Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-05-04

had not said anythingto Jenny about
the state of my feelings, and | deter
mined to do so at once had an
engagement to meet her at a friends S
and accompany her homie that even,
ing. During the walk, 1 addressed
her and was accepted. l told her
al that had passed between her faith
er and myself, and she dear girl, vas
indignant at her fathers course. 1t
was plain that I could not visit her
at home as usual, and we set to work
to devise plan for our future meet
ings. The major was regular atten-
dant upon the Wednesday night
prayer-meetings of his church, and
was generally absent about two hours
Besides meeting at the houses of ou1
friends, we agreed that I should visit
her at home while her father was at
prayer-meeting.
"This plan worked admirably fol-
a while, but like everything human
broke down at last. One night Jen-
ny and were costly chatting in the
parlor, when we heard the rattle of a
latch key in the front door. Jenny
sprang up in alarm. !,
There's papa, she exclaimed,
what shall we do T? You can't get
tbronofh tha bacl, WAY and he is al
the front door.
"My first impulse was to rush up
to the major, and upset him if he got
in my way but a moments reflection
convinced me that would never do
aud Just then I heard the front door
closed and locked, resolution was ia
ken in a moment.
"Open the parlor door, l said te
Jenny, in a whisper, aud do nothing
to arouse his suspicion.
Jenny opened the parlor door
and placed myself behind it. AS
did 50 the major entered the room
I trembled in every joint; if he
should shut the door should bc
discovered. l had not thought O
this when I selected my place Of con
cealment.
:''Shu. the door, said the Major
as he came in.
"soh no. papa, she exclaimed, hur
riedly, it's so warm in here that
want air; and she pushed the door
back so far that she nearly crushed
me.
"'Warml' said the old man, sharp
ly, warm {? You must be dreaming
1t is freezing out Of doors.
"'Im gone,' I thought, and pre-
pared myself fol scufle.
However,, said the major, i
may be warm mere, for you have
terrible fire in that stove. You may
leave the door open.
GA load was taken from my mind
The old man sat in the parlor for a
least half an hour, and that time h'
| devoted to abusing me, and telling
Jenny about my impudence in want
ing to marry her. Sometimes l wa
indignant at the injustice of his re
narks,-but asa general thing coulc
scarcely restrain my laughter. My po
sltion was atryingone. was COMPEL
d to get up as close to the wall as pos
.ble, in order to avoid attracting th'
MAJORS attention, and to breathe a.
lightly as 1 could. The cold draugh
which camein through the crack Of the
Ioor produced constant inclination
10 cough, and 1 was in mortal dreac
east l should yield to it and betray
nyself. The half hour seemed TO me-
Ike thirty years instead of so many
minutes, and I was elatel beyond de
.crlption when I at last saw the ole
aan get up and leave the room. A
lie went out he closed the door after
/ lin, and as we heard him ascending
he stairs to his chamber, Jenny and
| broke into a hearty laugh.
"'You are safe for the present,
.he said, but you must 90 away al
nee. 1t will not be prudent to lei
lou out at the front door, as papa
Will hear us, so you must 70 out at
the window.
"The window was raised softly,
md giving Jenny kiss, sprang out
+ it. l had scarcely touched the
round when I was seized by the col
II, and rough voice demanded to
now why l had left the house in
nat way. Looking up | found my
elf in the hands of a watchman.
While l was hesitating what to say.
Jenny, who had heard the question,
said to the watchman:
"'It's all right, policeman the
..ront door key has been misplaced,
md the gentleman had to leave the
louse through the window
"'Who are you? asked the watch
nan.
~ am Miss Shorter, she replied,
and the gentleman is Mr.. Sturgis, a
friend of my father.
"'If you say SO, Miss, suppose
It's all right, said the watchman re-
easing me, but, he muttered as he
turned away, its very queer to do
business in that style.
"The next morning, before I left
my office, received a visit from Ma
ior Shorter Declining my offer Of a
seat, the old man came up in front OF
my desk, and looking me straight in
the face. said sharply:
Orchard Sturgis you were at
my house last night. I'm sorry I
did not know it, for l would have
given YOU the punishment your i'm
pudence deserved.
began to explain the matter,
out he cut me short.
Never mind, he said its all
over now, and it can't be helped:
Don't try it again, for | warn yoa |
shall be on the watch for you.
"He turned abruptly and left me.
I certainly felt rather sheepish, but |
determined not to be outdone. | was
determined to marry Jenny, and he
vas resolved that | shonld not, and