Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-11-25
Sflfft Story.
HOW I WAS sc. .ALPED.
BY n. P. DARLIN G.

BY y. P. DARLIN G..
wish you could have cen Miss Me.
dora Badderii iA- the fall of 1850. She
was just the 1oyliest, sweetest creature
thai these blue orbs of mine ever gazed
upon. Every young man in Larragonia
was over head and ears in love with her
YOUR humble servant, who, alas + was
not young, included. She was then in
her eighteenth year, and had Just re-
turned from Madame GKnklem's board
ing-school,S where she had passed two
wears, and in that time she had blossom
ed out most decidedly pretty and ex-
ceedingly charming. We could hardly
believe it was the same girl that had left
US only two years before L remember
the first time L saw her after her return.
l was standing behind-the counter in
my store I'm in the dry-gOods and
grocery line, and occupy the large brick
building that stands in front OF the
railroad depot Perhaps yon have seen
nv sign in passing through Larragopia
on the cars William Henry. Jonjones,
in large gilt letters over the door, en-
deavoring to sell a dress pattern to old
Mrs. Mungee, when through the medi-
um of my olfactory nerves, / became
aware of a third person in our. immedi-
ate vicinity. / raised my dOve-like
eyes, and beheld Miss BuddeEfi just en-
tering the door. t.
before her breath gale of rich per-
fume," as Homer said of Helen, a Gre
clan lady of some note, though where
she buught her perfumeTy the poet
doesn't state. Miss Budderfli used
Phalonls. She was arrayed in a neat,
rose-colored merning-dress, and upon
her dainty head she wore one of the
most charming hats (or / thought so
then-its out of fashion now, and conse-
uuently must look horrid) and on her
face she wore such q sunny, melting
smile, that upon my honor, madam, l
sold that dress pattern to old Mrs. Mum
gee forte cents a yard less than cost,
before could recover myself sufficiently
to greet the cause of this remarkable
fall in dry-goods.
SIS it possible" cried ], >. taking her
hand in mine, f'tbat thisis little Medora
Budderfii ?"
"Why, Mr. ,9Jonjones, haveI changed
so much?1 she asked.
''You have grown SOD is- u
/ hesitated. / felt a blush creeping up
between my shoulder blades. s,
''So-so what Mr.. Jonjones" And she
turned her dark eyes full upon my face.
$50 lovelyw '1- rHs-
-"Into her clear cheek the blood was brought,
BlOOd-red as sunset summer clouds winch range
The verge of heaven" wft .E
But saw that she was pleased with the
compliment, Notwithstanding it came
from a bachelor of forty, who had often
handled her upon his knee and given
her sugar-plums when she was a wee
little maiden, only few short years
before.
"When-did you arrive in town'?p l
asked Y = GiAss3~G5 ~ 0i'if'~ =
"Last night; and now L am to remain
in Larragonia.p go E -
Education completed, of coures."
sYes nothing more to learn. Madame
Crinklemrput, on the finishing touches
during,the last term, y she replied, with
a smiie.5
Then, at her request, I displayed a
variety of linens, mnslins, lace, ribbons,
etc, for her to choose from, which it
took her avery long time tedo, though
l wished it had taken her longer still (;
meantime we had great deal to say,
and very unnecessarily got our fingers
mixed upas we unfolded the goods and
selected the ribbons, while the ''sweet
intercourse of Jocks and smiles," as
Wilton says, weut'on between US, quite
Independently of everything else. : :
That was our first meeting as man and
woman. I had thought of her as moth
Ing Dubil u lClll1O BS1OIG- 4NOGs SllO
carried with her an immense slice from
the choicest side of my heart and at
subsequent meetings she managed to
rob me of the rest, SO that before the end
of the month L was completely her slave,
although no more so than dozen of our
young men, who also worshiped at u er
Shrine. and who Miss Nellie Pinman
denominated' ''Medora's chain-gang."
suppose we were all desperately in
love, but not one Of US could claim to
have been more highly favored than an
other, or at least could not, for when
she began to suspect what my intentions
were Il did not try to conceal my love,
though dared not hope it would ever
be requited), she became very reserved
with me, which I, wisely or not, sup
posed was intended on her part to give
your humble servant to understand that
she was not for him at least.
But with this exception, she showed
no partiality for one more than another
This was tantaiizing to say the least. II
she went to ride with Smithers one day,
she was sure to ride with Brown the
next. If she went to a lecture with
White, she would go to concert with
Green, Black, Ballou, or Gray.
"She's coquette, y said Smithers.
''I think not,n said Brown. She
b..SsA
Larragenia any reason to suppose that
she is, or can be any more thar q friend
to him. Is it her fault that you are all so
madly in love with her? We buzz around
her like swarm of bees. We can't keep
away. Now what would you have heI
do, forbid every gentleman except your
self to enter the houseg' Z SFE
No, but she might show her prefer
ence," answered Smithers.
"Yes, If she has any"
Well, of course she has"
.sYou think so.n -f..a ..
This conversation, which took place
in my store, one afternoon about six
weeks after. Miss Budderfi's return
home, might have taken very unpleas
ant turn at this point but for the en-
trance of couple of ladies. One wa,
Lawyer Dunready's wife, and the othel
was stranger to US all.
hastenedto waitupon Mrs. Dunready
while the strange lady stopped at the
show case at the further end of the coun
ter. am quite intimate with the Dun
readys- I stood godfather to their only
son, late arrival in Lorragonia-and
am pretty well acquainted with all theil
relations and friends;;n but here was
one that I had never seen BEFORE
s. Leaning over a cut of sheeting which
Mrs. Dunready was examining. whis
pered my question POLITICALLY, thus:
..who is the maid with golden hair,
With eyes of fire and foot of air?'
"Pshaw. ,Leda wears number si2
boot, and her eyes. are a sky blue,
answered Mrs. Dunready. "She is
widow, and my cousin, Mrs. Vastings
She was married eight years ago AM
went to Chicago. Has just returned t.
the East, and I hope she will remain
Shall introduce you ?" ff
i''By all means.n a,srl5
The lady swept along to wards us. Sh'
was really magnificent looking wo