The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-02-26
CHAPTER I'LL.

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"Oh, no." said Louisa, "not ahov,
twenty-very friendly indeed, you know
Very well, then, 1 think shall rs,
Jack Clore to pop in. am going to SC,
hlm You know he has not been well. bu
If it is quiet friendly party, he might a
well come"
Jack Glare !" cried Louisa, "who i
Jack Glare, my dear!"
"Oh, Sir John Clare, my old friend n
OXFORD. Fe is nice fellow, Louisa, :
capital latEcs' !uan-only must not lc
him dance mich.'
"Oh, ask him to come by all means =
said Mrs. Stevens; /" baronet will Civ,
an air to the thing. Apologize for shor
notite, you know, Frank, and say, it is no
thing OF party. There, 60 >"d-bye"
| At tic APPOINTED time numcrt- us carria.
| scs drove up ID DIR. Stevens hou.,e, and
the brilliantly lighted rooms began t.. fill
The dances beghH There was Aupp,,.
ia Mii,,a. dl rssed with inofe elegance than
any lady IL the room, bowling on ali sides
introduced to cew partners, waltzihg with
every stranger, and becoming, in short,
what she had decidedly ,~pcctcd to be-
come-the belle of the room. Presently
she was requested to sing; she "had a
cold" and she couldn't RENE. .nber one
song" and she "had learned nothing new"
but she did sing and the company wc.- &c in
rapturcs. She afterwards expressed he
self fatigucd, and thought she should '.or
der the carriage" and the company were
IN the deepest affiiction; she presently de-
clared she would not "givc way" and
meant to dance ut least six times more,
and the company were in rapturcs again.
and straightway she was provided with
SIX respcctable-whiskcrcd partners for those
siA dances. Presently a servant handed q
card to Mrs Stevens who Immediately
stepped into the antc-room, where n gentle
man was waiting, who bowed respectfully.
Il belieave have the pleasure ofaddrcss-
ing Sir John Clare" said Mrs S.evens.-
The gentleman bowed. Doctor Stevens
has just been called out As he he was en-
gagged to attend apaticnt-a doctors time
you know, Is never his own. 7 am soirv
he is not herc,but as it is, perhaps you will
allow me to introduce You to my friends"
The baronet replied politely, and they
entered the ball room together, Just n the
close of one Of the dances. Sir John Clare
was introduced to MANY of the guests, and
having found a seat by Mrs. Andrews,
was converSing with her when Augusta
Miles was handed by her partner to the
vacant seat by the side of the baronet.-
Presently she joined in his conversation,
and by degrees Mrs. Andrews grew silent
and finally left her seat, and Augusta and
the baronet convcrsed without her. "Pray
who is that lady!" said Sir John to his
lovely companion; 81 have not been intro
duced to her. She is beautiful girl ~
"Do you mean the voting lady in pink"
said Augusta.
"Yes."
Really, why that is my sister Mary.
She is so dreadfully timid, so nervous, that
she scarcely ever enjoys n party. DO you
knoT she sings quite prettily, lut she is
so excessively nervous, that she cannot
sing before company"
Indeed ~ said Sir John, (" that is q pi-
ty. But will you do me the honor to in
troducc me, and | will try and prevail up
on her to sing"
Augusta could not refuse and she and
the baronet approached Mary. "Sir John
Clare-my sister Mary" The introduc-
tion-was no sooner over than Augusta was
claimed by her partner for the next quad
rille, and Sir John tried without success, to
become as intimate with Mary Miles as he
had made himself with her sister. But
no! Mary gave him no encouragement !;
and when Augusta was at liberty, he ad-
dressed himself to her again; became hsr
partner for three dances; her escort to
the supper-room and finally, handed her
into her carriage.
What a delightful evening I huve
spent said Augusta, as they drove home;
positively / have quite enjoyed myself"
Il am glad Of that" said Mary Il
have enjoyed myself too"
you actually sang" said Augusta.
Yes; / did not wish it, but / was so
much pressed"
"fcs, Sir John Clare pressed you
know. He said he should when / told
him what poor timid creature you were. {"
he seens very nice young man,
said poor Mary, IN most heartless tone.
"Oh he's well enough" :" said Aasssta,
yawning;" but for my pant I don, see
much in him."
This was said in very careless tone,
and Mary believed it TO be true; but in
her heart Augusta was enraptured at re-
ceiying attentions from Che ouly titled
beau IN the company, and delighted at
the idea OF making such conquest. =
de asked If he might call" said she
IN theAame yawning tone, /" but am sure
hope hswon't ] don't want him." Oh
Ai,n,,,.a q. NIL -