Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-10-24
Misfellanepus.
MARTIAL WOOING.

A second-lieutenant, by the name of
| W, was once assigned to our regiment,
who was born and raised in the wilds of
Indiana; and although he possessed. nat
urally, fair intellectual faculties, yet he had
received no education save what had been
impaired to him in the rudimentary schools
of the Wabash Valley. His vernacular
was redundant with the patois of his ma
tivity, and widely divergent from the ac-
ceptance of our standard photographers
He did not, however, seem at all conscious
of his scholastic deficiencies. and for a
good while continued to make use of his
anomalous idioms, the oddity of which af-
forded us no little amusement. The young
man evinced no spirit of segregation, but
was disposed to be quite social with his
brother officers, and was quite social with
his brother officers, and was especially
fond of ladies' society. He visited them
often, and as his original manner of giving
expression to his sentiments diverted them
not q little, he was always received kind
ly, and invited to repeat his calls.
. About this time young lady from New
York city, Miss Il, visited the
family of one of the officers, and remain
ed some months with us. She was highly
accomplished, pretty, and exceedingly ami
mated, piquant, and attractive. More
over, she possessed q genial, amiable and
kind disposition; but, like many others of
the fair sex, her fondness for admiration
occasionally carried her so far that her
friends very justly charged her with hav-
ing a dash of coquetry in her composition.
Besides this, she had decided penchant
for badinage and fun.
No sooner had she been presented to
| hn
hended his character at glance, and at
once brought her heaviest metal to bear
upon the exceedingly vulnerable citadel of
his heart; and in twinkling made so
great breach that the poor fellow sur
rendered at discretion. For the first time
in his life he found himself desperately
enamored
He repeated his visits day after day for
several weeks and the young lady, inn
PEELED by a spirit of Irritation, encouraged
his suit while he was in her presence, but
invariably took occasion, as soon as his
back was turned, to detail to her young
lady companions everything that trans
pired during the interviews
The verdant wooer not having the faint
est conception that he was being made the
victim of misplaced affection, persevered
in his courtship, and received such en-
couragement as to call forth from him
some very emphatic declarations of affec-
ton. He even went so far upon
one occasion as to exclaim that "he'd be
dog-ond eff he didn't blieve she war an
angell."
This truly frank and sincere but unique
avOwal of sentiment set the waggish
| young lady nearly frantic with suppressed
desire to shout with laughter yet she
controlled her features and preserved
serene cast of countenance; and she even
managed to raise semblance of blush
while casting upon her lover from behind
her fan benignant, coquettish smile of
satisfaction, as she coyly responded, "Oh
oh Now, my dear Mr.. VI, how
can you say so You make me blush-in-
deed you do. cannot believe you are
sincere. am afraid you are gay Lo-
thario, Mr.. W" Then tapping him
very gently upon the shoulder with fan,
ing smile, she added, care you not a gay
Lothario, Mr.. W."
This question was rather poser to the
enamored "Hoosier," who had never be-
fore heard of the person alluded to in her
strategic rejoiner. Nevertheless, while
pressing his hand on what he conceiv ed
| according to the location assigned that
organ, by anatomists, was a little too low,
he replied. Il don't mind hearin' tell O.
tthat individual afore, Miss Il; but
sort O reckon he's no kin o. mine. An
you am an ann-gell; / sware you is !"
Other equally forcible assertions to his
devotion were made during this interview,
all of which were received by the young
| lady in so gracious manner as to afford
him the most encouraging hopes of alti-
mate success.
OF course the entire conversation was
detailed by Miss Ii with much zest
| to her associates, all of whom she invited
to be at her quarters on the following
evening. A short time before, Mr. W
had asked for and been promised a special
audience, for the purpose, as she imagin-
ed, of making her formal tender of his
heart and hand. Accordingly, at the APP
pointed hour, they all assembled and were
quietly ensconced in an apartment adjoin-
| ing the sitting room, with the communica-
ting door slightly ajar, so that they could
distinctly hear every word that was said.
Soon after this the lieutenant made his
appearance in full uniform, and was cor
daily received by his sweetheart, who
asked him to take a seat near her, and en-
tered seemingly into very confidential but
rather loud conversation with him, which
soon led him to approach the subject of
his dearest aspirations. Placing himself
upon his knees in front of her, with
most tender, anxious and beseeching ex-
preston OF countenance and voice, but
with considerable manifestation of diff
dence, he said, would you like fur to
Join th' army, Miss H---"
NO. replied she, using his very
words. and initiating his peculiar diction;
II don't think I'd ike fur to jine tn army,
Mr.. W.
At this iuncture screams of vociferous
laughter burst forth from the mischievous
) Girls in the adjoining apartment, in which
the cruel Miss II, no longer able to
'control herself, numerically joined, which
caused the discomiitted lover to leap to his
feet in great confusion, seize his cap. and
rush from the room; and don't think he