The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1868-01-08

Il IL
night praycr.mcctings of his church, and
was generally absent about two hours.
Besides meeting at the houses of ouE
friends we agreed that should visit her
at. homo while her fatherwa at prayer
meeting.
sThis plan worked admirably for
while, but like everything human, broke
down at last. One night Jenny and
were costly chatting in the parlor, when
we heard the rattle of a latch key in the
front door, Jenny sprang up in alarm.
a.Therc's papa she exclaimed, what
shall we do {? You can't get through the
back way, and he is at the front door,
"My first impulse was to rush up to the
major. anu upset him if he gotin my way;
but q moments reflection convinced me
that would never do, and just then |
heard the front door closed and locked.
resolution was taken in q moment.
"'Open the parlor door, | said to Jen-
nv, in whisper, 'and do nothing to
arouse his suspicion
"Jcnny opened the parlor door, and l
placed myself behind it. AS / did so the
major entered tho room. tromblod in
every joints if he should shut the door l
should be discovered. I had not thought
of this when l selected my place of con-
ccalment.
"sShut the door, said the Major as he
came in.
"soh no, papa, she exclaimed, hurried
| ly, it's so warm in here that | want air,
and she pushed the door back 80 far that
she nearly crushed me.
"sWarm ? said the old man, sharply,
warm p You must DO dreaming. 1t Is
freezing out of DOORS
"I'm. gono.' | thought, and prepared
myself for q scufilo.
@Howover,' said the major, lit may bo
warm here, for you have terrible tlre IN
that stove. You may leave the door
open.' ~,
"a load was taken from my mind. The
old man sat in the parlor for at least half
an hour and that time ho devoted to
abusing me, and telling jenny about my
| impudence in wanting to marry her.
Sometimes I was indignant at the injus-
tice of his rcmarlls,-but as a general
thing could scarcely restrain my laugh
ter. Ny position was trying one. |
was compelled to get up as close to the
wall as possible, in order to avoid attract
ing the majors attention, and to breathe
as lightly rs l could. The cold draught
which eame in through the crack OF tho
door produced constant inclination to
cough, and was in mortal dread least |
should yield to it and bctray myself The
Ehalt hour seemed to me like thirty years
instead of so many minutes, and was
elated beyond description when | at last
saw the old man get up and leave the
room. AS he went out he closed the door
after him, and as we heard him ascending
tho stairs to his chamber, Jenny and l
broke into hearty laugh.
"sYou are safe for the present. she said,
tbut you must 60 away at once. 1t will
not be prudent to let you out at the front
door, as papa will hear US, 30 you must go
out at the window
"Thc window was raised softly, and
giving Jenny kiss, | sprang out Of it, |
had scarcely touched the ground when l
was seized by the collar, and q rough
voice demanded to know why had left
the house in that way. Looking up L
found myselfin tho hands OF watchman.
While was hcstating what to say, Jen-
ny, who had heard the question, said to
the watchman:
".It's all right, policeman; the front
door key has been misplaced, and the
gentleman had to leave the house through
the window
"sWho are you?' asked the watchman.
"sI am Miss Shorter she replied, 'and
the gentleman is Mr.. Sturgis, friend of
my father :,
"sIf you say so, Miss, l suppose it's all
right, said the watchman releasing me,
but he muttercd as he turned away,
'it's very queer to 90 business in that
style
.sTbc next morning, before left my
Office, received visit from Major Shor-
ter. Declining my offer Of a seat, the old
man came up in front of my desk, and
looking mo straight in the face, said
sharply:
"'Richard Sturgis you were at my
house last night. I'm sorry ] did not
know. it, for would have given you the
punishment your impudence deserved
II began to explain tho matter, but he
cut me short
"sNevor mind he said 't's all over
now, and it can't be helped Don't try it
again, for I warn you [ shall bo on the
watch for you
"Ho turned abruptly and left me- I
certainly felt rather sheepish, but de-
termined not to be outdone. was de-
termined to marry Jenny, and he was re-
solved that l should not, and from all
appearances, the struggle bade fare TO be
hard one.
"For several days I did my best To get
a message to Jenny, but failed. AT last l
hit upon communication. Major Shor-
ter's house was built directly on the