Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-09-28
Martial Wooing.

Martial Wooing.
A second lieutenant, by the name
of W, was once assigned to
our regiment, was born and raised
in the wilds of Indiana; and al
though he possessed, naturally, fair
intellectual faculties, yet he had re
ceived no education save what had
been impaired to him in the rudi-
mentary schools of the rural dis
tricts along the Wabash Valley.
His vernacular was abundant with
the patois of his nativity, and wide
" divergent from the acceptatlon
of our standard photographers.
He did not, however, seem at all
conscious of his scholastic defic-
fences, and for good while con-
tinued to make use of his anomal-
GUS idioms, the oddity of which af-
forded us no little amusement. The
young man evinced no spirit of Sc
gregration, but was disposed to be
quite social with his brother officers
and was especially fond OF ladies'
society. He visited them often;
and as his original manner OF Civ
ing expression to his sentiments di-
verted them not little, he was al
ways received kindly, and invited
to repeat his calls.
About this time young lady
from New York city, Miss III
visited the family of one of the
officers, and remained some months
with us. She was highly accom-
plished, pretty, and exceedingly an
mated, piquant, and attractive.
Moreover, she had a most genial
amiable, and kind disposition; but,
like many others of the fair sex, her
fondness for admiration occasional
ly carried her so tar that her friends
very Justly charged her with having
a dash of coquetry in her compost
ton. Besides this, she had decid-
ed penchant for badinage and fun.
No sooner had she been present
ed to Lieut.. W, than she COM
pretended his character at a glance,
and at once brought the heaviest
metal to bear upon the exceedingly
citadel of his heart; and in twink
ling made so great breach therein
that the poor fellow surrendered at
discretion. For the first time in his
life he found himself most desper-
ately enamored.
He repeated his visits day after
day for several weeks; and the
young lady, impelled by a spirit OF
Irritation, encouraged his suit while
he was in her presence, but invaria-
bly, took occasion, as soon as his
back was turned, to detail to her
young lady companions everything
that transpired during the inter
views.
The verdant wooer, not having
the faintest conception that he was
being made the victim of misplaced
affection, persevered in his court
ship, and received such encourage
ment as to call forth from him some
very emphatic declarations of admi-
ration. He even went so far upon
one occasion as to exclaim that he'd
be dog-ond eff he didn't b'lieve she
war a ann-gel."
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 managed
to raise a semblance of a blush
while casting upon her lover from
behind her fan a benignant, coquet-
tish smile of satisfaction, as she
coyly responded, 'Oh, oh! Now, my
dear Mr.. W, how can You say
so? You make me blush-indeed
you do. lean not believe you are
sincere. 1 am afraid you are a
gay Lothario, Mr.. w.. Then
tapping him gently upon the shoul-
der with her fan, and bestowing up
on him a most bewitching smile, she
added, Are you not gay Lothario,
Mr.. W-p
This question was rather too much
for the 'hoosier,' who had never
heard of the person alluded to in
her strategic rejoineder. Neverthe-
less, while pressing his hand upon
what he conceived to be the region
of the heart, but which, according
to the location assigned that organ
by anatomists, was a little too low,
he replied, Il don't mind
hearin' tell O. that. thar individual
Miss H; but 1 sorter recken he's
no kin O. mine. An you am a ann
gell; I swar you is"
Other equally forcible assertions
of 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 ultimate success.
OF course the entire conversation
was detailed by Miss H with
much zest to her associates, all o.
whom she invited to be at her quar-
ters on the following evening. A
short time before, Mr.. W--ha(
asked for and been promised spec
ial audience, for the purpose, as sh'
imagined, of making her a forma
tender of his heart and hand.
Accordingly, at the appointed
hour, they all assembled, and wer'
quietly ensconced in an apartment
adjoining the sitting room, with tn
communicating door slightly ajar
so that they could distinctly hea
every word that was said.
Soon after this the lieutenan
made his appearance in full uniform
and was cordially received by hi
sweetheart, who asked him to tax
seat near her, and entered int
seemingly a very confidential bu
rather loud conversation with hin
which soon led him to approach tn
T subject of his dearest aspirations
Placing himself upon his knees i
front of her, with a most tender
anxious, and beseeching expressio
of countenance and voice, hut wit
, considerable manifestation of di
= fidence, he said:
"Wou'd ye like fur to jine Il
army, Miss H,