Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-09-22
THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE.
nov pt"sss asi sn Lon.

the lady is the very synopsis OF all the
gracesaad siHues and accomplishments
that are the charm and the pride Of the
sex. Unfortunately, for the young gen
tleman, the old gentleman has been so
sppcessfal in bis worldly afais And'he
has no others as far as ever heard from
as to be called rich. He certainly lives
in comfortable style outwardly, though
it is said by Mrs. Smith and Mrs Grundy
who live near by, that he is very close in
his disbursements Of Federal currency.
The young lady, on short acquaint-
'ahce, seemed to smile on her new sutton,
and never thought to inquire whether he
had salary Of five hundred or five thou
sand year. For convenience we will
call him Willie Yardstick, but without
any reference to his avocation, for this
affair is secret, and we would not for
anything identify the parties. The
young lady can be known as Miss Dorcas
Sugar, because she is very sweet and
because nowadays none of the ladies
are named Dorcas, old Mr.. Sugar was
not as sweet on While as the daughter.
He had forgotten the time when he came
to Memphis from - county with his
worldly goods all tied up in red cotton
handkerchief. and how he worked his
passage by driving anlox wagon, and
what poor job he made of it. These
recollections are too disagreeable to be
cherished. r,,,n .,..a.,g saaff
As Mr.. Willie Yardstick's visits be-
came thicker and longer and later, old
Mr.. Sugar took great fancy for spend
Ting his evenings in the parlor, where he
could monopolize the conversation and
lock the very jaws of silence. He treat
ed Mr.. Yardstick with such frigid po-
likeness and ceremony, that the young
man felt repulsed and resolved to keep
out Of that parlor. He quit calling a
whole week, but sent several notes, and,
finally, agreed that he would pay his
visits in day time, and chiefly on Sun
day afternoons, W hen the old gentleman
would be asleep. This plan worked ad-
linirtsbly for two Sundays but such a
dream of happiness could not last for
ever. On the third Sunday-not long
since-he had scarcely taken a seat on
the sofa and commenced shaking hands
with the lovely one, when she jumped
up in alarm and told him her pa was
coming down stairs, and would come in
there, certain, Had Willie stood his
ground all might have been well, but
having called rather clandestinely he
felt confused and uncertain what course
to pursue. He lost his presence of mind
so far as to conclude that he would with
draw from the house by the back en-
trance and pass out to an alley at the
side. SO when old Mr.. Sugar came in,
he found only his daughter demurely
reading her Sunday school lesson.
Thought heard somebody come in
at the front door just now, my daugh-
terY .gaHIui8n
What is't, papa2' inquired the inno-
cent girl, looking up abstractedly from
her book.
"Oh, nothing, my dear; l was mis-
taken, suppose" .lll
Just then the dog in the back yard be-
gan furious barking, Silence reigned
in that little back parlor, and Mr.. Sugar
arose to see what was the matter. His
daughter said she would see, but that
would not satisfy him His curiosity was
fully aroused. io lN
"Oh, papa, it's nothing%
1--WE will see" said the man of green
backs, and walked out toward the stable
in the back lot.
William, it seems, had been obliged to
take refuge from the dog by running in
the stable. The dog wore a light block
and very long chain. The block caught
at the door. William stood in remote
corner of the stable, unable to escape,
and the dogs nose was within a foot of
him, displaying a,fne set of teeth, which
would have been used on Yardstick but
for the block and the restraining chain.
There they stood, looking at each other,
the dog Juggling at the chain, and his
teeth looking, to the freed individ-
ual, as large as crocodile's. Every
moment seemed to him two hours, but
the dog enjoyed himself. Deliverance
came at last Old Mr. Sugar appeared
at the door and must have been sur
prised He surveyed the situation a
moment, and understood all. 1t was his
triumph. He stood and enjoyed it, as
well as the dog. Then he called for
his daughter to come out and see what
the dog was barking at. William had
been trying to explain how the thing
occurred, in stammering accents; but to
be kept in that prison and pointed out to
his sweetheart was more than human
nature could endure. Making a frantic
leap he caught joist over head and
drew himself up in the loft, but there he
found no other way of egress. He was
in desperate strait, and the manhood
in him suddenly rose to its full hight,
and his passion rather got the better of
him. He seized a pitchfork and in an
instant leaped down in the middle of the
stable, utterly transformed. He went up
like dwelling boy, but came down a
full grown man. At a single blow he
sent the iuncompromising dog bowling to
his kennel, and addressing few remarks
to old Mr.. Sugar, far more energetic than
elegant or polite, he emerged from the
stable with clenehed teeth and drawn
pitchfork. The old gentleman backed
out of his way, and was glad of the
chance, now that affairs had taken such
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