Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-03-02


somebody may CONS In. -
"Never u said the old hero, stontly,
seeing his advantage, and determined
to have its full benefit, sat any rate,
not till you promise to marry me r
"A form passed the window. This
time Mrs. Taragon was really frlghten-
ed. 81 will, she said hurriedly, "now
git up, and sit down"
Mr.. Pompadour leaped to his feet
with the agility of boy--of sixty, and
imprinted kiss lovingly upon the
lady's nose, there not being time to
capture the right place on the first as
sault. What followed we will leave to
the imagination of the reader.
1t was now October, and the trees
had adorned themselves in their my
RAD dyes. . The maple had on crimson,
the hickory rich gold, and the oak a
deep scar'Ht; while the pine and the
hemIock .ningled with brighter tints
the living green. -aFl o4
To the woods one balmy day Angus
tus and Terpsichore went together, to
gather leaves for wreaths and screens
Both were carelessly happy. and the
pines echoed their merry voices as they
laughed nd.sang. At length the basket,
which Augustus carried, was filed with
gorgeous booty, aud they sat down up
on q fallen'log, while Terpsichore wove
garland for her hair. No wonder that
9 the tranquil beauty of the scene
their noisy mirth become hushed.7 No
wonder that, as the sun stole through
the branches, and like Jove of old fell
in shower Of gold about them, upon
both their hearts fell the perfect peace
of lovel With the full tide of this
feeling came to Augustus the resolve to
know his fate; for he felt TIA t upon
that answer hung his destiny. -r ~,
They, sat in silence while he tried to
teach his tongue the language of his
heart. Then he glanced timidly at the
maiden, but her head was dropped low
over the wreath, and her cheeks re-
fiected its crimson dye. ;-s.. -,-.
Miss Taragon," he said at length,
abruptly, s.were you ever in love ?"
She startened like a frightened bird.
The rich blood fed to, her heart and
left her face palid as marble. -lfal - :
"lEI-~.dog't know, " she stammered.
ssWhy doyou ask me snch question r.
Es "sBeoause," he said,. s'then- you may
how Ifeel, and pity met o Terpsi-
Chore ," he added passionately, " /
love you with my whole soul, and if
you will but bless ma with your love,
my whole life shall be devoted to your
happiness, " q.
q And SO he talked on in an impetuous
strain, of mingled prayer and protesta-
ton, which was invented long before
the invention of printing.
Terpsichore's heart beat wildly The
color came and went in her cheeks, and
she turned her head away to conceal
her emotion. se -s3
za The wreath lay finished in her lap !;
and at last, with q bright smile, she
placed it on his brow and, clasping
his hand ia both her own, she kiss
ed him on the forehead. An now We
might as well leave them alone TO-
gether.
Mrs. Taragon, having made sure of
MIR. Pompadour, now proceeded to car
nv out her plan of throwing Obstacles
in the way of the young people. Au-
gustus, of course, was aware of her
complete information in regard to his
'fpropefsy qualifications, and attribute
ed her disfavor to personal dislike. -
Whatever her motives however, her
actions were nnequivocal and Terpsi-
chore, especially, had sorry time of
it. So uncomfortable did matters be-
come, that, upon review of the situa-
ton, and an'eloqeut appeal from Angus
tus, she consented to take with him
that irrevocabIe step, to Virgil un-
doubtedly alluded under the fine figure
of s'Descensus Averni," in plain Eng
lish, they resolved to run away and
be married,
= L will not weary the reader with de-
tails of the preliminaries. They are un-
important to my narrative. A note,
dispatched by Augustus to the Rev.
Ebenezer Fiscuel, informed that gen.
tIeman that about half past ten o'clock
of an appointed evening he would be
waited ON by couple DESTROYS of be-
ing united in holy matrimony. g ~
Augustus arranged to have carriage
in waiting under Terpsichore's window
about ten O'Clock, and, with the aid of
a ladder and the above mentioned
clergyman, he hoped to settle the vex-
ed question of'the property, and render
all further opposition to their union of
an epp0st fdctO character.
e The evening came and it found Mrs.
Taragon and her daughter seated to-
gether in the parlor. Terpsichore was
crocheting net, which, like Pene-
lope's, grew very slowly. Shewas ner-
vous and fidgety. Her eyes wandered
restlessly from her mother to the door,
and she started at the slightest sound.
Mrs. Taragon seemed uncommonly sus-
picious and alert. She was reading,
but had not turned a leaf for half an
hour. She glanced furtyely and con-
.tinually about the room.
sfShe has found us out" tho't Terpsi-
chore, and her heart almost stopped
beating. With great effort she control
led herself, and had recourse to strate-
gem. '' s-'>
Mother, dear" she said, dropping
the net in her lap, you look tired; why
don't you go to bed 2" 80
"Oh, no, darling" said the widow,
cheerfully, 81 don't feel bit weary
But your eyes look red, and 1 think
you had better retire"
"No, mamma, not yet" she replied,
81 want to finish this net. / have done
so little upon it lately" il97o2
A slight shade of vexation crossed
the face of the widow. III -. o,Ey
=. IF you had devoted yourself to the
net" she said spitefuly, sit would
have been finished.
Terpsichore blushed guiltily. Angus
tus had spent more than two hours with
her that day; and she felt present
ment that impending wrath was about
tn descend on her devoted head. ~