Year: 1859

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very afternoon before we started, and in
that case prevent all possibility of raising
the house by sudden outcry.


Well, the long looked for, hoped for,
and yet dreaded night arrived at last
How slowly its leaden feet carried away
the hours, and what strange load of
heart felt emotions bore up, as l sat by
my chamber window looking out, as l
thought for the last time, upon the home
of my father. The moon was out in all
her splendor; she was kind to me, light
ing up with her silver torches all the
spots my eyes might wish to rest upon
before went out into the world wan
derer. The broad field lay out smooth
and shining before my gaze; the fields in
which had worked by my fathers side
since I was little boy-ah! dear, kind
father he had been! At this juncture nv
throat began to swell. I turned away
from the window.


"If I could see my mother once more!"
I exclaimed, rubbing my eyes with my
coat sleeve, stNAo one ever had better
mother than I have" .....
sat down in chair and sobbed out
right I looked around for something to
take with me that my mothers hand had
blessed with her touch. There was
spinning wheel in the room where I slept;
at the end of the spindle hung woolen
roll. With my knife l half cut and tore
it off, pressed it fervently to my lips, and
then placed it tenderly in my vest pock-
ct; l had not time to do more; the old
clock in the kitchen warned me solemn
ly that my appointed time had arrived;
and with slow, sad, yet noisless step I
left the house. "


Once out into the open air, my won't
ed lightness of spirits returned. I con-
soled myself with the thought that in
few years should return again, strong
healthy, wealthy, respected and infuen-
tial man, an honor to my parents, bless
ing to my friends and the husband of Ja-
net.


have often wondered since, how 1
succeeded in getting away from home
with my horse and cart without arousing
any one. But as good luck would have
it. / made triumphant exit from the old
place, and in few moments was Jogging
fearless along towards the home of Ja-
net. My only dread was of the little
sprite Fan; if, after all, she should betray
us, what dreadful, direful, desperate
mischief it would be!-what a wretched
predicament affairs would be in! groan-
ed aloud at the thought; yet I put brave
face upon the matter; said that if it was
right that we should 60; 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 in earnest! did l mean
it! But we shall see.


How earnestly and anxiously I gazed
toward the chamber window of Janet, as,
after fastening my horse to the roadside,
I walked cautiously up the long lane that
led to the doctors house. O! Joy mex
pressible! the waving Of white handker-
chief in the moonlight told me that every
thing was right, that in few moments /
l should clasp Janet fondly to my breast,
mine, mine, forever! All! how happy L
was-so happy, indeed, that stood there
in the moonlight, with my two hands
pressed firmly to my left side, for fear my
overloaded heart would burst from me
entirely. What figure I must have cut
then! What an Apollo must have
looked, with my fine proportions wrap
ped up in my wedding suit! was slen-
der; was tall; Twas gaunt; I am sure l
was ugly looking at that moment.


What possessed me I cannot tell, but
from an old chest had taken blue
broad cloth swallow tail coat that had be-
longed to my grandfather in the time Of
the wars, and in the pride Of my youth
had found nv way into it. The tails