Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1833-03-28

and assimilates with us. All this and
more, in the warmth of my heart, ! told
nv friend over a bottle Of my best wine,
when my wife rose and left; and we
were still upon the same theme when we
Joined her again at the tea-table. He
began to rally us upon our way of life,
and turned to persuade her that, in for
mer days had played the moons stant a
mong our circle Of beauties, being fond
to admire, and tickle to change. saw
that in his then mood, it were in vain for
me to dispute his assertions; so to divert
the time, and may be, to prevent my
wife from thinking of any other, plead
ed guilty to one serious attachment, and
offered to tell my story.
"Some years ago." said /, "when it
first became the fashion to take shooting
quarters in the Highland, ] formed one
Of large party who had engaged an
extensive tract of moorland for the sea-
son The game keeper and the dogs were
sent off early in July, and it was settled
we were all to dine together at the farm
house we were rented with the ground,
upon the 10th August. My friends a
greed to proceed northward in a body:
but as disliked exceedingly in that sort
of company, declined forming one of
it, and set out by myself, some weeks
before on tour through a range Of my
native country had never yet seen.
AT this part of my story my wife laid
down her work, and looked up anxious
ly in my face: smiled and proceeded
CATER an interesting and somewhat
fatiguing journey, arrived early on the
morning Of the 10th of August, at one
of the principal towns ofthe North High
lands. 1t was market day, and the
streets were filed with crowds Of well
dressed people, thronging in every di-
rection. Several handsome equpages
were driving along the crowd, while
gentlemen on horseback and foot passen-
gers picked their way carelessly through
the troops Of country people and their
wares, who stopped every regular pas
sage. l alighted at a very comfortable
inn, and having ordered some refresh
ment, set down very contentedly to
look over newspaper which lay upon
the table Of the parlour had been shown
into, when CHANGING to raise my head,
my eyes fell upon a mirror, hung upon
the opposite wall, between the portraits
of General Washington and Mr. Pitt, l
was struck with horror at my own ap-
pearance. Hastily ringing for the wait
er, | inquired whether there were any
hair dressers in town upon whom | might
rely. / was told | was within a few
doors of the first artist in the country. =
A man don't like to trust his head to a
bungler; but the first step in M. Blanks
shop convinced me that the waiter had
not been wrong in his assertion. When
the operation was over, | surveyed my
self with much satisfaction in hand
glass, obligingly held to me for that pur-
pose; but not feeling myself at liberty to-
indulge my contemplation so publicly, l
returned as quickly as possible to my
hotel, to consult at leisure the mirror
which hung upon the opposite side Of the
wall, between the portraits of General
Washington and Mr. Pitt. l was perfect
ly enchanted with my good mien. ] was
cut and curled in the most becoming
manner"
Here my wife laughed aloud my friend
too, smiled; but took no notice of their
interruptions.
"The inn stood back from the street,
in large court yard, the projecting walls
Of which on each side prevented any
view beyond. Across this court yard,
numbers of people were constantly pas
sing. sat down at the open window Of
my parlour, to watch the various groups
thus fitting before me. One in particu-
lar, at once engaged my attention ; it
consisted of an elderly lady in grey, a
child in frock and trowsers, a young
lady in white, with pink upon her bon
net, and captain of a recruiting compa-
ny quartered in town. He was apparent
! ly saying something very amusing, for
the lady was laughing violently; and
looking up in her mirth, she threw on
me, as ] sat perched at the window, a
pair of the most beautiful black eyes
had ever seen. / fancy mine must have
told her so, for she had not gone many
steps before she raised those eyes again
! Again they met mine, and tins time we
both blushed. She withdrew hers quick
ly, and returned to the recruiting officer;
he bowed as in the act of speaking.
i The lady in grey appeared to join in
the conversation; and they all walked
| IIleisurely on towards the projecting wall.
\ Will she look up again. pushed my
well curled head as far as could out OF
the window. She holds hers, l thought
reluctantly down. l followed them with
my eyes, as they stepped along across