Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-02-14
A BAsHFUL BRIDEGROOM.
Tells Ofthe Terrors of the Bridal
Chamber.


Senator Sebastian, of Arkansas, was a
native of Hickman country, Tennessee. On
one occasion member of Congress was
lamentIng his bashfulness and awkwardness.
why" said the Senator from Rackensack.
you don't know what bashfulness il. Let
me tell you story, and when get through
will stand the hob il You don't agree that
you never knew anything about bashfulness
and its baneful effects. was the most BASH
ful boy west of the AllegheLies. / wouldn't
look at girl, much less speak to maiden;
but for all that feel desperately in love with
sweet, beautiful neighbor girl. 1t was
desirable match on both sides, and the old
folks saw the drift and fixed it up. Thou chit
| should die Just thinking of it. Twas a
gawky, awsward country lout, about nine
teen years old. She was an intelligent re-
fine and fairly well educ tied girl in count
ry town and at time when the girls had
superior advantages, and were therefore
superior in culture to the boys. fixed the
day as far as l could have it put off. lay
awake in cold perspiration as the time
drew near, and shivered with agony as /
thought of the terrible ordeal.
"The dreadful day came. went thro' the
programme somehow in dazed, confused,
mechanical sort of way, like an automaton
body through supper where / could eat
nothing. and through such games as pos
sum pie, "Sister Phoebe, and all that sort of
thing. The guests one by one departed, and
my hair began to stand on end. Beyond the
awful curtain Of Isis lay the terrible un-
known. My b'ood grew cold and boiled by
tlrns. l was in fever and then an aQue,
pale and flushed by turns. felt like fleeing
to the woods, spending the night in the barn,
leaving for the west never to return. I was
deeply devoted to Sallie. loved her harder
than mule can kick; but that dreadful Or
deal. | could not, l dared not stand it,
Finally the last guest was gone, the bride
retired, the family gone to bed, and was
left alone; horror of horrors, alone with the
old man. "John," said he, you can take
that candle; you will find your room just
over this. Good night, John, and may the
lord have mercy on your SOUL and with q
mischievous twinkle of his fine gray eye the
old man left the room. [ mentally said
Amen to his Heaven help you and, when
heard him close distant door, staggered
to my feet and seized the farthing DIP with
a nervous grasp. l stood for some minutes
contemplating my terrible fate, and Il Q
inevitable and speedy doom about 10 ovel-
whelm me. / knew 1t could not be avoided
and yet hesitated to meet my fate like a
man. stood so long that three love letters
had grown on the wick of the tallow dip and
windingsheet was decorating the sides of
ga happy thought struck me. I hastily
climbed the stairs, marked the position of
the landing and the door of the bridal cham
Der. I would have died before would have
disrobed in that holy chamber. where await.
ed me trembling and beautiful girl, a
blushing maiden clothed upon with her
own beauty and modesty, and her snowy
robe de mutt. l would make the usual prep
aration without, blow out the light, open the
door and friendly night would shield my
modesty and bashfulness and
grateful darkness, at least mitigate the
horror of the situation. 1t was soon done.
Preparations for retiring were few and sim
pie in their charact r in disrobing and owing
to the scarcity of clothing in those days man
was somewhere near the Adamic state when
he was prepared to WOO sweet sleep. Ire
dreadful hour had come; l was ready. l
blew out the light, grasped the door.knob
with deathy grip and a nervous clutch;
one moment and it would be over. One
moment and it wasn't over by d-n sight.
l leaped within, and there around glowing
hickory fire. with candles brightly burning
on the mantle and bureau, was the blushing
bride, surrounded by the six lovely brides
maidsp'