The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-05-23

years Ola, Wnen is ne gong TO De
And the next hour saw Nathaniel
Wilson, the most bashful man in all the
country round, attired in his best suit,
and nearly frightened to death, stand
ing. on the doorstep of Mrs. Lanes
dwelling. With a trembling hand he
gave the bell convulsive pull. The
call was answered by the object of his
alteration heI self.
Good morning." Nathaniel managed
to articulate, oblivious of the fact that
it was three hours past noon.
Good afternoon, sir" replied Mrs
Lane. "Will you walk inf"
Nathaniel accepted the invitation,
and dropped into the profered chair
with a huttering heart.
mice day." he ventured to remark
in a husky tone.
"a beautiful day." replied Mrs Lane
with cordial vigor which made him
start.
"Nice weather to ride out-and see
the crops-and things" stammered Ma
thaniel, after long pause, " a-heming" ="
and hitching uneasily I'm his seat.
." Yes, indeed" said Mrs. Lane, puz-
zled at her visitors strange manner, and
curious to know what he could be driv-
ing at.
Another painful pause ensued. Ma
thaniel looked at the lady, then at the
floor, then at the ceiling; his face turn
ed all colors, and his muscles twitched
nervously. He felt that he had under
taken the most stupendous and trying
feat of his life. All his former missions
dwindled into nothinghess compared
with this. He wished he was at home !!
But the lady was anxiously awaiting
his pleasure, and he made a desperate
effort.
miss Lane, I've understood"
"Yes sir" replied that lady, inter
negatively, as Nathaniel's understand
ing met with quietus
Matters we've becoming serious, at
least with poor Nathaniel, and any
thing but agreeable to Mrs. Lane, who
was at her wits end to know the mean
ing of such a strange proceeding. To
reccde now was impossible, thought the
unfortunate man, and he braced himself
for another trial.
"Miss Lane, 1 suppose you know I'm
single man: :" he said, and his lips
quivered.
She thought him singular man, if
not an idiot OF lunatic but she said
nothing, and awaited developments.
81 have been advised to give you q
CALL" Nathaniel continued, gaining a
little confidence from the comparatively
smooth progress OF the interview thus
far, land perhaps you might render
me"
Another halt, another cough, and more
nervousness.
of l can render you any service l
shall be happy to do So" said Mrs.
Lane, thinking that her visitor was la
boring under some mental alteration or
domestic afiiiction.
Nathaniel felt encouraged-in fact,
elated.
What could this answer mean but an
invitation to come to the interesting
climax at once, and relieve both parties
No sooner thought than acted upon.
Wiping his perspiring forehead, he
blurted out:
"Miss Lane, I'm IA single man, and |
want wife. a friend of mine has told
me that you have spoken of me in a IA
vorable kind of way, and advised me
to come and see you. viii you marry
mel"
1t is strange how susceptible of sud-
den change is ones temper, and especi-
ally woman's! Mrs. Lane, not dream
ing OF such termination of affairs, was
astounded, and, very properly, highly
indignant.
"What do you mean, sir, by insulting
me, a married woman, in this way Z"
she exclaimed; leave my house immedi-
ately." and she opened the door to ac-
celerate her offenders exit.
"a married woman-O, Lord ~ gasp
ed poor Nathaniel, who had risen from
his seat and stood trembling from head
to foot, and IN his fright and confusion
he bolted ont of the door, leaving his
hat behind him.
On board the train that left the vii
lagc of NJ, that evening, there might
have been seen, in one corner of the car,
a woe-bcgone man holding with one
hand huge carpet bag upon his knee,
while with the other he now and then
wiped his face with his pocket -handker-
chief. This individual was no other
than poor Nathaniel Wilson, who, filled
with grief and modification at his ri
diculous performance of that afternoon,
had hastily gotten together his worldly
all, and was flying from the scene of his
disgrace.
But calls well that ends well )" and
never had the provcrb more striking
illustration than in the cruel hoax of
which Nathaniel Wilson had been made
the victim. But few days had elapsed
after Mrs. Lanes interview with Ma
thaniel, when that lady received news
Of the death Of her husband, which oc-
CURED several weeks previously in the
distant country whittier ho had gone.
In the meantime tho bhartlcss joke that
had been played upon Nathaniel had
come to the cars Of Mrs. Lane, and with
it 80 favorable "A mention of Nathanieps
moral standing in the community, that
the lady, in her goodness OF heart, wrote
to Nathaniel letter of regret for the
injury she had innocently done him, and
assuring him of the respect with which
she had come to regard him.
The missive received from the over
joyed Nathaniel prompt response. A
correspondence was established and con-
tinued between the two SO ludicrously
brought together, and, in little more
than year after his departure, Nathan
iel returned home to consummate in
marriage the courtshlp so inauspicious-
ly begun. His short experience among
strangers had wrought wonderful
change in him; the awkward, bashful
fellow had indeed "made man of him
SELF" and none are more highly esteem
ed in the village Of NJ, than Mr.. and