Year: 1859

lane, to the spot where the horse was
fastened, and then the wind should no
outrun us.


There was but one difficulty in the
way. Janet's room was shared by hel
sister Fanny, a little, mischeyous, wick
ed creature of eleven summers, who, to
use Janet's words, was awake at all
hours of the night" There was but
one way for us if Fanny was aroused
she must be bribed into silence. For
that purpose placed in Janet's hand a
round shining, silver dollar. But Janet
needed assistance, so she concluded to
make Fanny her confidante the very af-
ternoon before we started, and in that
case prevent all possibility of her raising
the house by sudden outcry.


Well, the longlooked- for, hoped-for,
and yet dreaded night arrived at last
How slowly its leaden feet carried away
the hours, and what a strange heartful of
emotions | bore up, as l sat at my cham
ber window looking out as | thought
for the last time, upon the home of my
father. The moon was out in all her
silver splendor she was kind to me,
lighting up with her silver touches all
the spots my eyes might wish to rest up
on before | went out into the world a
wanderer. The broad fields lay out
smooth and shining before my gaze the
fields in which L had worked BY my
fathers side since l was little boy-ah !!
4 dear, kind father he had been /! (At
this juncture my throat began to swell)
| turned away from the window.


"If could but see my mother once
more p exclaimed, rubbing my eyes
with my coat-sleeve. "No one ever
had q better mother than l have"


| sat down in a chair and sobbed out
right, looked around for something to
take with me that my mothers hand had
blessed with her touch. There was a
spinning wheel in the room where l
slept; at the end Of its spindle hung
wollen roll. With my knife | had cut
and half tore it off, pressed it fervently
to my lips, and then placed it tenderly
in my vest pocket. l had not time to
do more the old clock in the kitchen
warned me solemnly that my appointed
time had arrived, and, with slow, sad,
yet noiseless step, | left the house. Once
out in the open air. my wonted lightness
of spirits returned. | consoled myself
with the thought, that in few years l
should return again strong, healthy,
wealthy, respected, and influential man,
an honor to my parents, a blessing to my
friends and-the husband of Janet.


| have often wondered since, how l
succeeded in getting away from my home
with my horse and cart without arous-
ing any one. But as good luck would
have it, l made triumphant exit from
tho old place, and in few moments
was jogging fearlessly along towards the
house of Janet. My only dread was of
the sprite Fan; if after all she should
betray us, what dreadful, direful, des-
perate mischief it would be E! what
a wretched predicament affairs would be
in | groaned aloud at the thought;
yet L put brave face upon the matter
| said that if il was right that we should
go. we should go; if it wasn't right, in
all probability we should stay at home
yet, right or not right. if that miserable
little Fan did betray us, I'd spend all my
days in avenging the wrong-that was
certain. Was l in earnest did I mean
it But we shall see.


How earnestly and anxiously gazed
towards the chamber window of Janet,
as after fastening my horse by the road
side, l walked cautiously up the long
lane that led to the doctors house. O
JOY inexpressible the waving of
white handkerchief in the moonlight told
me that everything was right, that in
few moments | should clasp Janet fond
ly to my breast, mine, mine forever
All, how happy | was $50 happy in
deed, that l stood still there in the moon
light, with my two hands pressed firmly
to my left side, for fear my overloaded
heart would burst away from me entire
ly. What figure | must have cut then
What an Apollo must have looked.
with my fine proportions wrapped up
in my wedding suit! / was slender;
was tall i; | was gaunt; am sure was
ugly looking at that moment.


What possessed me cannot tell, but
from an old chest ! had taken blue
broadcloth swallow tail coat that had be-
longod to my grandfather in the time Of
the wars, and in the pride of my youth