The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-08-21
THE RIVALS IN A 'FiA.'
BY PAUL CREYTON.

by IAUL CREl lOS.
b One Of the pretlest lasscs that eve
H4faced country dance, or turned the hcat
Sa,I lover. was LYDIA Little, the subject {
|ahe following sketch.
NJ Nobody could deny it; she was very pret
Y even her rivals allowed that She was
n liic fascinating, anl her Liaerest ene
ID ies declared lAal after all she was beau
4 Although Lydia was really handsome, i
Us very unioyi0nate circumstance that
BE was conscious OF the fact. IL is no in
tlfy IL be a petty girl, if she doesn'
now ii; bat Lydia had quite az perfect ;
knowledge d her charms as even her warm
Het admirers, ahd the consequence was, sh,
eeame one ofihe most vain, sirewl. aud
eariless eoquettes that ever made bon
re oI true hearts in order 10 laugh al thy
hines.
N LYDIA hsl ardent admirers, far ani neaI
pr hef beauty was famous in all the yii
Ers within iseaty mics Of the town in
itih her ialaer, il rich old tarm9f, re-
+ 81.
A1I.olsb l.Yaia smiled on all, there were
IA, la3 "h9 were known op9ssoss very
reu inpuflsuea 10 her e3es, aud who
eemsl to cast All Other lovers in the
u Ae,
n One Of thase yoln, men was nqm d
awe aud tie o1asr BroWn. Tacsa, il wss
. 'gi, were Lyda's layorita co.ers, and i,
u 4ty reaiael iar her 10 choose between
@hem. ludeci il was = N tier Of debate
8n The village, whether il would 30 better
T. become 4 tHtie mtite or a lMle brorn.
i Messfs. White ami Bfown both lived at
4 distance !fom their mistress, but White
& u The advantage over his rival, for be iv.
4 lhe nearest. These young gentlemen
ld lear1 Of each other. although they haA
poi the pleasure Of y personal acquaintance
Nhie wss afraid Of Brown, and Brown W..
FlraIj Of White, so that LYDIA out of pure
undneSs, was very careful that they should
neser meet at her house.
II The rivals feared ench other, they fear
Ed Lydia's father still more. lie had tried
ppi stop 70 her ianocen, llrtations, md
ld repeatedly threatene to shoot her suit
rFs i they didn't keep aloof. Besides that
s name was Lille aud he was a little
lafce, and the beaux were not little afraid
resentment.
one day when lydia's father was goHe
ran home and was mol expected back un-
late at night, she determined to send for
no during the evening. Bat which should
Ne choose! Here was dilemma, indeed.
ne reflected that Brown was with her last
nd ceiling that it would be unjust not 10
How White to come in bis turn, she resolv.
p that White should 10 the mln. 81 she
Popped line to White, and had every
hIng prepared for his reception ia the even,
BIZ.
hydIa ieit so confident that her dear
E'hie would ily 70 meet her, that she would
pave boen willing to stake her life tha, he
woaid be there at the appointed hour
"il'e was very punetuul. and she fell, tina,
w io'ed her too well to allow ANYTHING
["hate'or to interfere with The interview.
However, az the time pissed, and he did
wv arrive at the moment. she began TO
Aahge her mind, aud TO wonder how she
[esef permitted White to occupy her henri
H"a such noble felow as Brown.
Down wenldn't have faiIod--uE would
Pot, know
''e, thoughts were running in her mind,
'e" mere was a rap at the door. She
~" waite was there, and forgetting her
eteh'ment, flew to admit him. Whit was
: surprise on finding that it was not
h,ie but Brown!
pon'' be surprised,' painted the delight,
oyer 4 shon!dn't have dared to come
4 .1a'a 81 the old man--but | saw him
'4uie OF the afternoon; he told me -O'm
oa, OF breath [ can't hardly spoak) he
asa '., I coming home Ill! midnight
20 YOU took an opportunity Of visiting
during his absence, ch!!'
hYdla smiled on him al first, bu, then
looked thoughtful aud finally appeared
lp perplexed. She was coasiJerinp
hat FIX she would be in il White
'o4ld be coming along about that time.
You mustn't STOP soid she, .neryonsly,
nher'il be at home--I expect him homo
cry mlnute-and if he should find
'Pshaw: there's no Danger said Brown
won't be homo yet awhile. And if he
pines, | can slip into the kitchen and oo,
h' NJ the back door,
Finding she could no, send her lover
Nay' Lydia resolved 10 mako tho best o!
while he stayed.