The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-08-13
A ROMANCE OF THE RIVER.

A ROMANCE OF THE RIVER.
"Ah, James, my boy, give us your
hand. Here | am, safe and sound, and
you. look little seedy. Hum. we'll,
you're blue, blue as newt. How is
business ?"
James Bedford occupied the next
otfice to my own, in Leverett's block.
Business is good enough. Did you
have a good time2 Might have writ
ten
James, don't tear your coat-sleeve.
No man could write under the circum-
stances. Let me unfold to thee-I am
married man -
You're what ?" shouted James,
leaping from his chair and scattering q
half-pint of ink over the desk and floor.
Married, by jingo! Give us your
hand. The brides at the house waiting
TO see you to tea at five"
don't believe it. Nor will I. Here
an affianced lover like myself is totally
forgotten for a month, and man who
never had sweetheart brags of being
married. Salem Mott, you're an in
sufferable--well, I believe in nothing" 4"
You will be more considerate of my
honor when you hear the story of my
adventures and see the beautiful wife /
have. We left st. Louis-that is I
and my precious face-in good spirits,
innocent and happy. The Phil Sheri-
dan had comfortable set of passen-
gers, and to avoid the confusion [ i'm
mediately went to the hurricane deck.
Here sat for hours, smoking and
thinking; thinking how delightful it
was to get away from the cares of bust.
ness and taking pleasure trip. By
and-bye this thing got monotonous.
thought that one thing over fifteen
thousand times, and then began to think
it all over again.
"But just at that time the steamboat
sidled up against the wharf boat at Al
ton. A number of passengers came
aboard. There might have been
thousand-l only saw one, and one sight
alone would have made me proud ef
having seen the loveliest woman in the
world. She was the most magnificent
looking woman you ever saw-no, you
never saw her, but you will soon.
81 rushed down into the cabin
forward to the clerks office-and saw
her enter the cabiu. Her cheeks were
as ruddy as the bloom of peaches, and
her skin as clear as isinglass. And she
was proud-proud as a queen-at least
I thought so. Everybody made way
for her-not for the jaunty travelling
suit, nor the dainty shoe, nor the dia-
mond cross hanging to the satin round
her throat, nor the Paisley shawl, but
for the princess that carried them.
"For two days 1 watched her; was
the worst case of lovesickness YOU ever
i,heard of, and now look back upon
that complete capsizal of manhood as
an opium-eater does upon a season of
exaltation. I stood near the cabin door
while she played upon the piano while
she sang L leaned over the railing so
stark mad that had 1 then been in
formed that she was married, or even
affianced, my life and my briefs would
have come to an untimely end in the
boiling flood abaft the rudder.
There was very handsome man who
stood guard over her. He was not her
husband. There was also young lady
companion about her own age. These
three [ had reason to suppose cousins
from snatches of conversation which
could not escape my ears from time to
time.
"The evening of the third day was
eventful and wrought wonderful
changes in my prospects. Soon after
nightfall the band began to play, and
those inclined began to dance. She
danced like sylph or Psyche, or some
other divinity, and all I could do was
to look at her and endure q severe
headache. Completely overwhelmed
by my infatuation, 1 rushed out of the
cabin and breathed the fresh night air
abaft tine wheel-house. A plank had
been broken off from it about as high
up as the railing, and J. bent my face
down close to the great flying wheel |
and let the cool spray dash against it.
Scarcely moment had passed in
this refreshing occupation when who |
should hippity- skip down the narrow
passage but my Queen of Love, her
face wreathed in smiles and her eyes
aglow. 1 was staggered, knowing that
some mistake had been made and that
l should make it worse by blunaers.
"She had mistaken me for her
cousin
T. "Oh, you can't escape me, Charles
Stand right still, I've something to tell |
you p She made a plunge for my arm
and caught her prisoner. She was
torturing me with grace and beauty and |
the most charming abandon. There |
is a man in there who looks exactly |
like you,' she said. Il must know him.
Introduce him.
"Like me?' quavered.
"Yes, like you !-only better look
ing. Hasn't such an awful hook in his |
nose-prettier mouth, too. have seen
him wandering around so lonesome
like all day. I pointed him out to
Cousin Nell, and what think you she
said p
"Can't guess, said I.
"That's just like you. She said if
you ran away from us again she would
get this man to go home and play off
trick on your relatives. Think of that
once, and come to your Senses