Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1873-02-06
CONFIDENTIAL.


to mind the time when I was not some
body's confldante, the business beginning
as far back as the winter ran down To
Aunt Hally's to receive nv birthday
party of sweet or bitter sixteen, as viii
appear
Ralph Romer was the first to spread thu
news of my arrival in the village amons
the girls of my own age. Ralph Romej
1t was who had braved the danger oil
brier and brake" to find the bright
holly; y;berries with which Aunt Hally had
decorated the CHEEKY little parlor for the
occasion; and 1t was with Ralph Romel
l danced the oftenest on that famous
night;
short little minute" he whispered a!
he came around in the rear of Aunt
Hally to bid me goodnight, ending the
whisper, according to the style Of al
boy-iovers, 1--WE got something to tel
you"
The door stood open and conveniently
near, and suppose l wanted to see how
high the snow had drifted since dark
and, better reason still, couldn't afford
to let Ralph take my hand off with him
and so 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 a con
fidante to smuggle letters and valentines
across the lines, we have both chosen you
for ours. Oh, was SO afraid you wouldn't
come r'
found the snow had drifted-well,
| don't believe I knew how many inches.
1have not promised a recital of all my
auricular experiences. Enough to say,
that in time settled down into the con
viction thst it was my special mission to
be the receptacle of other peoples secrets
and they seemed determined to convince
me that they thought so too
So, when Mr.. Tennent fremont hap
pened along and became candidate fol
auricular favors, like tradesman who
has gained the self-sustaining ground
which has made him Indifferent as to
custom-seeking, / could afford to be en-
tirely 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 ciic'e we took him to be a
Northern college chum, met with during
his sjust-returned from-trip to Washington;
for it was in those days when Southern
hospitality was as much appreciated as it
was literally bestowed. 1t was good
time for modest stranger to come among
new faces. We were in the flutter 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 uppleasantly much.
But when the wedding was over, and
had made up my week of lost sleep,
and he and my brother had kept them
selves out of the way on a camp hunt,
for my mother to do up her 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"
"Why, in not helping me to entertain
my friend"
tGetting tired of him?"
'No, he isn't one of that kind; but, to
tell the truth, 1 am too busy just now to
give him the whole of my time"
TOO busy turning your own cakes.
Yes, I see. -
(which is no more than my sister is
doing; which reminds me to say that ].
B. will call this morning, he desired me to
inform you. But, dear sis, we must not
be SO absorbed in our own love matters as
to give my friend only moiety of our at
tention, for, poor fellow he has one of
his own.''
$50 am to bore him for the sake of
relieving yo1! Is that my role ?"
Nov stop He simply wants a lady
confid 4nte" :"
{ l broke away from my brothers hold,
and ran up to my room to see if all was
right for my expected caller, giving my
right ear pull, by way of saying to that
victimized organ, "You are needed"
And what think you I did next? Got
out my embroidery material bag, and put
it in order for action at moments warn
ing. l was prepared for a reasonable
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 selfish
demands of my forthcoming job.
The next day was one of November
dTizzle, the house confinement of which,
my adroit brother declared, could only
be mitigated by my presence in the sit
tlng-room until the improved state of the
weather allowed their escape from it.
was in the habit of appropriating such
weather to my piano, and I had not
touched it for month. Whether Mr..
Tennent Tremont's nerves were in a
sound state or not, was determined to
practice until twelve. But when he came
in from the library and assisted me in open
ing the instrument, was obliged to ask
him what he would have. They were nv
first direct words to him, our three weeks
guest.
"Oh. Summer Night is favorite," he
said.
gave him the song, and then executed
the long variations; then, dropping my
tired hands in my lap, inquired whether
he liked vocal or instrumental best.
mot any more of either, just now,
thanking you kindly for what you have
given me, he said "Have you ever been
a confidante, Miss p"
That is my vocation, Mr.. fremont" I" ]
replied, grasping nay bag.
(Which? your embroidery Or"
"Both combined" tried to say pleas
antly, "as on this occasion I am at Mr.
Tremont's service;" and I threaded my
tapestry needle.
Without predatory word he began
Years before your young heart wal
, awakened to the sweetest joy, the wild
est woe, loved"
aa Sand single yetl' exclaimed as LEI
my hands drop and glanced up at hi
brown hair, to see If all those years hat
: left their silver footprints there.
And single yet," he repeated slowly
still Worshipping at the same shrine
and to no other will I ever bow until thi
head is silvered DER, and this strong arm
palsied with the infrmities of ageoif ,
long life is indeed to be mine.n
2 3 His ardor startled me, but 1 managed
a to stitch away composedly, and he wen
on
2 9'I know it is in the highest degre.
selfish to inf1ict on you recital of Wha
may not interest you; but I have tried
to keep my secret buried from human
eyes, from all but hers, and you are nov
the only being on earth to whom I hav,
ever said, 4 love- AS intimate as have
been with your brother, if he knows it
it is by hisTpenetration, for no word O
acknowledgement has ever passed m,
4 hot Mo- L. aclx