New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-10-29
THE CLAYDESTINE COURTSHIP.

this long time between the Democratic party
and Mr.. Johnson, lies in the fact that the en-
amored couple think themselves the sole pos
SCISSORS of the secret while in reality there
is mt a man to be met who does not know all
about if. The first meeting of the lovers was
public enough, but the conduct of the destined
bride on this occasion so little resemblcd what
the world is used to at such times that 1t Is
not to be wondered at, if we were all thrown
n little off our guard. Miss Johnson showed
as tart a temper and spoke as mclvllly us
Lady Beatrice herself, and to those who sup
posed she meant what she said, there seemed
little enough likelihood of her ever marrying
Benedick. She swOre She hated traitors ana
would sooner shoot a Copperhead than KISS
one; that Democrats were not to he trusted
and that in her eye they were little better than
Rebels; with a good many more hot ana tcSty
words of the same sort so that she seemed to
he nossessed with sort of fury, and the
Democratic party, turning his qud disconso-
lately in his mouth, and squirting tobacco
mice abstractcdly over the bcauty's floor, lelt
her with heavy heart, and cursed the day
that ever he tried TO marry a shrew. turning
at the door for n last look at the fair terma-
CANT what was his delight to see her TIP HIM
an unmistakablc wink from behind her fan,
whercupon ne gave a great gup and swallowed
his grief. took fresh Qud, and swOre round
oath or two to himself, by way of thanksgly-
ing. and splitting right and left like very
llama. as is the way of happy Democrats he
left the house To await further developments.
There were not wanting sharp-oyed people
who even saw the wink which the Presidential
i. tit.fr frat 81
Ing. but nobody could be 80 blind n not to see
the progress of the courtship. No day passed
without billet -doux, which which were secretly
let down from the windows by strings To where
our Democratic friend was always IN wait
messages were sent him by telegraph, ANA II
was not long before the lady began TO tutn
ont of her employ all her old servants even
those who had brought her mp and taken care
of her from childhood, and put her new lovers
friends and relatives IN their places. She gave
them the keys of all the cupboards. told them
to help themselves to whatever they wanted,
and to send the bill in to her uncle, and IN
every way she could manifested her desire to
be on with the new love no matter what
became of the old.
Everybody saw what was going on. ana
laughed in his sleeve ut it, though the opinion
was general that the match was a bad one for
both parties. But what surprised every one
was that each of the engaged ones seemed
ashamed of the business, and replied TO all
questions with positive dcnials. The gentle
man (by which, as we are speaking alegor-
cally, we may explain, we mean the Demo
Gratis denied the insnuatiOn with dcrslye
ieers, and even went the extreme length OF
utteIing slurs upon the lady's character which,
indeed was 10 better than it should be; but
the lady cursed and swoTe like Queen Eliza
beth, and vowed vengeance on any friend OF
hers who should even so much as hint that a
person of her dignity and her position would
ever stoop TO such a connection. However, 1t
was not long after this when the two went off
on a long journey together at her uncle's cx-
pense, and ms the lady took her staff of ser
wants with her, and plenty of liquor and
cigars to say nothing of sandwiches, it may
easily be imagined that the courtship didn't
flag, and in truth the evidences of mutual
affection were so strong that very many
persons in the country they went through in
sisted on believing the gentleman and lady
man and wife, and congratulated, or cOmmiser-
ated, them accordingly. But for all that they
evidently loved one another to distraction, 1t
seemed they could not bear to have 1t
thought so, and they have gone on denying 1t
with a shameless persistency from that day to
this.
The last ludcrous evidence of their blind
perversity is only a few days old. Bcnedick,
who for several years past has been out OF
business in consequence of being found out III
some of his nefarious doDgs, received n letter
quite unexpectedly, telling him that an old gem
tleman in Pennsylvania, whom he had supposed
dead and buried, had still n little breath IN his
body, and had had as paraly tics and bed-Iidden
people are wont, little rallying of the vital
forces lust before dissolution. In this brief in
terval he had expressed wish to send mes
sage to his old friend Bcnedick and to show
that he still remembered him, inclosed HIM
few scraps of mutilated currency. which he
hoped he Knight be able to get little com
fort out of.
1t is quite incredible the state of excitement
our friend was thrown into by this little god
send Selling an old banjo from its dusty cor
ner and arming few Of his friends with what
ever bagpipe or fife they could lay hands on,
he smartened himself up, put on clean
dickey. washed his face, took several drinks,
and was about to set out for the White House,
the name of Beatrcc's country seat and give
her serenade, when it suddenly occurred to
| him that such proceeding would let the eat
of his engagement ont of the bag OF secresy.
IT, said he. | sing under her balcony, what
will people think; will they not be certain that
| love her. and sure that | am to marry herr
And am | prepared to sacrifice my possible
future fortunes by ayowipg such a low connec-
] l.. Il. IL tt.l a. d.