Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1874-06-25

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the premises.
The main entrance. to the .sHolbrook
Mansion," as our heroine ianghingly
called it,. was from the platform. A
$ vestibule aud wide hall with stairway
running straight up, large square par
lor, long, narrow dinning-room, side
hall with back stairway, kitchen, and
pantry completed the first floor. The
second floor contained four chambers,
hall and dressing-roon,. The ceilings
were low, the walls papered with cheap
but neat-looking paper, and the rooms
were well ventilated and lighted with
good, large windows Rena had been
fliving in stylish, modern built house
) in town, and this "looked rather din
gy," she said, shut really better than
she had anticipated"
i When the freight train came in at
noon, and their goods were put off, Mrs.
81. proposed that all hands should go
to work and have things Strengthened
out a little, and have dinner at home.
Mr.. II. hired anegrO man to assist, and
Rena, never afraid of work, changed
her travelling dress for plain calico,
rolled up her sleeves, and was here,
there, and everywhere; unpacking and
storing away, arranging furniture, and
making everything as nice and COM
Portable looking as could be imagined.
The cooking stove was set up, and good
Mother H. soon had nice hot dinner
smoking upon the table, and every
thing went "as merry as marriage
bell"
"I'll declare! this is fun, said Rena,
"and do believe shall like it after all. |
Do come into my parlor, mamma, and
and see what cosey little place it is.
Dear me! how will sit back in here
and chat with the country beaux." A
new three-ply carpet-crimson back
ground, with white and yellow roses
sprinkled over it, mahogany furniture,
with q rosewood piano, oil paintings,
lace curtains, large French mirror, and
and many little ornaments made by
Rena's own ingenuity, did indeed lend
to the old-fashioned room an air not
only of ease and comfort, but refine
ment and taste.
The Holbr ooks soon became domesti-
Gated, and Rena settled down to coun-
try life full of rural enjoyments. Oh,
those happy, happy midsummer days
how deeply rooted in memory's soil,
and fondly dreamed of in after years.
There were many young folks in the
vicinity of Pierpoint, and although
there were some among them unlearn-
ed and illiterate, the majority were an
enlightened and refined people. Among
the many faces that thronged the depot
and platform about the time trains were
due, was one that Rena always found
herself watching for-she could not tell ,
why, for it was plain, honest-looking
face, that one would scarce expec: a
girl of Rena's fancies to admire. Al
though she had formed the acquaint-
ance Of almost all the young people in
the neighborhood, the owner of that
face held himself aloof, and seemed to
have no desire to form her acquaint- |,
ance. She saw him daily, and was told
that he was the son Of well-to-do
farmer; that his name was john Ste
phens, and that he was the best-natured ,
fellow in the world; that he was so
frank and open in disposition that he
was called "honest john"
Rena's first debut in society was one :,
she never forgot. A mile distant from
the station there was a considerable lit
tie village, and the "Ironsides" were
holding series of meetings. A dis ,
tant relative to Mrs. H., who lived in
the vicinity, came over in his buggy /,
one Sabbath morning and persuaded =,
Rena To go with him to the association. ,
She made tasty toilet, and full of ami. :,
nation, and anticipating nice time,
she stepped into the buggy, and very :
soon they arrived at the church. A =,
very young and dself-conceited gent with
whom she had formed slight acquaint-
ance spied her and came forward and !
assisted her in alighting. "Miss Rena,
the church is full to overfowing; it
will impossible to get inside, allow me
to find you seat in the shade of some .
nice old tree" Her cousin had left her !,
to hitch his horse, she felt that it would
be an insult to refuse the find offer, and
yet she was really ashamed to be seen
with such a specimen of the "genus ,
homo" His attire was simply ridicu-
lous, and Rena could scarce repress
smile at sight of the odd-looking crea-
ture. He wore plaid velvet waist /,
coat with all the colors of the rainbow !
in it, although the day was extremely ,
warm-even sultry; flaming red neck .
tie, seedy brown coat, pants a trifie
too short, and leather shoes.
Seeing no one else she knew she ac-
cepted his offer, and he led her to a
buggy. He took seat by her side, and q
remarked, ~ am going to talk to you 4
all day. John Stephens told me~if you +
were here to-day, and had an oppor- +
tunity, 1 must introduce him, but do +
not intend to give up my seat to any
one." And he did not. The whole
morning passed and Rena had never
stirred from that buggy. She grew +
tired and restless, but her prosecutor
talked on, and though she longed to get
away, he held on, and the morning ser.
vice passed. Her cousin came and took
her home with the remembrance ofthat
tedious and improbable hour stamped
indelibly upon memory's table. Once !.
during the day she had seen John Ste
phen's sunny smile, and hoped she
would have the pleasure OF an intro
duction, but her hopes were vain. He
passed close, but her whilon friend took
no notice Of his presence, and he did .
not stop.
That night .Rena's dreams were of I
heterogeneous nature. Plaid waistcoats,
red neckties, and "honest Johns" good
natured face were all mixed together,
and when early morn, with her pure
breath, aroused her from her slumbers,
she sprang from her couch, and peep :
inc down TO see who it was walking IN
and down the platform at SO early an !.