The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-03-25
A Strange Story.

from the tlme THAT Satau llrSt cuteI-
ed the terrestrial Paradise and succeeded
i'm seducing our Mother Eve to violate
the only commandment which was en-
Joined upon her, and ejus carissin,uDl
maritunl, it seems that the willy, and
subtle enemy of mankind has never
sinceSfailed to assume eanys character OF
to appear in any garb which would best
suit his purpose, whenever he saw that
an opportunity was afforded to add to
the number Of unhappy victims who
people the "Inferno," so terribly de.
scribed by the Florentine poet.
"Could command rough rhymes and
hoarse to suit il
That hole of sorrow DER which every rock
His firm abutment rears, then might the
OF fancy rise full springing; but not mine
Such measures, and with faltering aim !
The mighty theme; for to describe the depth
OF all the universe Is no emprize
To jest with, and demands a tongue not used
To infant babblings,-DANTE. vrogE.
Tile particulars Of the story which we
are about to relate show that Lucifer is
ready at all times to wait attendance
on those who invoke his aid and assis-
tance. About ten days since, in q
neighbOring town not far from this
city, and which, for obvious reasons we
shall designate by the letter 'B," a
public ball was announced to take place
ON a certain night, the anticipation of
| which set the heads of many of the
young damsels of the town in whirl; {;
| in fact, the great coming event was
the only topic which was dwelt upon
by the young people of the place.
Among the several young ladies who
were eager to attend the hop was the
daughter of couple who kept board
| ing-house in "B," and who were direct
ly opposed to their daughter attending
the party; and, more especially SO,
with q young man, boarder in the
family, whom w9 shall call "J.1I The
cause of the aversion to Juby the pa
rents, as we are informed, was that his
character and general department were
not far above reproach, but for some
other trifling reasons best known to the
| family themselves. Thus matters stood
| until the night had arrived for the
dance heretofore announced, when the
mother informed the daughter that she
must Danish from her mind the idea of
attending the party. To this command
the daughter replied that shewOuld go,
and if no one else would go with her
she would accept the company of the
Devil, should he offer to attend her.
| On the evening alluded to, the young
woman arrayed herself for the bali
but suddenly remembering that her
boots were not in keering with the rest
of her costume, she left the house for
the purpose ofprocuring thedesire ar
| ticles, and was returning with the
above described article to her residence,
when she met, as she supposed, ~"
the young man who was so obnoxious
to her family. He inquired if she was
| no: ready to accompany him to the
hall, to which the lady replied that she
was all ready, with the exception of
changing her boots, and was then on
her way to the house. fof that purpose
81" objected to her wasting so much
valuable time in going home which
could be so pleasantly enjoyed at the
party, and intimated that she could
change her boots in the ladies dressing
room. After some further yparley be-
tween the pair, the girl consented to his
arrangement of the matter, and both
proceeded to the, dance, Arriving at
the hall, the couple participated in the
first on the order of dances, after which
nothing more OF - was seen by the
lady till very rear the hour for supper,
when the migrate suddenly appeared,
and after making some frivolous ex-
cuses for his absence, invited the young
woman down to the supper-table. The
girl naturally enough took umbrage at
the ungallant conduct of a." and sta
ted her determination of going home
~" thereupOn cOaxed, and entreated
her to wait till after supper, but finding
that his requests were all in vain, AID
that the young lady was resolved to go
home, he offered to accompany her, to
which proposition she gladly consen-
ted. On the road home but little was
said by either party until they had
nearly reached the house, when -" in
formed his companion that he was not
going into the house, and presented her
with beautiful pearl -hasdled PEN