The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-02-10

from the house while our cruel friends re.
posed in the arms of Morpheus, hie US on
the wings Of love to the nearest city
Janet would become, in a moments time,
Mrs. Jason.
At once We set about making prepara-
tons for our important journey. Every
thing, Of course, must be conducted with
the greatest secrecy. At IL O'Clock I was
to leave my home stealthily, get my fathers
nag noiselessly out of the barn and harness
her, and then proceed to Janet. Janet
was to be waiting for me at her chamber
window. Twas to place q ladder at tho
same window-she was to descend that
ladder-we were to fly down to the road,
through the old lane, to the spot where
the horse was fastened, and then the wind
should not outrun Us.
There was but one difficulty in the way.
Janets room was shared by her sister
Fanny, little mischievous creature of
eleven years, who, to use Janets words,
"was awake at all hours of the night"
There was but one way, if Fanny was
aroused she must be bribed into silence.
For that purpose placed in Janet's hand
round shining dollar. But Janet needed
assistance, 80 she concluded to make Fan
ny her con6dant the very afternoon before
We started, and in that case prevent all
possibility of raising the house by a sudden
Outcry.
Well, the long looked for, hoped for, yet
dreaded night arrived at last How slowly
its leadened feet carried away the hours,
and what a heartful Of emotion bore up
as sat by my chamber window, looking
out upon the home of my father. The
moon was out in all her splendor, she was
kind to me, lighting up with her slvery
torohes all the spots my eyes might wish
| to rest upon before went out in the world
| wanaerer. The broad fields lay out
smooth and shining before my gaze-the
fields in which I had worked by my fathers
side since was q little boy-ah! dear
kind father he had been. cat this juno
ture my throat began to swell.) turned
away from the window.
III l could but see my mother once
more!" l exclaimed, rubbing my eyes with
my coat sleeve. "No one ever had
better mother than l."
sat down in q chair and sObbed out
right. l looked around for something to
take with me that my mothers hand had
blessed with her touch. There was spin
ming wheel in the room where I slept, at
the end of the spindle hung wooden roll.
With my knife half cut and half tore it
of, pressed it fervently to my lips, and
then placed it tenderly in my vest pocket.
| had no time to do more the old clock
in the kitchen warned me selemnly that
my appointed time had arrived, and With
q slow, yet noiseless step, left the house.
Once out in the open air my wonted
lightness of spirit returned. I consoled
myself with the thought that in a few
years ! should return again, q strong, heal
thy, influential man, an honor to my pa-
rents, blessing to my friends, and the
husband of Janet.
have often wondered since how sue
ceeded in getting away from home. With
out arousing any one. But, as luck would
have it, l made q triumphant exit from the
old place, and in few moments was log.
ging along towards the house of Janet.
Ny only dread was OF the little sprite
Fan. II, after all, she should betray Us.
what-a dreadful, frghtful mischief it would
be! What wretched predicament affairs
would be in! l groaned aloud at the
thought, yet l put brave face on the mat
ter. said if it was right that we should
60, we should go; if it wasn't right, in all
probability we should stay at home; yet,
right or not right, if that miserable little
Fan should betrsy Us, I'd spend all my
days in avenging the wrong-that was cer-
tain. Was in earnest? Did l mean ite
But We shall see.
How earnestly and anxiously gased to-
wards the chamber window of Janet, az,
after fastening my horse by tho roadside, l
walked cautiously up the long lane that led
to the doctors house. o, joy inexpressi-
BILE! the waving of a white handkerchief
IN the moonlight told me that everything
was right-that in few moments should
clasp Janet fondly to my breast, mine,
mine, forever! Ah! how happy was -
so happy, indeed, that I stood still there
in the moonlight, with my hands pressed
firmly to my left side, for fear nv over
loaded heart would burst from me entire
ly. What figure I must have cut then
What an Apollo / must have looked. With
my fine proportions wrapped in nv we'd
ding suit! was slender was tali~J
was gaunt-I am sure was ugly looking
at that moment
What possessed me l cannot tell-but
from an old chest l had taken a blue
broad-cloth swallow-tailed coat that had
belonged to my grandfather in the time of
the wars, and in the pride of my youth had
got into it. The tails came nearlv In nv
heels, while the waist was nearly to nv
armpits. The sleeves reached to the tins
of my fingers, hiding entirely from view
the luxuriant pair of white silk gloves /
had allowed myself for the important oc-
casion. Above this uncouth pile of blue
broadcloth was perched hat. o, ye stars
and moon look upen it, testify with me
that it was a hat!-a hat and not stove