Orangeburg news and times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1875-1877, 1876-06-24
POOR POLLY PODGE;
HOW | CAME TO BE MARRIED.
by W. ". 1oopsoS.

from one thousand To twelve hundred
dollars, with some other !riiIing pro-
perry, and having taught the district
school for several successive winters,
had laid up few hundred dollars in
cash. | was young, addicted TO 10
bad habits, aud thought myself hand
some, though | have since been told
that this w"s wholly Il mistake. AT
any rate, | was a most eligible matri-
monial partner, as ! should say many
Of the girls in the ncighborhrod
thought, Judging from some their
little maneuvrcs. Suspccting them
Of worldly and mcrcclary motives, |
iouSE. shy, and contrivcd to keep
myscl out Of the mcshcs Of love aud
all cntnngling alliances.
But | had now reached turning
point i'll my dcstny-a tide in the
hitherto unbrokcn current of my life.
\ certain Col. Stanhopc purchased a
farm and located himself and family
III our immcdia ncighborhooh. ]
had no sooner set my eyes up.n Ella
Stanhopc than | resolved to win her.
She WAS without doubt The most
hrautilil! creature ever saw. ! lost
no time in iormirg her acquaintance,
and found that her manners were rs
engaging rs her face was lovely. All
my usual apathy and Indifference to-
wards her sex valiahc;l, anl became
ardent in tic pursuit Of This cherish
rl ohIcrt IN this pursuit | cncoun-
tered nnc very serious obstacle. Miss
Sianhnpc was at I'LL times: ut home
ard abroad, in company with an
aunt, u maiden sister ol' her deceased
m":hcr, a Miss; l'ulgc-M Polly
lodge. This lady had seen, perhaps,
some forty il"wrry summers pass, but
doubt 'css lahcrr.! under tic I'M
preston, rs s':c sirovc 10 impress up,
IN cthcrS, that shc was yet III The
!inst and SprinY-linc Of life.
he was ai bunyancc and guish-
dressed in l!c g"vrSt cnlors, had The
'ntrricst laugh and brightest com
], eAl+-A~ .,!- Imaginable. JIrr couycrs,l.
f1T7i fairly l,utl,Icsl and spnrkIcd,
and often when WAS si.hing for Il
t'h:"-hr will l. la, she would over.
wtrln me with Il very ca,ar,ct OF
airy Eu!l,in@: aud ~. Fr<}DH.
Oi course treated her with ti,c
greatest ciyiIitv, on her own account,
and thinking that 10 establish myself
III The good .racc> OF he elder lady
might advance my interests with the
Younger, exhibited, perhaps, y little
more warmth twaE,!s Miss I'o,lgc than
| ought to have done.
| Knew that llli. lady attended to
tie domestic concerns ofthc family,
and i'll calling on ELLA, would <cIccl
such hours as thought Miss Pods
would be compelled TO devote 10
household matters. But all my
strategy was vain, SHE was ever pre-
sent, or if called away would come
hurrying back iii Il moment, with Il
rush and gush, with merry laugh
or sparkling hon MT on her lips that
set my teeth OIL edge, though Of coulsc
had to grin horribly ghasty
smile"
was desperate, especially as l be
gan t, discover, as | imagined, signs
Of tenderness in Elias manner when
ever we were for !, moment alone to-
gcthcr. How to get rid Of my mcrci-
less tormcntOr became the study Of
my life. began to question if there
would be such "dccp damnaiion in
her taking OIL wien the chance, hc
golden opportunity | lad 50 long
been seeking, unexpectedly presented
Itself.
called one evening, as usual, and
found both ladies III The drawing.
room. | sat ill late, waiting for \,
chance. At last Miss podge Gcclur-
cd thai she mast 90 and attend TO
;ca, or We would set nothing to eat.
! rose at the same time to take my
leave.
"Wor't you Stay and lake lea with
rs, Mr.. Pepper asked Miss podgc.
declined, and making my adicus
10 ELLA, left tie room, accompanied
by the elder lady, who went to The
rear OF The house as / came out at The
front. | walked to tic gate and
stopped.
"Now," thought ], "is Tie time. Ill
slip back, and if ELLA is still there,
I'll do the business before that-old
CT returns"
! went back, opcnc, the door cau-
tiously and looked in. 1t was quite
dalk, brt the simmer Of ELIAS light
dress was plainly visible, just where !
had left her y moment before.
Wiihout lncs nr ti,nn I cicnpcI to