Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1869-11-26
OHIO, FRIDAY MORNING. NOVEMBER e. 1859

Eyes, I was called upon to con-
tribute some time ago." coquetting
Dunready's ball.
"Well, we are to have tableauX,
and want you to take part
"Me! why, I never appeared be-
fore the public in my life"
"What of that? All you'll have
to do, will be to show yourself"
said Mrs. Dunready.
"And who, or what am to rep
resent p
Captain John Smith. Mr.. White
will represent Powhatal', and Leda
Pocahontas. l spoke to Mr.. White
about it this afternoon; and now,
Mr.. Jonjones, can we depend upon
you ?"
'sTo be sure we can," cried Mrs.
Vastings shooting one of her ire
sistib.e glances at me; and with
those eyes upon me 1 could not say
no, and so with the best grace pos
sible, I consented.
We went into the house soon
after, where passed a very pleas
ant evening. Mrs. Vastings played
and sang, so sweetly and feelingly,
that 1 am positively certain, madam,
that if I had not been already in
love with Medora, the widow would
have carried my heart by storm, for
although I had reached the age of
forty unmarried, I am, and always
have been very susceptible to female
charms. and, as you know, Leda
was one Of the most charming of
her sex.
feel it my duty to tell you, be-
loved reader, that prior to this time,
I had upon several occasions been
just upon the point Of offering my
self as sacrifice at the hymeneal
altar, but one thing restrained me.
That was my terrible secret. l did
not dare to reveal it before marriage,
and it would have been cruel to
have married any woman, leaving
her to discover it afterwards.
1 returned to the store that night
(I have a sleeping room there) in
great perturbation. AS have said
before, I was very much in love with
Medora, and I would have given
worlds if 1 could have called hel
mine Q hadn't a great many worlds
on hand at that time, to be sure J,
But what hope was there for me:
: while there were so many younger
and more agreeable men already al
her feet? And then my secret All
no, no. I loved her, but I would
not marry her. That would be toe
cruel. Neither could the widow
} ever be nsy widow, unless upon bet
ter acquaintance I could summon
courage sufficient to tell her my
, secret, and 1 felt sure that [ never
} could. But at least I would try
And in her society, might possibly
conquer my love for Medora.
, For the next two weeks I KEEP
away from Mr.. Budderf1i's, although
1 was a constant visitor at Dun
; ready's. Twice during that time
met Medora on the street. The frs
| time she bowed coldly, but the sec
ond time she did not notice me a
: all What did it mean? Was sh
2 angry because I had deserted he
for Leda, and did she care some
thing for me, after all I wouldn'
allow myself to be so egotistical a
to think SO. Pshaw! 1 was ol'
enough to be her father.
Well, the night of the Fair came
I accompanied Mrs. Vastings to tn
? hall, which was already crowded
]. The youth and beauty of Larragon.
: were assembled, and something les
!, than a ssthousand hearts beat hap
: 1py" 1--WE never could raise such
/ crowd as Brussels) and was 500
e to appear before them as the re
t doubtable John Smith. I doubt
1 the real Smith felt more tremulou
: than I did as began my prepara
: tions for the character.
At last all was in readiness. I ha
5 lain myself down at full length upo
I the stage, with my head restin;
t upon the fatal stone. Powhatar
alias White, dressed in full India
:, costume, and looking like q verita
e ble red man, held his club ready t.
strike, while Pocahontas, far NOR
d beautiful than the original, with he
: eyes turned beseechingly upon tn
face of the "stern parent protecte
It me from the impending wratl
: Gathered around us were a score G
+ young men, arrayed as children c
7 the forest.
Turn your head little NOR
K this way, Smithy," said the fierc
Powhatan; 'the curtain is goin
up"
b 1 did IS directed. As I gaze
D around among those terribly fero
: cious looking savages, a pair o
Il dark eyes met mine. I knew them
> and 1 recognized the face througl
r the war-paint. I was about t.
speak, but just then the curtain
e rolled up.
e All was hushed for one moment
f and then the curtain began slowl,
l to descend. We must have mad
a very creditable appearance for th
t applause was immense. Dow
J. came the curtain. The cheerin;
n continued.
n ''Roll up again." whispered Pow
:, haitian. ''Keep cool, Smithy."
t Again the curtain arose. The 81
> lence was awful. 1 held my breat
n for an instant, and then with q sin
}. gle bound, one of the youn
y "braves" rushed out upon me
: scalping- knife in hand. A thrill O