The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-12-24
The ViCtimized Ledger.

nlDg, uUu uuNlhS oHt'iSN ny nICuHo
of his night key, and finding no
one stirring, he walked leisurcly
up to his room.
THIS was the apartment Mr.
Derby had always occupied in
Mrs. Covey's house; but on this
OCCASION il seemed very littlo like
homo. Before leaving town be
had carefully put away all his
clothes in his trunks, and during
his>absence other revolutions had
been made in the room which
gave it different air.
Not the least disaQrceablc thing
in the room was darkness. Mr..
Derby had entered without lamp,
expecting TO find that desirable
article in the old place; but after
knocking over an ink bottle, a vase,
and a snuff. box, in his blind search,
he concluded that the W scst course
would be 10 stop swearing and go
to bed in the dark.
In no very good humor Mr..
Benjamin Derby began to VI dress.
TO return home after an absence
Of two weeks, and to be obliged TO
60 to bed in such dismal man
ncr, almost broke his heart. lie
might have rung for the servants,
it is true; and he might reflect that
his friends were oxcusablc, since
they did not expect him; but Mr..
Benjamin +. Derby chose TO remain
angry and silent.
"And where is Margaret Maria?"
muttercd the happy man. "Oh,
iaithltss daughter Of an untceIing
landiady! / didn't expect this
from you! When ! toro myself
from your arms two weeks ago you
protested, with tears in your eyes
and pcrfdy in your heart, that
you would watch, with the an2.
ious eyes Of love, for my return!
Oh, this looks like it! Even now,
| know you are making Yourself
merry with some fresh conquest,
or, if you are sleeping under this
roof, you are dreaming OF pleasure
in which | have no share!" So
saying Mr. Benjamin F. Derby
threw his trousers on a chair, and
began to gropc his way in darkness
10 tie head Of the bed. At this
moment a merry laugh, close to
bis chamber door, startled him.
Mr. Derby paused. la..
Margaret Maria's laugh by all
that is false!" groaned Mr.. Derby.
"She said she would do nothing
but sigh and weep during my
absencc-and hear her! abl she
laughs again! The false heart
ed"
Mr.. Derby's reflections were
suddenly Interrupted by Il souu1
of n hand grasping his door'latch'
With considerable trepidution he
flew to lock the door; but before
be could reach it, merry laugh
and blaze OF light and two girls
burst into the room.
Now Mr.. D. was very modest
person. and it was lucky clrcum'
stance for him that the closet door
was ajar, the retreat convenient, and
his limbs active. He dodeed out
of sight before tho girls had time
to cast their eyes about, the door
was shut, and MIR. Dis ears pinned
back.
'"What time do you suppose ii
is?" asked Margaret Maria -
"There, the bells arc striking
twclvel Oh, huin't we had Il gay
time, Susan?"
Gay cnoughr was Susan's re
ply. "Ha! ba! but wouldn't your
poor, dear, absent Derby be anus
ed il he knew"
"Ha! ha! hal laughed Margare
Maria.
My poor, dear, absent Derby
That is too good |! If he knew !
Poor follow, it would break hi
heart. lie thinks l do nothing
but sigh and cry during his absence
Am such a goose?
"Such a goose? Oh!' groanet
Dorby, painfully interested. "Oh!
"Suc6 goose!'' echoed Sue
"He wouldn't think of ii If he ha'
seen you ea'irg tho oysters will
Dan Robbins"
81 only hope" added Margarc
Maria, "tbat he will keep away
week longer" .. .y.. ..
80 that we can have thi
room?"
"No-not exactly that-but D0,
has invited mo TO 20 to II ball oil
Thursday night and you know
couldn't go j my poor dear, absen
Derby should come back in th
mean time
Derby was trembling with COLI
and wrath 10 1lS... . 4sld aH'
"You mean to marry Derby
then ?" asked Susan. ity
II suppose ! shall" cried MAJ
garct Maria, gayIy. al like
firt with Oar, and if he had 4
many dollars as my poor, deaj
9 absent Dcrby--"r al
. "You would choose Dan?''
ITO be sure, / would. lie ain
IS such fool U.s." #.t
Is In derby, Hal hal But what
i this. A Acoat, a pairof pantaloons
"Goodness gracious! How dl
they come here?"
mr. Derby was trembling with e.
III citement-burning with rage; b'
now he felt new source OF u
Is Is easinees. The discovery OF b
~ pantaIoons might lead to the dl
,,Gi:, ctovery Of himself. Had he BET
m dressed, be would have liked not
~ ing better than to confront Il
4 l.