Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-05-26
QD5io Statesrr1m,
THE VICTIMIZED LODGER.
BY PAUL CREYToN.

| OOWu duu his lOuBlHR dJ mTS. OOVey'S 3
rather sooner than he was expected. IL
was late in the evening, and having enter
ed by means of his night key, and finding
nobody stirring, he walked leisurely up to
his room.
This was the apartment Mr.. Derby al
ways occupied In Mrs. Covey's house; but
oil this occasion it seemed very little like
home. Before leaving town he had care
fully put away all his clothes in his trunks,
but during his absence revolutions had
been made in the room which gave iii diff
| ferent air. .r r7s.
Not the least disagreeable thing in the
room was darkness. Mr.. Derby entered
without lamp, expecting to find that de-
sirable article in the old place; but after
Knocking over an ink bottle, a vase and a
snuff box in his blind search, he concluded
that the wisest course would be to stop
swearing and 20 to bed in the dark.
In no very good humOr Mr.. BENJAMIN T..
Derby began to undress. To return home
after an absence of two weeks, and to be
obliged to go to bed in such dismal man
ner, almost broke his heart. He might
have rung for the servant, it is true; and
he might have reflected that his friends did
not expect him, but Mr.. Benjamin f. Der
| by chose to be angry and silent
"And where is Margaret Maria?" NUT
tered the unhappy man. "Oh, faithless
daughter of an unfeeling landlady! did
not expect this from you. When tore nv
self from your arms two weeks ago Won
protested with tears in your eyes and per-
hdy in your heart that you would watch
with anxious eyes of love, for my return.
Oh, this looks like it! Even now, know
you are making yourself merry with some
fresh conquest; if you are sleeping under
n g 81,
which have no share!" So saying, MIR.
Benjamin f. Derby threw his trousers on
a chair, and began to feel his way in the
darkness towards the head of the bed. At
this moment merry laugh close to his
chamber door startled him. Mr.. Derby
paused.
Margaret Marias laugh, by all that is
falseW grOaned Mr.. Derby. "She said she
would do nothing but sigh and weep dur
ing my absence-and hear her! All! she
laughs again the false hearted--"
MIR. Derby's reflections were suddenly
interrupted by the sound of hand grasp
ing the door latch With considerable
trePidation he flew t01Ock the door, but be-
fore he could reach it, merry laugh and
blaze of light, and two girls bust into the
room.
Now Benjamin F. Derby was a very
LAOuOob pOIoOll, anu III WAS u lucky ClrCuIn-
stance for him that the closet door was aiar,
the retreat convenient, and his limbs active.
He lodged out Of sight before the girls had
time to cast their eyes about them; and
soon the door was shut and Mr.. Derby's
ears pinned back.
what time do you suppose 1t is ?" asked
Margaret Maria. "There, the bells are
striking twelve. Oh, hain't we had a gay
time, Susanf"
"Gay enough! ha! ha! but wouldn't
your poor absent Derby be amused if he
knew
''Ha! ha! hal" laughed Margaret Maria.
My poor, dear, absent Derby! That is too
good! If he knew, poor fellow, it would
break his heart. He thinks l do nothing
but sigh and weep during his absence. Am
L such a gOOse" .s.
such a goose! ohm groaned Derby,
painfully interested. "Ohr
"Such goose!" echoed Susan. "He
wouldn't think of it if he had seen YOU eat
ing oysters with Dan Robbins"
IL only hope" added Margaret Maria,
shat he will keep away week longer"
Derby was trembling with excitement
burning with rage; but now he felt a
new source of uneaSiness. The discovery
of his pantaloons might lead to the dscov-
cry of himself Had he been dressed he
would have liked nothing better than to f,
confront the pertidious Margaret Maria, but
for the present, it was not to be thought of.
He felt himself blushing all over in spite of
the cold. To his relief, however, the girls,
after making sure that there was nobody in
or under the bed, did not seem disposed to
inquire into the mystery of the pantaloons;
but Margaret Maria exclaimed:
"I'll tell you what I'll do, Sue. I'll dress
a., ~
widow Slade's room. She'll think it is a
man; and won't she b,efrightened, thought"
Enlightened? NOH' cried Susan. 'She's
had two husbands. But do it. See what
she will do" .'
81 will. Here, help me, Susan. Ha, ha!
and here's a hat too. How kind In some
BODY to leave all their clothes here"
$50 that we can have this room?"
"No-not exactly that-but Dan has in
Vited me to 90 to ball on Thursday night,
and you know l couldn't go if my poor,
lear, absent Derby should come home in !
,he meantime"
Derby in his hiding place, was trembling
with cold and wrath. .f .
"You mean to marry Derby, then ?" ask
ID Sue.
81 suppose shall," cried Margaret Ma
ia gaiy. 81 like to firt with Dan, and if
le had as many dollars as my poor, dear,
Lbsent Derby"
You W ould choose DAMP"
"To be sure would; he amt such fool
"Derby. Ha, hal But what is this? A
,oat and pair of -pantaloons ~ ...
"GOOd gracious! How did they come
lere?"
Derby-poor, dear, present Derby-was
)reathing very hard, his heart beat heavily,
md every nerve shook. What the deuce
vas he to do if Margaret Maria went off
With his pants he could in no way deter
nine; and from the exceedingly interest
ng conversation which was going on he
lnew that his worst fears were to be re-
llized. ........ ...t...
"Oh, amt it fit" cried Margaret Maria.
Only turn up the trousers five or six
nches, and | shall be fixed. here, black
ny upper lip with this piece of coal.
,han't | make love toyou? Ha, ha amt
dashing tellow?"
And Derby could hear somebody laugh
ng as though she could not help it. l8 : O.
A moment after the girls had left the
oom Derby stole timidly from his hiding
,lace. Margaret Maria had taken the lamp
nd his clothes with her; she had left dark
Iess and her own clothes behind. A hap
" thought struck the unhappy Derby. In
II haste, he enrobed himself in Margaret
Ilaria's gown, then he threw her shawl
,yer, his shoulders, and threw on her bonnet
nd veil. His eyes having been aecustom-
d to darkness, he could see to do this
Without difficulty. In five minutes he was
eady to follow Margaret Maria and Susan. +
During this time there was great deal of
aughing up stairs. Margaret Maria, in
larhu1a attire went tO Mrs Slale's room |