American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-05-09
From the Columbian Magazine
THE DOUBLE RUSE.
BY MRS. CAROLINE II. BUTLER.
Chapter III.

Chapter Ill.,
A merry partv--ay, aud lovely one, too,
were assembled in the neat little parlor of Cara
CampbeIl-the prettiest girl in the village and
the acknowledged belle of the country for many
miles round; that parler SO tastcfGlly-l had al
most said coquettishly arranged-in keeping as
1t were with its charming mstress-With Just
the brightest carpet in the world, spun and VIC
ven by aunt Katy herself in such pretty shades
OF scarlet and greenland the old fashioned
chairs, (for the model of which phylo would
now give fortune with cushions so curiously
wrought by grandma in her palmy days-and
little china vases filled with the glossy leaved
laurel, and wax-berrles and tie brilliant noun
tam ash. Then the tables, covered with al
buns, and ANNALS, and shells, and baskets aud
pictures, with an endless variety of nick knacks,
(or Cara is prime mover in all societies ana
fairs,) and to grace the whele one tinv vase OF
fragrant roses, geraniums and wall-howers from
Cara's own observatory wkch she has coaxed
papa to allot her. Then the walls of this pref
ty parlor were decorated with wreaths of ever
4 greens, (for 1t was the Christmas holidays, and
so was the great looking-glass, and 50 was
grandma's portrait, done by descendant of the
famed Dick Unto; and ever all these what a
cheerful glow was cast from those blazing logs
in the ample Fireplace!
Oh it would have done u bachelors eyes
good, yes, and his heart too, and melted away
that icy crust, if he could only have looked in
upon that joyous little company--for do you
suppose, iaAr reader, that bachelors really SO
despise ''scoman-kind,' as they pretend? that
their eyes as blind, their ears as deaf, their
elbows as straight, and their hearts as cold as
they would fain have us believe? Don't you
'beAeus oivord Of il!
NJ 81, Il
queen, (of fairies, but there were also Susan
and Fanny and Mabel, whose arch glances, rosy
cheeks and pouting lips would have played the
very deuce with an cid bachelor! Why, bless
them, they would have made no more of tear
ing his heart to pieces than they would Of pick,
ing chickens wing
Rare sport is a quilting! and this it was
which had brought our charming little conlpa-
ny together, and right merry time they had
over the gay patchwork and although grand
ma Campbell good old soul, who, with her
spectaces on her nose, superintendent "herTing
homeland "shelt," declared with sigh of great
fervor that the quilt did not progress at all, and
asserted that the glib tongues of the merry mai
dens far outsped their fingers; and although she
even went SO far, with something between a
joke and reprmand, to suggest the same 10
the party themselves; still the merry peals of
laughter rang through the house, and now END
then lively little song chorussed by the whole
circle, proclaimed that their hearts were,too
full of happiness to heed the remonstrance of
the kind, but somewhat over-exacting old lady.
But now twilight creeps on insensibly-the
chintz curtains are hastily Topped up to admit
as long as possible the light of day, and like
tardy children whose lessons have been neglect
cd, each fair girl now endeavors with rapid
hand to atone for minutes misspent Swiftly
now flew the little fingers over the Octangular
divisions ycleped "block- work. of the CAV quilt
-hither and thlther flew the bright-glancing
needless flashing in the ruddy fire light as fairy
cimeters, and welded they were too by very
fairies Then followed tea, and soon after the
merry music of sleigh bells was heard approach
ing the house--at which sound the blushing
girls each took SLY peep at the glass-rbbons
and ringlets that had gone asray were adj usted;
for well did they know ,cho were coming, as
one after another the seighs came whiring to
the door. And then if you could only have
seen how very sedate each roguish damse sud-
denly became, as the village beaux, themselves
half abashed, came curled and perfumed into
their presence. Even Cara herself looked so
demure, so innoGent-and why should not she
She had never broken any Of their hearts, or
their sunbers; oh no, not she!
"But where is Charles tonight" whispers
Mabel to Fanny Aymar-'is he not coming'"
HE is coming, | know" was the reply
"and cannot think what makes him SO late
for where you are, Mabel, he is generally the
! frst?"
Mabel turned away to hide her tell-tals face
but in moment exclaimed
, "Ah bark! | hear his bells" Unconscious
that by this remark she had betrayed even more
than by her bushes.
She was right; they were his bells; and in
few moments the tardy Charles Aymar entered
the room, but not alone. He was accompanied
by stranger-although from the bright blush
which instantly mantled the cheek of Cara, and
the start of pleased surprise with which she bent
gracefully to the salutation of Walter Newman,
(for he it WAS it would appear they had met
tbefore-but of this, more anon.
In the meanwhile we will imagine the even
ing to have passed off with all the enjoyment
youth. Happiness was there-it was heard
in the music OF their merry voices-shone on
their bright-beaming features and was felt in
the joy-beating hearts of all. Not until late
hour did the party separates; then, one by one,
the lights cleaning from the cottage windows
disappeared sound of the sleigh bells ceas-
ed, and the bay of the faithful Watchdog, dis
turbed by the merriment of the returning par
ty, became hushed, and silence rested upon the
little village
A week has elapsed since Walter Newman
made his unexpected entree at the quilting fro
lie, and Of The manner in which he has been