Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1867-07-24

plaR to elope with her I've found 1t all
out-you needn't blush and
Il beg your pardon for interruPting
you" said I, "but I have never seen your
wife before. I perceive that she is not
Melinda the eldest daughter Of my faith
er's great uncle"
''Sir, do you deny that you are VIII
liam II. Jones? Do you deny that you
are in love with my wife"
81 am not Jones, I have not the hon
or, sir. Ny name is ParkweIl, Henry
Parkwell, of Squashville," and with q
bow I took myself of.
After that 1 had called at the resi-
deuce of three Smiths-and nothing Oc-
CURED worthy of note.
My next Mr.. Smith resided in Port
land street. Thither I bent my steps.
1t was a very small house-evidently
not the house of wealth and cleanliness.
I made my way up to the front door,
through a wilderness of old rags, broken
crockery. old tinware, &c, scattering a
| flock of hens, raising a snappish little
terrier from his nap on the steps.
4 red faced woman answered my rap,
and before I could make my customary
/ inquiry, she opened upon me like two
edged butcher knife.
"Wen, Of all the impudentrascals that
ever I saw, you beat the lot I want to
know if you had the cheek to come back
here again? You'd like to sell me an
other German silver teapot, and another
brass bottom pin to my dear Arminity-
wouldn't you?"
BY no means" said I. Il beg to in
form you
"Ob, you needn't beg! We don't be-
| lieve in beggaTs. I s'Pose you thought
/ 1 shouldn't know you-but 1 did l
should known that big black bag OF
yours in California Clear out of my
( premises Or I'll lay my broom handle
over you IF there's anything l hate its
a pedller-Cspocially rascal ike you. "
"Anow me to inquire, said I, eff Mr..
ESmith's wife was Melinda Bryue, the
eldest daughter of my fathers"
The broom stick was lifted ; I heard it
cut the air like a minnie ball, aud sprang
down the steps into the street at my best
pace.
An angry man I do not fear but who
can stand before an angry woman l had
rather face a roaring lion.
I called on two more Mr Smiths-still
unsuccessful in my search 1t was get
ting near dark, and l was anxious to
reach my destination.
NY next Nr. Smith was located in
Lenox street. 1t was twilight when l
rang the bell at the door.
A smiling fellow admitted me, fairly
forcing NE into the hall, before I could
utter a word.
"Walk rightin, sir, they are expecting
you The ladies will be down in mo-
ment. Miss Hattie is in the back par
lor. Walk in, sir"
was gently pushed toward the door
of a shadowy apartment, and at the en-
trance was announced:
"Mr. Henry p
The gas was not lighted and the apart
ment was in semi darkness. 1 heard a
soft quick foo tall on the carpet, and a
pair of arms fell around my neck, and a
pair of the sweetest lips on the footstool
touched mine; and good gracious-for a
moment the world swan and felt as
liz I had been stewed in honey, and dis
titled into Lubin's best triple extract Of
roses
ooh, Henry-my dearest and best
Why don't you kiss me, Henry?" cried
a voice like music, "have you ceased to
care for me?" and again the kiss was re-
peated.
Who could resist the temptation? I
am naturally diHident man, but l have
some human nature in me and paid her
principal and interest.
"Oh, Henry, I feared that being in
the army had made you cold hearted
good heavens!" She fell back against
chair pale as death. The servant had
lit the gas, and 1 stood revealed.
81 beg your pardon marm," said I
'sThere is evidently some mistake. May
| I inquire if Mr.. Smiths wife was Nelin-
da Bryne, the eldest daughter of my
fathers great uncle
The red flush came to the young lady's
cheek-was as handsome as a picture
she replied with courtesy.
"Sho was not. You will, I hope, ez-
cue me for the blunder have commit
ted? We are expecting my brother Henry
from the army, and your blue clothes de-
eeiyed me-"
"For which I shall always wear blue, "
I replied galIantIy. "Allow me to in
troduce myself-I am Henry ParkwelI
of Suuashvillo !" and in making my best
bow, l stumbled backward over an otto
man, and fell squash into a china closet
demolishing atleast a dozen plates and
as many glass tumblers.
I sprang to my feet, seized my bag
and without a word dashed out ef the
house.
I knocked over a man who was pass
. ing at the moment, and landed myself on
nv head in the gutter. The man pick,
ed himself up, and was about to 90 in on
his muscle, when the glare Of the street
lamp revealed to me the well-known face
of my John Smith.
"Eureka!" cried I, "allow me to inquire
if your wife was Melinda Bryne, the eld-
est daughter of my fathers great uncle
y Bryne?'
"She was, said he, grasping my hand
"and am delighted to see you. But,
confouud it, you needn't have come at a
fellow so p
But I must cut my story short.
He took me home with him, and I had
a good visit I saw Melinda to my hearts
content. Nay more-I met and was
properly introduced to Hattie Smith, and
= IL I - -. 1. :, -. 80 &C IN q.