The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-06-15

NAlSSllSliD pl AhlNSIi SlALJ IHuGS
Two fine looking gentlemen, whc
seemed to do the talking for an homes
appearing hackdFiyer, said the boa
would not arrive for several hours
and that the driver would take me tx
4 quiet hotel, and. from thence doWI
to the landing at the proper. time
The hotel was very pretty it stoot
back ofsthes street, and the front of i
was all draped with the gorgeous leafy
bouShs of the beautiful trees that en-
powered it, in that golden Oetobe:
time. l was exceedingly pleased with
the appearance of the place: Two la.
| dies who We're likewise travelling alone
stopped at the same hotel. 's,' r'
l told the porter to let my trunk
stand in the wide hall with the Others,
that for the few hours that i would
stay [ would not need n private room.
There was a great many ladies in
the parlors, but none of them were
prepossessing; they were gigling, and
fixing their curls and ribbons, and
staring from the windows, ard MAX
ing silly remarks /; and did wish
for quiet and repose, and women who
were sensible and womanly. There
is nothing so heartily disgusting as
frivolous women. s' -- i.i ~ft
The Odd. Fellows had some kind of
public meeting thdt day., and were
parading the 81 streets. Everybody
looked at them from doors and win
dows, and we all stood outI' on The
balcony and watched thcm1,pass and
rePass. IA few hbIfrs after that ]. was
sitting ut a. table reading, W hen "a boy
connected with, the establishment nhnie
into the parlor,,iiandiygave' me a. key
saying.''Yo our room is No 30, you
will fad your trunk already in it."f 60.
said l did not order private
room, and had no need of zone, be-
cause L was not intending to rstay"all
night. The boy rubbed his hands,
and looked embarrassed,f but as he
WAS only obeying orders [ saily no
more to him. L thought he might be
mistaken, and taking the key went to
room No. 20, and found my trunk
there, and the room as cosey as the
little nest of Il humming-bird.'
Thinking, perhaps, had been
misunderstood, L put.the key in my
pocket, went back to the parlor,
looked at my watch, and sighed over
the slowly passing hoIrs. While sit
ting at the table reading, two or three
strange men came in, and soon enter
ed Ito conversation of lively and
familiar character with the ladies, es
pccially The two who came up to the
hotel III the morning when [ did.
1t was not long unoA an. elderly
gentleman came into the room, and
sat down at the same table opposite
me, bowing slightly. Something in
Lis eye compelled me TO return the
bow. His hair was quite gray,i his
forehead bold and massive, he was
well dressed, and wore n sash, or re-
gala, or something about, or across
his breast, that showed him to be an
officer in the organization of Odd Eel
lows. remembered: seeing him
among them that day. [ thought
him intrusive coming into that room,
and I dill think ib.strmGe that a man
of his appearance would sit down
without IL word:of apology, or an in
PRODUCTION, and commencc Il conversa
tion with Il stranger. But there was
something in ,Eisrc ear, cool gray eyes
like steel-they held on like the grip
of strong hands on ones shoulders
they were earnest, honest eyes not to
be feared or shrllHk from. He lonk-
cd me right in my lace, and said, ,-7"l
believe you were among the. mauV who
witnessed the Odd Fellows OH parade
tolay?" ,ait ir.gFyt ,s5.
eyes, sir" . i: ,.aa .'.-ed
Are you friendly to the organiza-
tion ?" .l., m ...i
81 know nothing OF them butt what
is good; their deeds ana good works
in my own State are praiseworthy.-
/ know Of bcreft families made com
fortabie and' happy through their assist
ance, orphans educated, poor widows
cared for, and many noble and gener-
Gus things that the. Odd-Fcllows have
and kindly done," said 1.
Il am glad to hear that was the
old mans reply, and his steady eyes
grew soft and tender. .,,., ...f y i
We must have talked half an hour
on this subject and others that, grew
out of it; L was hardly c6iisciotIs that
] was conversiag so freely until he
drew out his watch, looked around at |
the time, apd saitl-"I have sat here |
talking With you, IN ctntiro stranger,
more than half an hour. You will
excuse me if 1 tell you that l feel an
interest in your welfare, that L think
L can do you kindness; and on the
honor of i gentleman, l. ask you to
answer a few questions / desire to ask!
yon. 1 shall doit foryour own good.
[ did not know how to stand the
strange mans words; l felt rs though
[ was being led to, the scafold, but
4;GIsped out-"I will answer honest
y any question you may ask. l be-
icvc you are Il gentleman. y
The interrogatories were-''Is Ohio
,eally your native State? Have you
, home and friends? Are you a mar
led woman? Why did you stop at
his house?" ...-
1 answered his questions frankly,
)ut kept on wOndering-''What will
he end be?' Al the last question l
.aught my breath hystericalIy, and
Using to my feet, felt IS though it
would give me great relief to indulge !
II good, noisy cry. 80.
'eSit down." said he kindly, but
ternly enough to make me obey him.
on think me impertinent, child, but
am honest, and-so are you. 1 like
our appearance. and L think you 5
tand in need ola friend, though you !
nay not know it now. The kind {