Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-02-07
CONFIDENTIAL.

bOdy's cOntdante, the business beginning
as far back as the v inter ran down to
Aunt Hally's to receive my birthday
party of sweet or bitter sixteen, as will
appear I-
Ralph Romer was the first to spread the
news of my arrival iu the village among
the girls of my own age. Ralph Romer
it was who had braved the danger Of
'"brier and brake" to find the bright
holly berries with which Aunt Hally had
decorated the CHEEKY little parlor for the
occasion; and 1t was with Ralph Romer
/ danced the oftenest ON that famous
night.
.t'Wouldn't I just step out on the porch
a short little minute" he whispered as
he came around in the rear of Aunt
Hally to bid me goodnight, ending the
whisper, according to the style of all
boy-lovers, "l've got something to tell
you"
The door stood open and conveniently
near, and | supposeI wanted to see how
high the snow had drifted since dark;
and, better reason still, l couldn't afford
to let Ralph take my hand off with him;
and SO l had to go out on the porch just
long enough to get it back, while he said:
"Ettie Moore says she loves me, and
we are going to correspond when | go
back to college; and as you know all lovers
and their sweethearts must have q con.
tidante to smuggle letters and valentines
across the lines, we have both chosen you
for ours. Oh, was so afraid you wouldn't
come ~
l found the snow had drifted-well,
l don't believe | knew how many inches.
have not promised recital of all my
auricular experiences Enough to say,
that in time I'settled down into the con-
viction that it was my special mission to
be the receptfle of other peoples secrets;
aud they seemed determined to convince
me that they thought so too.
So, when MIR. Tennent fremont hap
pened along and became candidate for
auricular favors, like, q tradesman who
has gained the self-sustaining ground
which has made him Indifferent as to
custom-seeking, | could afford to be en-
ftirely independent about giving a pre-
vious promise to keep his secrets for him;
and so,- dear reader, they are as much
yours as mine.
When my brother introduced him into
our family circle we took him to be a
Northern college chum, met with during
his iust-returnedfr trip to Washington;
for it was in those days when Southern
hospitality was as much appreciated as it
was literally bestowed. ItS was a good
time for a modest stranger to come among
new faces. We were in the futter and
hustle which wedding in the family
makes, and it gave him an opportunity
to get used to us, and left us none to OBJ
serve him unpleasantly much.
But when the wedding was over, and
I-had made up my week of lost sleep,
and he and my brother had kept them
selves out of the way on camp hunt,
for my mother to do upher week of house.
cleaning-it is here that our story proper
begins
As we were leaving the breakfast-table
one morning my brother caught my dress.
sleeve, and, dropping in the rear of Mr..
Tennent fremont, allowed him to find
the verandah: "Really, sis, don't think
you are doing the clever thing, quite"
"How?"
."Why, in not helping me TO entertain
my friend"
"Getting tired of him?"
"No, he isn't one of that kind; but, tC
tell the truth, am too busy just now tc
give him the whole of my time"
Too busy turning your own cakes
Yes, see. "
(Which is no more than my sister j;
doing; which reminds me to say that j.
p. will call this morning, he desired me tC
inform you. But, dear sis, we must no
be so absorbed in our own love matters al
to give my friend only moiety of our at
teniion, for, poor fellow he has one o
his own"
$50 am to bore him for the sake o
relieving You Is that my role ?"
Now stop He simply wants LADY
confidante
broke away from my brothers hold
and ran up to my room to see if all wal
right for my expected caller, giving my
right ear pull, by way of saying to tha
victimized organ, "You are needed"
And what think you did next Go
out my embroidery material bag, and pu
it in order for action at a moments warn
ing, l was prepared for a reasonabl,
amount of martyrdom pertaining to my
profession, but was always an econo
mist of time, and not another unem
ployed hour would I yield to the selfsl
demands of my forthcoming Job.
The next day was one of NOvembe
dTiZZle, the house confinement of which
my adroit brother declared, could only
be mitigated by my presence in the sit
ting-room until the improved state of thu
weather allowed their escape from it.
was in the habit of appropriating sucl
weather to my piano, and | had no
touched it for a month. Whether Mr.
Tennent Tremont's nerves were in
sound state or not, l was determined tt
practice until twelve But when he camt
in from the library and assisted me in open
ing the instrument, was obliged to asl
him what he would have. They were m,
first direct words to him, our three weeks
guest.
"oh, Summer Night is favorite," h
said.
gave him the song, and then execute,
the long variations; then, dropping m,
tired hands in my lap, inquired whethe
he liked vocal or instrumental best.
"Not any more of either, just now
thanking you kindly for what you hav
given me" he said. Have you ever bee
a conidante, Miss -?"
"That is my vocation, Mr.. fremont"
replied, grasping nay bag.
"WhichP your embroidery Or"
"Both combined" / tried to say pleai
antly, 'as on this occasion. am at MI
Tremont's services" and l threaded m
tapestry needle.
Without a predatory word he began
years before your young heart wa
awakened to the sweetest joy, the wil(
est woe, J. loved"
Sand single yetr exclaimed as 1 le
my hands drop and glanced up at hi
brown hair, to see If all those years ha
left their silver footprints there.
And single yet" he repeated SLOWLY
"still worshipping at the same shrinl
and to no other will ever bow until tn
head is silvered DER, and this strong srl
palsied with the inirmities of age-if
long life is indeed to be mine"
His ardor startled me, but manage
to stitch away composedly, and he wei
on;
81 know II is in the highest degrC
selfish to infict on you a recital of VIII
may not interest you; but have trie
TO keep my secret buried from huma
eyes, from all but hers, and you are no
the only being on earth TO whom | hay
ever said, Il love- AS intimate as hav
been with your brother, If he knows i
it's by his penetration, for no word {
acknowledgment has ever passed M
l.