Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1873-05-21
Hero and leander.
BY CHRONICLE.


pont, in days long since gone by,
stood tirst-class brown stone temple
-mansard roof, four story high
dedicated to tho worship of that
potent Cyprian queen, Madame
Venus, whose adorers even now are
sometimes seen. And among her
priestesses was one of beauty rare,
whose only name was Hero aud
wore her own black hair.
just across the classic water, on
fair Asia Minors shore, in q village
called Abydos, of s. thousand souls or
more, stood great exporters ware
house, and little way off the road
was the vinc-cmbowcred cottage,
where his family abode, and the NEST
conspicuous ornament this charming
family had was the eldest son, Lean
der, very like his worthy dad.
Now Leander loved the water, and
kept a fancy boat for his own especial
rowing, when he wished to be afloat,
and one day when he was pulling up
the European side he spied our little
Hero throwing pebbles in the tide.
AS they each glanced at the other,
loves sharp arrow pierced them
through, and they both went home to
dinner with feeling strange aud
new.
At an early hour next morning
young Leandcr was at sea, rowing
swiftly by the place where he thought
the maid might be. And his zeal was
well rewarded, for she presently ap-
peared, blushing, and most sweetly
smiling rs the gallant oarsman near
ed. Then with feelings quite elastic
did our youngster leap ashore, and
the two were well acquainted ere the
| first half hour was DER.
Every day for weeks thereafter did
Leander cross the stream, and with
Hero passed long hours that did only
moments seem. His prolonged and
frequent absences put his sisters in q
rage, and they sent to watch his do
ings an eavesdropping little page,
who, with eyes as large as sauccrs,
soon brought back the brief report,
"There's gal across the water that
yer brother goes to cOurt.'
| Then the girls were awful wrathy,
! add they secretly conferred how to
block Leauder's sparkling - for he
couldn't hear a word of fremonstrance
or entreaty, but with grim and angry
lphiz only asked his charming sisters
Yto ''attend to their own biz" So one
night, when he was slightly indispos-
ed with q sore throat, they locked
him in his chamber and went down
and smashed his boat.
| In the morning, when, as usual he
went out to take the air, and to make
his littlevoyage to his Hero sweet
and fair, he discovered what his sis.
ters had been mean enough to do, and
shouldn't be astonished if he swore
a very few. Then disconsOlate lie
wandered up aud down the sad sea
beach, wondering how in Hail Co.
lumbia he the other side could reach
| By and by he saw signal in the
distance blue aud dim; twas sweet
Hero waving wildly her best hand.
kerchief at him. Then, no longer
being able to endure his prisoned
state, i'll despair, to Father Neptune
he resolved to trust his fate. go, ye
gods and little fishes, give Inc strength
in arm and limb, for across the briuy
water l am just going to swim.n.
Then his collar and suspenders he
suspended in tree the blue necktit
which his sisters made he flung into
the sea. And otherwise preparing il
such way as he thought good, he JUS
took noble header from the rocl
/ whereon he stood, struck out boldl,
for his sweetheart, and in spite Of al
alarms, in All hour and forty minute!
Hero had him in her arms
Having made the trip SO neatly
and with such complete success. oul
gallant was much encouraged-mor,
than he could well express-so h,
told his pretty Hero how he didn,
care cent for his old maid sisters
efforts his love visits to prevent
afon just stand upon The tower
Hero dear, and show a light, and III
swim this little Hellespolit to see 70,
] every night"
Well. his sisters were astonished a
the change which took place in III,
: conduct oftheir brother-fer he reaII,
!, had the face to invite them out 1;
concerts, and to stay ct home by day
) and to act asif his passion for stha
4 Iminxp had blown away. Till he 90
them to believing that Their Watcl
they could suspend, aud that smash