My mother gave me sound bCrating, and
my staid punctillous father administered
the severcs, rebuke Of all; he said was
Disgrace tn my ancestors.
l managed to live through Il though,
and few months later entered college.
| will not llnger OF the days spent with
my Alma Mater; the history Of the
serapes which my mischief loving fellow
students get inc into during these
four years would fill three volumes OF
octave.
At the end Of the prescribed time l
graduated with the highest honots, for
had always been most determined book.
worm; and with my diploma in my pock.
ct, returned.
My friends were rejuiced to see me
they said; aud Aunt Alice informed me
that had improved wonderfully in man.
ners, as well as looks; sho Thought me
decidedly handsome, she said which re-
mark privately couclultd as about as
sensible as any have ever heard her
make.
Tho day following my arrival home,
my mother spoke Of Florence. had
been longing TO ask abou. her. but dared
not hazard tho question. My mother
thought ] bud ought to call on the Hay
family. We had always been intimate,
she said, aud il would be no moro than
courteous for me to surprise them r-''h
my presence. 49,,
| told her the truth. | .'vuld be cN'
tremcly happy to do - ou' 'a'ked tue
"Msth-, frankly, "you know my
c..>anal failing. Be merciful unto me.
[ should only make fool of myself"
III will make an orrond for yon," she 70
piled quickly; "Mrs. Hays is ,r.s1ird win
a cough, @"d elrv wanted some Of my
tomato preserves for It. You shall carry
them over"
All. il takes u woman to manage things;
depend on that.
| caught ougerly utthat suggestion, for
the imaged face of Florence Hay had
obtrudcd between my eyes aud endless
Greek roots great many times during
the past years. was glad of an excuse
to see once more the fuco itself.
Armed with my letter of introduction, a
glass jur of tomatoes, aud urrayed in my
best suit rang the bell at the door OF
Mr.. II servant girl admitted me. aud
showed me directly into the room where
Florence was sitting.
How beautiful she had grown during
my absence, had never seen 30 fair a
vision. She rose at my entrance, aud
bowing with inimitable grace, extended
her hand.
"Am right In believing that have
the pleasure of addressing Mr.. Suuder.
land" she said with gentle politencss.
bowed, the jar slipped from my grnsI
aud fell TO the floor: made hasty move
ment to take tho hand she offered me, ,ant
in doing SO put my foot on the jar; it woi
crushed to atoms and ths seeds aud syrup
flew ia every direction. The obstacle
beneath my feet made me s,aggcrj
| graspcd tho folds of window cur.
tain in the hope OF saving myself but my
equilibrium was too far gone down cam,
surleio,. oyer went! head ,se.a trsI against
script array oil flower pots, aud canar,
bird IN cage. and u Maltese ca, in 4
basket.
The force of my fall upset the stand
and with all It's iavorites IL went over on
the carpet. Cat, bird, cage, and plants,
and Roy Sunderland, oil lay in Que mass
ofruns together ut the feet OF Miss Hay
The cat was the first to recover her pres.
ence of mind, aud with smidnipht cry'
which would have appalled, the stout cs,
heart, she sprang into my face, tearino
up the skin with violence worthy of tho
admiration of all persons who believe in
the wisdom "getting at the root of the
matter" at once.
i scrambled up and gave the animal a
blow that sent her 10 the other side of
the room-und hatless aud bloody. mndp
for the door.-With frantic haste / sjez ID
tie hnndle-lt d d o. yicl !; the door was
fastened by spring lock, aud was a
prisoner.
Imagine my dismny. Florence stood
looking at me, and there wus n smile on
her lace that she with great difficulty re
strained from brcuking out In decided
ha! ha! Just then would have solt
my self to any reliable lnan for sixpcnce
with thirty days credit.
Mortified and cresifallen, / was yer,
strongly tempted to follow the exampl,
Of the heroines In the sensation novels
and burst into tears; but crying, il is SAID
makes the nose red, and remembering
this ! forbCri.
] suppose Florence pitied me; she
must huye seen from the wocbcgone ex.
preston o; my face chat was in the Ia 81
stages OF humane endurance for she came
quickly to my side and laid her hand on
my arm.
"Como in Roy.' she said kindly
almost tunderly thought--6nd drew me
into small bourdoir opposite tho sitting
room. Things In the latter npartmeb,
were too nearly wrecked TO make il pleas.
ant for our occupation, suppose.
"There," abe said, seating me on tie
sofa by her side, and speaking in the con.
soling tone that one would use 10 a child
who had burnt his apron or broken the
sugar bowl, "dont think anything more
about it," She was wiping the blood
from pussy's autograph on my face with
her handkerchiel-"Accident will hap
pen you know"
She was close 10 me---her sweet face
30 very near mine--and the temptation
was SO great, may be excused, cspecial.
y em AiaH aiO uON III luF
habit of committing souch indiscretious.
threw my aims around her and paid
back the kiss I had kept so long. A
burning blush overspread her faco.
"Oh! how could you'll" she exclaimed
:eproachfully.
had gone too far to retreat. the words
which for years had filled my heart strug-
gled up to my lips and clamored for Ut
terance.
"Florcnce," ] cried passlonately, 81
love you and want you To- be mine
Take me and cure me Of the bushful folly
which has been tho bane OF my life."
She did not reply. l was in tumul
of fear aud hope, but sort Of desperate
courage kept me firm.
"One word, Florence, only one word
Am TO be consigned to Hades or Para.