Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-07-30

have detected the laughing devil in one half the
pretty sparklers that made the room terrestrial

pretty sparklers that made the room terrestis
galaxy.
He was not long finding his way to his house
solitary enough indeed, and sadly wanting
good house wife to keep it in order He seate
himself at his table, drew out his gold d-mounte
spectacles, hummed religious air or two, an
then, as if suspecting that the prying Dinah Q
his agreeable solitude and break the charm O
his meditations, he softly bolted the door, an,
| again seated himself before the mysterious epis
| tie. The letter was at length opened and hi
eyes eagerly traced the following lines.
Dear SI-I have frequently seen you a
Church and on the street-your person ant
bearing have pleased me. Excuse the methot
have taken of introducing myself, but, if 20,
would know more of me, station yourself at th,
gate of the town fountain this evening at {
o'clock.
Yours devotedly, 49,,
To Pheleg Potts, ESQ.,
| P. S.-Please lean on the gate that I ma!
know you. E.
| The Deacon pondered and pondered, HI
thought over all his past loves from bloomy ff
teen up to the present date, he brought to minC
all the hoaui that had fitted before his visior
during the past six months. He remembered
a fair stranger who had passed him twice sew
eral days before, on the Main Street; botf
times he caught her glance, and both times hi
vanity led him to believe that it expressed some
thing indefnable. He determined to fathon
the mystery-this Elizabeth might be an heir
ess; accomplished beautiful, one who had de-
| vised this romantic method Of leading him te
his good fortune He awaited the hour with
great impatience. Before seven he had kicked
four cats down stairs, upset a globe of gold
| fishes belonging to Efie, rated Dinah soundly
| for her tardiness, asked twenty times if his
| daughter had yet come from the fair, read fifty
pages of "Celebs in search Of wife, !" without
knowing word of their contents, and beat the
| back of his favorite terrier to jelly! At tea
he upset the urn, ate Potomac herring, bones
and all, took salt for his sugar, and twelve times
pulled out his watch.
The tasteless meal over, he was off in a tan
gent, neatly dressed and perfumed from top to
toe. At q quarter before eight he approached
the gate of the Town Fountain the moon in
her first quarter shone dimly over the bubbling
spring, and not a soul appeared by to mar his
anticipated interview with the beautiful un-
known. Alas for the frailty of human hopes
| As he neared the gate, he perceived a stranger,
| wrapped in Spanish cloak leaning upon it,
He walked to the gate and very politely re-
quested the man to let him pass into the enclo-
sure. The stranger nodded and opened the
gate, again resuming his leaning posture after
Potts had passed through. A short walk to
and fro-a mouthful or two of the cooling bev-
erage-.a short glance at the young moon and
the blinking stars, and another at his watch,
occupied our hero for about quarter of an
hour. A distant chime Of the town clock told
the hour OF eight-and, still there stood the
stranger, and no fair ancog could be seen in the
dim mist. Mr. Potts began to be inpatient
how to gain possession of the gate he could not
imagine, the stranger must be placed aside, or
he would be taken for the real Simon Pure
He walked up and down with hurried strides,
apparently. to the no small annoyance of the
stranger who appeared to be counting his steps
with as much regularity as culprit would the
tick of second-h hand clock on the last hour of
his existence.
The crisis approached half hour passed !;
like two opposing Generals, the parties kept at
bay, occasionally using little strategy in order
to proclaim their determinations to finch
When one whistled ''Settin' on RAIL- the
other replied with ''Go to the d, and shake
yourself" Thus lasted the stubborn recon-
noitre until the clock struck nine, still no pat
ting of little foot or gentle rustng of silk told
the approach Of the fair one. The patience of
Mr.. Potts began to wane, although he. still
hoped on, for the non-appearance OF the beau
tiful Elizabeth" he very naturally attributed
to the faced determination of the stranger to
possess the gate.
''Have you any particular business here, sir"
said he, resolutely walking up to the intruder,
for he was determined to dispute the ground
with him.
That's not fair question, sir" was the
1T is fair question, sir. I have private
appointment, and as long as you remain here
there is one too many"
'The world is large enough for both of us,
sir.
"But the gate is not, sir,
sFirst come, first served. l claim it by pri-
ority."
s'Sir!" calculated the stranger.
sYou are endeavoring to pry into other peo-
ple's affairs"
"Come sir-be careful; allow me to say that
you have placed the saddle on the wrong horse.
I am here by especial invitation"
"And I too, sir-I too," replied Potts sha-
king the billet in the strangers face.
''No violence, SIR rejoined the stranger, who
was man past the meridian Of life. Il can
show document too. Here it isl and he
drew from his pocket letter similar to that
displayed by the Deacon.
Il dare you to read that letter, sir" said
Potts fercely.
II defy you to read your bogus invitation -
replied the stranger with equal wrath.
I'VE will compare notes, if you please" an
swered Potts beginning to scent a magnificent
rat.
agreed" exclaimed the stranger.
The letters were opened and compared by the
dim light of the moon. They were word fol
| word the same, only differing in their address.
'We have been sold, sir," said Potts, biting
| his lips with vexation.
Decidedly so," was the calm rejoinder.-
| ''Lets go take drink"
II never drink
'0Then smoke"
81 never smoke"
'What the devil do you do ?'
| II am deacon of the Church, and can beal
up against disappointment with christian forti
tude."
''Im not quits with that Post Mistress yet, >
growled the stranger, taking the Deacon's arm
in his and drawing him from the enclosure.
They had not proceeded many steps towarG
the Main Street when they heard loud laugl
behind them, and, turning, they observed tht
forms of two ladies moving briskly through tht
| shrubbery and in an opposite direction to tht
course they were pursuing. Potts mourned fo
his lost dignity, while the stranger laughed ant
gave it as his unbiased opinion that it was :
good ioke-'sbut he knew better one, which
| the girls would acknowledge some Of thes'
days."
Potts sneaked to his chamber, while tn,
stranger sought his at the hotel. The Fai
continued for three days longer, but the pres
oP La,,f tho noooor hIycv fO affand