Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-06-11
9elettea Rlisrellanp.
A STORY OF A GARTER.


JUST at four o'clock ono dazzling after.
noon last February, two young persons,
opposite genders, took sudden possession
of neat sleigh, mutflc6 themselves to-
gether in q manner intended to secure as
far as possible the double advantage of
comforting protection and engaging ap.
pearance, and after judicious settlement of
skirts and robes on the one hand, and
hats and furs on the other, darted briskly
of, along the smooth and shining roads of
Winston. Clear and still, and not at all
chilling, was the atmosphere. The sun
shed all its splendOr from a cloudless sky,
and the spotless earth radiantly reflected
its glittering beams. The two sleighers
with whom we have to do agreed without
debate that no other day so favorable for
their excursion could have been selected,
and in turn went into spasms of rhetorical
excitement over the slories of winter-in
its present cheering aspect,
Not having accustomed themselves to
the assiduous study of Nature, they
failed to exactly interpret certain omens
which might otherwise have interfered
with their innocent enthusiasm Of
course neither had noticed, the night be.
fore, the broad circle of luminous haze
that surrounded the moon, giving warning
of approaching disorder above. OF course
neither considered, as they dashed along
needing only their own pleasant fancies,
the light clouds which rapidly rising soon
overspread the southern heaven, and
gradually threatened to obscure the ds.
Clining sun. What need had they to an
tiCipate the possible interruption of their
sport?
None, certainly. Their aim was pleas
ure,
Lucy Brandon, nineteen, daintily beau
tiful, and coQuettsh by uncomfortable
feminine instinct, filled the hearts of the
youth of Winston, and above all, those
hearts gathered within the institution for
the wholesale manufacture of clergymen
for which Winston is celebrated, with
fine frenzes.
The secular youth swore she was an
angel. The students, whose destiny was
theological, did not swear, but after in.
vesdgating the subject, and finding that
angels were sometimes imperfect and fal-
hble, proclaimed her divine, and in their
orisons remembered her.
In this way they satisfied all the condi-
tions of their college life Inside the
walls they were divinity students out
side, they were students of divinity.
In confidence it may be revealed that
Miss Lucy's highest attributes were, in
fact, of a mortal order. She was not
bit of an angel but she was what is much
better for the purposes of this world-a
charming girl, with beauty enough to
wind golden chains around susceptible
young hearts, and wit enough to fasten
them with glittering clasps, whenever she
chose. At the same time she was as amia-
BILE as could fairly be expected ofa spirited
young woman who ruled subservient
seminary with rod more rigid than any
the professors could wield she was, with
all her frolicsome coquetry, as discreet as
a dowager, and she was not destitute of
good sense, a powerful proof of which
was that she never wrote her name Lucie.
Nevertheless, it is melancholy fact that
many of the maidens of Winston persist
emily refused to recognize those infatuat-
ing qualities which by the ruder creatures
were unanimously accorded her.
After a considerable period of supreme
sway, Miss Brandon at length sighed, AL
exanderwise, for something new to con-
quer.
She fell in with Mr.. Henry ESQ christend,
but popularity denominated Harry Lang
ford, fine young fellow with no theologi-
cal aspirations, who had come up to.
Winston to look after some long neglected
relations. Clever and well dressed, and
with heavenly curl to his hair, he inter-
ested Miss Brandon, who forthwith
smiled upon him, and baited her Irritation
hooks with most delicate destinations.
With shade of surprise, she observed
that her intended victim succeeded in
reaping the full benefit of the bats, and
yet refused to be caught. Upon this, she
became shy, and he commenced promis-
cuous assault upon the affections of every
ha
AS soon as it was evident that they under
stood each other, they began to laugh.
Consultation followed. From laughing at
one another they turned to laughing at
Miss Brandon's troop of suppliant ad-
mirers. | am sorry to say that the young
lady betrayed confidence. She told him
how one especially devout adorer was
continually quoting Scriptural puffs to
her and how another, of chronological
turn of mind, would insist on comparing
her 10 new and exquisite specimens of
bugs, Then he told her, quite maliciousiy,
how precariOus her rule was, and cruelty
likened her position to that of keeper in
lunatic asylum, whose strength lies in
his confidence that his subordinates, hay
ing lost their wits, possess no power of
combination among themselves to defeat
bis plans. Occasionally Miss Brandon
was little rude; but they usually kept
within amiable bounds, and were under
stood to be excellent friends-nothing
morel
Not one of Miss Lucy's deVotees ever
thought it worth while to look upon Hen
ry Langford with eyes of green indigna-
tion. He was in no degree rapturous about
her she often snubbed him. An in6ni-
tesmal quarrel between them had once
been detected. Besides, he was not resi-
dent, only visitor, whose opportunities
were thus limited
Moreover. it is a fact that no two persons
were more profoundly convinced of their
absolute indifference 20 one another than
Miss Brandon and Mr.. Langford them
selves.
They had given much private thought
to the subject (there was the danger), and
had satisfied themselves that they were,
as everybody understood, excellent friends
nothing more
Nevertheless it happened that Mr.. Lang
ford was suddenly overcome by sense of
shame at his wsnt of family feeling in SO
long neglecting his Winston relations. So
he endeayored to repair old errors by fire.
Quent visits, and established an extensive
acquaintance in the neighborhood. He
grew fond of social gayeties He cultiVat-
cd all Winston. AT every important
gathering he was made welcome.
At last the winter came, and everybody
knows how delightful the winter is in a
New England country town, where the
. thermometer never by any excess Of ex.
Altation gets more than an occasional de-
gree or SO above the 0; where frozen noses
are 10 be met at every corner, and are
deemed neither uncommon nor unornA.
m0ntall while ff0zea toes are enoNntad al.