The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1868-05-07

hand of Mr.. Clifford extended and
hear his gruG voice asking after my
health. shook his hand cordially
aud coughed distrossingly as replied
in voice implying weakness, but re.
solution, "Oh, shall be as strong as
ever, soon"
The law student who reads all Of
the foregoing may think he is iusti-
fed in saying that such duplicity was
dishouorable. do not, and WHY
For the reason that it was not done
with an evil intent. 1t was but the
crafty promptiugs Of love-a love
cousumiug--a love all powerful. Be
ing in the old goutleman's store on,
evening, | accidentally overheard
him tell a neighbor that his daughter
was bound and bent to teach school
as soon as her present term at college
had expired. My heart began t.
eaper about like a goat. She would
have to be examined by me as one OF
the three trusteosl Here was a di-
lemmal My cowardice began to in
vent excuses | would resign; would
be sick. No l wouldn't. ia stand
my ground-now or never.
That night after tumbliug aud toss
ing on my bed for three mortal houri
in vain endeavor to sleep, looking
where would seeing Lucy's black
eyes, l fell into a light doze and
dreamed that Lucy was teaching
school aud | was thrashing the big
boys for looking at her.
My examination was over the
sheep skin was in my hands, aud my
name was in the papers cmbelishcd
with the stereotyped information, that
was "a young man Of excellent
ability and great promise" l was
foolish enough to send n paper to
Lucy directed in a disguised hand, all
for fear she might not see the para
graph. You see when | finally dbl
muster the courage to talk with her
| hoped she would remember the par.
agraph with kindly interest.
Well, as the world moved on and
time regularly emptied and reflled
her glass, tue hour for Lucy's examiua
tion came. She camo with il. She
looked so bewitchingly beautiful, that
| wondered that the other members
of the board did not more pointedly
show their admiration, but then they
were married aud stupid. She was
well posted, too, and answered every
question so clearly and correctly that
getting her certificate became but a
question of time. You may rest as
sured that when L came to make out
the certificate the penmanship was
faultless, aud indeed, many blanks
were ruined in the arduous efforts |
made to write one to suit me. What
coward love makes Of some men!
After that | used to dodge around
corners when | saw Lucy coming
towards me to avoid moetinp her.
when at the same time, | would have
given all | was possessed Of (not much,
truly to have done so. Ono day
did meet her unexpectedly-no es
cape-and she bowed to me. That
put me in heaven for the balance OF
the day. So the days passed.
was in the store of Mr.. Clifford
one evening when he was telling two
of his neighbors that he had been
sued for an old debt, which he had
once paid, but on searching for his
evidence of payment was unable to
find it. He said he did not know
what to do. He turned to me, and
remarked;
"By the way, Hastings, I've a good
mind to put the matter in your hands
your first case, you know; ha, ha,
ha."
Very well, Mr.. Clifford, said I,
"I'll undertake it."
| straightway overwhelmed him
with questions relative to the matter
the time and place of payment, aud
soon learned the important item that
there was third party present-a
gardener, Jones by uame-who saw
the money paid. His abode was
however, now unknown. Thereafter
was interested in gardeners only
so much so, that even could moi
find time to visit the ledge of rocks
| studied horticulture, SO to speak,
and became acquainted with all the
gardeners in the town aud country.
knew that to find the particular gard
ener Jones, was to win my case. Al
length | got on the scent, aud | fol.
lowed it up like a bloodhound. 1t
led ME into an adjoining county.
sold my Sunday coat--a nice broad
cloth-to pay my expenses and went
to that county. l found the gardener
Jones at IL o'clock at night after
rousiug up several Jones families aud
receiving their compliments 10 curses
What cared l? I'd found the right
Jones at last---the gardner Jones
aud when he told inc in confident
tones that he remembered the trans
action, gave him my last half dollar
as witness fee, hugged him, and
told him if be failed to appear I'd
shoot him and burn his house down.
He came; saw and conquered. l won
the suit-made a great speech--was
invited home by Mr.. Clifford and
went--saw Lucy, walked with her,
talked with her. 1t may be said that
had a soft place some where.
had not, and never had. Those who
scOa at true love as a poetic thing, a
romancers stock in trade aud but a
sentimental phantasm. may support
the first proposition but l am conf
dent that ou my side, aud who would
as a jury absolye me entirely from
the appellation Of fool or softy, are
those who have felt aud know tho
power aud inexorableness of true
loye-a God planted instinct ia the
human soul, aud without which no
map or woman, aPProximates even, to
perfection.
But am near the end. One night
n \