The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-09-26

would be gladly reunited in loved
embrace. The minutes seemed hours
but at length the steamer came. Mr.
Il, in an ecstacy of delight, en-
Bfaced and kissed his wife and child
rem, and after. welcoming Miss Lena
the young lady-drove them home
Happiness reigned throughout the
household. The day was passed 10
romping with the children = those
dear little ones who had been, absent
so long lin. listening to stories. Of
journeys Through Germany and Swift
zerland, and in obantering Miss LENA
with having come 50, far away. from
home, not, to visit her relatives, but
to secure a husband In foreign
CLINE. Dinner was announced Away
scampered the children, and Mrs. l..
and Mr.. L.oand1 Miss Lena bringing
reach as and the happy family w sas
about seating Themselves, when the
sound of music in the distance was
heard. Each listened to the delicious
strains, which, .yc,
!" Like music Of the sweet South,
,fu9n Breathes upon a bank of violeis, p
Stealing and giving oiors,"58 wa
app preached the house. Away, out to
the front door, ran the children in
joyful glee. and after them Mrs. T..
. How delightful! What can it be ?p
inquired Miss LENA. "Some regi-
ment returning from parade, re-
sponded Mr.. L., seating himself qui-
city to discuss the elegant dinner he
had ordered to be prepared. just
then-O, horrori--Miss Lena, with a
look of unutterable misery and alarm,
clasped her skirts and gave forth
terrific ,sereami Good heavensl
What has happened?" exclaimed Mr..
L.. rushing frantically beside her,
There's something running up
my skirtsips she gasped, ,clasping
the aforesaid still tighter. o7 ''Some-
thing running up your skirts !aaWhat
can it be?"a and dropping upon one
knee, encircling Miss Lena's waist
with one arm, Mr.. L., commenced
cautiously to feel under her skirt for
the terrible Something =" OH Mr.. l..
Mr.. l.. what shall 1 do?" screamed
Miss Lena g''Be quiet. don't get
frightened said, Mr., L., when the
door opened and Mrs, L. appear
ed. What a situation Mr.. L.. upon
his knee, one arm about Miss Lena's
waist, the other-where? under her
skirts Mrs. L.. stood for a moment,
transfxed with indignation; throw
ing herself into chair, wept bitter
tears of shame, saying: 20,
George, 8 Georgel L never . could
have believed this of you--never.21
Mr. l.. tried to explain; Mrs. L.
would not listen. Miss Lena, con-
scious Of her Innocence, but realizing
the awfulness of the position in which
she had been placed, began to weep
as we'll as scream, when Mrs. L., feel
rushed angrily toward her, evidently
with the intention of doing her bodily
harm, when .a,large rat ran from be-
meath Miss .Lena's clothes Such a
time as there was thenl Mrs. L.,
folding her dress about her form,
jumped uponS.a chair. Miss Lena
tainted outright, and Mr.. T.,
seizing the poker, commenced with
his ratship race for life. Up and
down the room, here there, every.
where, ran the rat, followed closely
by Mr.. L. At length" Oh, twas
sorry sight with one fell swoop the
cause OF this terrible mishap was de-
functl f. 3'r1eq o. 'fll- 5ref
Mrs. L. could scarcely forgive herr
self for suspecting her dear George.
Miss Lena was restored to her con-
kissed Mrs. L. a dozen
times, and finally acknowledged the
position was rather strange one for
a married man. But DIR. L., after
having placed hors de combat his rat
ship, restored tranquility and laugh
his wife, and resolved within himself
that the next time be hunts for rats
under young lady's skirt it will be
away from home