Year: 1866

scared while visiting his mamOrata not
long ago, but we have not yet discovered
that his hair is turning prematurely
gray in consequence of his fright, as is
sometimes the case. He has done the
adventure into reading" as follows;


"UN AFFAIRE D'AMoUR."


l became acquainted with my adored
one by means of an innocent Irritation.
The interference of third party, we
considered superhuous until we should
come to q final settlement. 1t is unnec-
essary to explain that it was love at first
sight. AT our first interview, | express.
ed the hope that our next meeting would
be at her own residence, but she politely
declined, stating that her parents were
adverse to her receiving gentleman cal
lers. But after few letters had been
interchanged, and the affair broken gent
" to her mother, who at first was infex-
ible and entirely opposed to it, l had the
happiness of spending very pleasant
evening at her own home


I Ialways noticed, if my visits happen
ed to be in the evening, as they frequent
ly were, that the mother and young lady
were always on the qui rire least any one
should approach the house and enter un-
noticed, although the doors were sure to
be secured against intruders, after my
arrival OF course, these things created
a suspicion in my mind that everything
was not right, so proposed to discover
what might be the reason for so much
caution.


Ihad never seen her father, but had
been informed that he was a corpulent
individual whose weight was two hun
dred and fifty pounds, much addicted to
strong drink, and very ill.natured to his
wife and daughter whenever he re-
turned home at night, which invariably
ha1pened about half past nine; also,
that he was more unmanageable II he
discovered his family entertaining any
strange gentleman, and said strange
gentleman would be quickly reminded
if he did not vacate the premises imme-
diately, he would receive heavy ap-
plication Of shoe leather on the back
seam of his unmentionables.


Thus | discovered the reason Of the
fears and caution of my adored one. |
am not called, in pugilistic parlance,
light weight, nor by my friends, a cow
ard, but the corporeal proportions of the
pater familiaS and his Virulent disposition
/ must confess, awakened i'll my mind a
very cautious feeling Of self preservation
| was in love, however, and willing to
risk something anything, for my adored
one As my acquaintance with her IN
creased, we became less cautious in some
respects. She endeavored to obtain from
me the promise, that should l happen
to be in the house when her father re-
turned, ! would conceal myself at his
approach. at the back stairs leading to
the attic, which l emphatically refused
to do, chosing rather to face the danger
if there was any than to sneak away
Her reasons for wishing me to act thus,
was tosave me from insult and from see
ing her father in his usually intoxicated
state.


One evening we were seated, as usual, in
the back sitting-room, when we heard
rattling at the front door, and were i'm
mediately informed by the mother, who
was in the front parlor, that her hus
band had arrived His arrival was
earlier than usual Ny love seized
me and by prayers and entreaties for
my own safety, as well as her own, led
me unwillingly across the small pas
sage-w way up the dark back stairs and
left me with the salutary admonition to
keep perfectly, awfully quiet. My first
impulse was to return but no | heard
his heavy foot upon the front entry floor
and his voice in the room l had inst va
Gated His voice was cultural, it was
tremendous. it filed nv mind with all
sorts Of wild fances Occasionally,
could hear a horrid oath but could not
discover the subject of his conversation,
the door being closed between us, and
the excessive throbbing Of my heart
prevented me.


If the servant, Who but a moment
before had gone up stars, should return
and find n stranger arrcsting her pas
sage, and should alarm the house by the
cry of thief, OF if the dog should smell
me out and growl at me. or if | sniftled.
for | am troubled with a very bad
catarrh Such thoughts and thousands
of others, fitted through my brain while
| sat cramped up on the narrow stair
way, fearing least bya single movement
they would creak, and 50 reveal any SIT
nation.


All the while | could hear the Old
mans" mumbling, but could not di-cOy
er single word which might give me
any clue to his conversation Suddenly
the door was pushed open, the light was
reflected mp the narrow stairway, aud
he passed into the kitchen, eXclaiming,
with a hofrid oath, If he's thief III
know it," He evidently meant me.
Nv hat and cane were in the sitting
room he had seen them, and was de
termiued to find the owner by search
ing the house Now was the time TO
show my nerve aud bravery. Should |
remain quiet, and be dragged from my
concealment Or should | seek safety
by disgracelul retreat | preferred
the latter, but my limbs would not per
form their functions; they were par
alyzed by fear so had 10 remain and
make the best of it..


He passed into the sitting room, closed
the door, and all was perfect darkness
again. listened to his receding foot
steps, aud when they had become silent
all else was silent as the grave. There
on the stairs sat, wondering what was
TO he the next act of the comedy in which
| was the victim, when the door silently
opened and 4 sweet, low laugh announced
nv adored one. She informed me that
had nothing fnrther to fear, as her father
had retired for the night, and would


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