The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1865-01-12
II PREBtE co, TlTVRsDAY, JANUARY ~, 1865.

that noble young lady. 9Or, she |
went on, hanging upon the cQuct,
arm, "it it shouldn't, and any acci
dent shouEdihappen, Lshall perish |
in my own defense Saying this, |
Aunt Tab tossed up her arms, AID
fell lcugthways upon tho hearth
ped sns-y = T. |
# 1.-The newspapers would be full
Of it" admirmgly sighed that o!d !
noodle Mrs. Leeson, who had 3 pin
between her teeth, and was slyIy
gathering up her torn dress. L
saw it ali! My aunt, / knew,
had received an invitation to 60 n
IL visit into Lincolnshire, and she
had crazed herself over the news
paper accounts OF the dangers to
which ladies were exposed on the
railway, until, under the foolish
encouragement Of Ier companion,
she was having recourse 10 these
ri i,iculous schemes OF preservation;
and the two were then engaged in
the very act OF rehearsin" railway
alta ks 0nl dcfen,' $ My aunt
was now ga'Loring herself up from
the rug. and | gently reclosed the
door. had not lodged in the
same mouse with my relative very
long; but I kuew her veil enough
TO understand that any open inter-
ference on my part would only
make matters worse. But what
was to be done! The very next
day sic WAS 10 start for Lincoln.
shire; and felt convinced that if
she intended travelling with those
notions in her head, and weapons
OF those descriptions in her bands,
something not Included in the re-.
, hearsals would be- certain TO result.
As iIl.luck. too, would have It,
Cousin Ned, who, like ny8elt, on
being sent up to town, had Gvoa
placed under Aunt Tabs care, wGn!
oil into Wales h0liduying nearly a
week ago, had nobody to con'
sult with, and. OF course, could not
disclose this prepostcyous conduct
OF my respected relative to any
stranger.
At dinner that day my aunt ap
pcared with a large red bruise on
her forehead, over the right eyGy
brow; and in the course Of talk she
asked me, in On accidental way,
how persons managed to use tfexi'
Bile life pIsaervers without hitting
themselves instead of their assail-
ants? The red mark was at once
explained, My eccentric relative
had been practicing with life
preserver, and had given herself Il
tap by awkwarllY manipulating : it,
! tQIt Il secret delight or obs@."iug
that Widow Lesson did not seem
to have conc off scot free; she was
walking decidedly lame Of one leg
and there were taint traces Of dis.
coloratioa noar one eye. SAo said
she had !;aoclc,, herself gains. a
door; and stared very curiously at
me when | replied it was q good
job it was not a railway carriage
door-thoy were so thick and hard,
| added, by way OF explanation. -
In the course Of that evening, du
ring my aunt aid Mrs. Lessons
absence, making some purchases
connected with the morr0w'E Jour.
ney, l cont,ived 10 penetrate into
their rooms; and, 10! Nil the dress
ing table in Aunt Tabs chamber |
found an old,fashioned dagger
with au ugly blade ct the least
eight inches long,, Thale'6one
connected, and lead .knnbbed life
preserver, aud a six barrelled Colts
revolver! | recognized each one
Of the murderous Implements at a
glance. My cousin Ned, who had
gone demented Oh the Volunteer
question, had constituted his bedr
room horrible armory Of ell kinds
of weapons, offensive and defen,
siye. The instruments before me
knew formed a pant Of his awful
stores. aud my aunt must have
helpcl herself to them since he
left home. Upon closer examina-
tion of the pistol, 1 found that no
less than four barrels were loaded,
: and that caps, were ready placed on
all the nippfes. AT some personal
risk, for I don't much understand
six.ba.reled revolvers, ] managed
to get one charge out, and felt a
sensible melton among my hair a.
sight of the three balls which il
had included. 1t was tho same
with the other loaded barrels, ma.
king twelve bullets in all; and
breathed much freer when,I had
extracted the last, and substituted
a very light paper wadling in eacI,
caSe.
Upon the return of !hu two la
dies from shopping, they s!l}t
themselves up 10 their own sittias,
rooiu. and, 'rom 10 tingnlar noises
witch were TO b. heard, 7 fe't sat,