Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1869-04-22
How a Bouquet Got an Amorous
Benedict into Trouble.
[From the Now Orleans Picayune

n
bouquet to young ladies whom we ad-
mire. The delicate and beautiful ex-
otlcs are meant as a tribute to the
lady's beauty and innocence, while
their sweet perfume evinces the ardor
of the lovers attachment. Some times
they are made the medium of an ayow-
al of love, and the lady reads as in a
book the magic tale that gives sun
shine TO the heart and lights the lips
with smiles. Nor is there anything
improper about all this when the donor
and recipient are unmarried. But
foolish casuists-sticklers for morality
hold to different opinion if the fact
should be otherwise. 1t is even assert
ed that married men have no right to
send bouquets to young ladies--especi-
ally to Young ladies who dress in tights
even bewildering ballet dress-whose
apparel, indeed, commences too late
and ends too soon. 1t was doubtless
impressions like this that occasioned
such distress to a lawyer on CONNER
cial Alley. He had ventured within
the magic sphere of a beautiful dan
se'rse--had seen her caper over the
stage in all the bewildering mazes of
the dance-had watched the flash of
her black eye--had grown delighted in
contemplating the willowy graces and
exquisitely fashioned figure. In short,
the disciple of Coke and Blackstone
was in love. For the time sight of his
pretty wife and vine-clad cottage was
lost. He procured a bouquet ofyiolets
and sweet verbenas, and inditing most
loving epistle, hid it among the flowers.
ready to be thrown upon the stage at
night. He confessed his admiration,
avowed his love, and appointed an in
terview.
But, in the meantime, his engage
ments called him out for an hour, and
during his absence, his wife came into
the office, and, seeing the bouquet, smil
ed gratefully, for she conjured it was
meant for her. Taking it up, she ad-
mired the delicate flowers, and enjoyed
their fragrance. But the note caught
her eye, and she proceeded to read.
ooh! the villainr"
"Meet him at Dumontell's, as soon
as the theater was out-a carriage
will be in waiting!"
''Is there SO much wickedness in the
world!' soliloquized the little saint, as
she read the passionate sentences and
contemplated the perfdy they disclos-
ed.
But we'll see all about this, my
fine gentleman!" and the bouquet was
carefully replaced and the lady took
her leave.
That night a close carriage was
drawn up to the curbing at Dumon-
telPs, waiting apparently for some one
to come. BY singular coincidence,
just as aspanking team dashed up and
a gentleman was helping lady to de-
scend, the door of the close carriage
opened and the pretty wife stepped
out, and tapping the lawyer on the
shoulder, inquired:
"Where are you going, my love?"
"What! ah! you here?'
'"Ofcourse. Are you going to have
some lunch?"
The man stared blankly. No words
could explain the situation.
as this lady friend of yours?"
she continued, "pray introduce mel"
"The devil!" said the man
The little danSeuse tossed her head
superciliously. She didn't half like
the situation.
"My dear, what are you waiting for?
The lady appears to be impatient"
"Driver!'' exclaimed the sorely
pressed lawyer, "take this lady back
to her lodgings. Come, Bette, Wen
go home," and he moved towards his
wife's carriage"
"What, my dear! without lunchl"
inquired his wife softly.
"See here, Bette, l amt in hu-
NOR for any more airs. I'm going
home" And he went.
Like a skillful general, his wife said
no more about the matter, and the wis
dom of her course is evinced in her hus-
band confning his leisure hours to the
pretty wife and the vine-clad cottage.