The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-06-09
A JUST PUNISHMENT.
A CIandestine Correspondence and
What Came of ia Doctor Come
to Grief.

Not long since there appeared AZ
advertisement in II of our city pa
pers, inviting correspondence between
the advertiser and some young lady o.
means, good figure, good looking, in
teHigent, &c, with a view to marriage.
written in the usual style of such arti
cles. Several days elapsed, when 6
young man whom we shall name ecu
gene" reading it and thinking il
might be the production of a gentle
man acquaintance of his, who once
before had endeavored to play him 6
trick, concluded to answer it. He
did so, receiving a letter in return.
but finding it not as he anticipated
concluded to carry the joke out anC
see what would come of it. Missive:
passed between the parties, Eugene
answering in a delicate female hand.
written in guarded style, the better tC
bring out who the party was. Il
proved to come from q medical man
of this city, at present acting manager
of an "1nstitute" located in one OF
the most prominent blocks in this
city, right in the heart of the business
community. In one of his missives,
the medical gentleman urged a meet
ing at his rooms, where matters could
be better discussed. He was anxious
to marry the fair Nellie, flor so Eu-
gene styled HIMSELF ; knew he should
love her; would be willing to give up
his business here, and start for himself
in some good locality in the romantic
prairie lands of the West" Recon-
mendations he had plenty, for was not
he a graduate of a Royal College in
the dominions of her majesty in Cana
da, and his medical practice, with
great skill combined, would enable
them to enjoy slove in a cottage" and
reap a golden harvest. His epistles
were all cOuEeNr de rose, and by
many young and unsophisticated ladies
would have been treasured up as a
dear, precious epistle. Eugene, alias
Nellie, wa cautious-would not COM
NIT any improperly. Oh, no! So an
answer was sent the doctor, which sta
ted the desire of becoming acquainted
with him, yet wishing to act with pro-
priety. This called forth another del
icate missive, requesting as a favor
that Miss Nellie would grant him an
interview, with a view to become per-
sonaily acquainted with her. To this
Nellie assented, appointing a place of
meeting, the time to be Sunday even
ing, and all things were thus arranged
by the parties. Previous to meeting
the doctor, Nelly sent two lady friends,
whom he had let into the secret, to
call upon the doctor at his Office, and
see who and what he was. This was
done, and Eugene was informed of the
name of his correspondent, his Up
p~earance. &C., &c. A plan was then
concocted by Eugene's lady friends to
furnish him with the requisite female
apparel, in order that he could carry
out his deception to the physician
Other friends were also notified when
and where the proposed interview was
to take place. Sunday evening came,
and with the aid of hoped skirts en-
pGnnier, dress, light summer shawl,
jaunty jockey hat, curls and parasol,
Eugene was metamorphosed into a
good looking female. The better to
carry put the disguise, n of his lady
friends accompanied him to the tryst-
ing place, which was ON the lake shore.
The signals agreed upon were three
light coughs on the part of the lady,
and a wave of the white handkerchief
from the gentleman. Shortly after
eight o'clock, while the moon was
shedding her silvery light over the
clear surface of the lake, Eugene and
his companion made their appearance,
while groups of ladies and gentlemen,
who had been let into the secret, pass
ed and repassed hardly able to refrain
from laughing aloud at the rich treat
before them. They had not long to
wait ere the doctor made his appear
ance upon the scene, gorgeously ar
rayed for the occasion, in a bran new
suit of clothes, cautiously looking
around as if seeking for some one,
noting especially the ladies who were
passing. Suddenly three faint coughs
the signal-were heard, and a wave
of a white handkerchief gave the an
swer Eugene separated from his lady
companions, sauntered slowly along,
coughed again, when the doctor, all
Impotence, rushed up and commenced
the conversation in an affectionate
strain, proposing a stroll, which was
assented to, Eugene, alias Nellie, talk
ing in whispers, really ON account of
his vsice, which was anything but
like that of a woman's, but which the
doctor construed into excessive mod
esty. So charming thought the doc
tor, and such an easy victory, as he
gradually became demonstrative, and
tenderly pressed the hand of his (sup-
posed fair companion, which she
slightly returned. 1t was too much
for the "Medicus'' and he attempted a
kiss, when the parties who had been
watching matters closed around them
just as Eugene threw of his female ap-
parel, false hair and jockey hat, and
appeared before the astonished medi-
cal man in male attire. The look of
blank astonishment which was given.
and the righteousness of the whole af-
fair, awakened a chorus of laughing
yoices-in fact such a burst of merri-
ment has not echoed over the waters
of the lake for many a day. The leu
tonic gentleman of large dimensions,
who was present, and who is well
known on Michigan street as a fac
simili of Gambrinus, fell in a ft-of
laughter, actually rolling over and
over with merriment, and nearly going