Blue hen's chicken. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1848-1854, 1852-04-23
THE ALIAS;
MR.. ST. JOHN.

NIX. 8 |. JOHN.
1y9 ALWAYS walk my horse into
"a town, or up 10 a Hotel door, sal
Phil, as we descended the last sand bank /
Saratoga Village, and passed leisurely tn
spring to Congress Hall.
He sat on his left side, driving--a peculiar
ty of his own, adopted like most of his oile
whims. from horror Of being like other pee
Iple-his eccentric palm leaf sombrefo incline
at the merest possible angle to his lett eye, an
his rein hand held up, as IL for graceful ges
tnre, at about the second button. tlsIts
1t was just evening, and the great piazz
was crowded with promenaders. was
stranger 10 the gay crowd myself, but as tn
s'anhepe stopped, couple after couple recogni
zed Phil, and we were surrounded, before W
could set foot upon the ground, by beaux ant
bells, all in that atmosphere Of iree manners
ready to throw off the metropolitan reserve
and give an uproarious welcome to one Of tn
agreeable men on the paps. With some diff
Guilty we reached our rooms at last, and wer
about preparing for toilet, when the bell RAM
Tor tea. felt the summons sens;iively, 70
Phil had refused TO dine on the load becaus
Half Moon smelt of herrings, and | looket
forward to the bathing, brushing. and crayaling
boding Of appetite. NV resolution was made
Phil !! shouted /, speaking at the top of m,
voice through the lattice over the door, Il lninl
III go to tea before dressIng'
You'll te sent to Coventry, if you do,' an
swered the dandy, in tone Of Deliberate conyic
lion. afll fs4 q
1T sounded like knel, but the appetite is i'm
peratiye. / knew was sun burnt and 1ushe,
! knew my travelling coat was exceedingly
unbecoming | knew ! was grimed beyon,
the redemption of anything but a two hour
avatlon in rose water and cream, by the dus
OF the worst Of roads--f know ! looked NOR
like blacksmith's apprentice Il was neve
handsome but can dress) than genilemal
scholar but In the hupsuf getting beat nm
observed at the bottom of the table, and com
ing back to pursue my toile. Ieisurely, and phil
osophicalIy, an ian impossible thing, let m,
say. with an appetite.) ventured.
had come TO Saratoga, by The way, with al
object. One Of the most admired womeI
there, was sister Of an old college friend, whit
with brother fondness on one side, and |
friends on the other had praised me to his sis
ter, and his sister to me, il between descrip
tion and post-scripis, and the thousand irdef
mite modes of mystitiing one another, we wer,
mutually curious TO meet. With this explana
ton 60 on.
Two immense tables stretched down in lons
and busy perspective through the hall, crowd
ed with five hundred fashionables and 'woud
be-so's,' and the knives, and spoons, and wo
mems voices, Omen never talk ill the meal il
over,) Were mingled in bewildering confusion
With some difficulty found seat--iust vaca
tel by an invalid-and hoping that had step
ped in unohserved, | sent in for a cold bird
and piled my knife and fork in busy silence
Birds, berries, and bread and butter, gave mt
courage. had finished my meal, but sa
looking up the long line of faces on the oppo
site side, Specializing on one physiognomy ans
another, and selecting future acquaintance
from the pretty and pquant. All at once my
eye caught upon side face had seen before
and sudden turn, and mutual recognition
left me no hope of escape. There sat my old
friend, and ] knew instantly, by the resem
blance, that the tall, magnificent creature at his
side, was his sister | felt the blood rush in.
te my face like broken sluics. You nevel
saw me blush !-(thani Heaven never DOCK
cept upon surprise)-il's horrible My eyes
nocs. and forehead were purple-I knew It'll
could see every vein in my minds spec rum
saw Harry speak 10 his sister. Her eyes
were on me in an instant and as | turned hal
away, and almost burst blood-vesse in trying
TO look unconscious, could see by my sid.
eye that her glass was raised, and felt it &c
down my dress, and slovenly cravat-what did
not suffer | had no power 10 move, and
had forgotten in my confusion the commones
ruse by which might have avoided an intro
ductions or drown myself in the hath---eiihei
seemed paradise to my present feelings.
Harry was in my room before could get III,
door closed.
tWhat cou ii taunt va, IN con,a % d. ,alt.
looking so like the devil =
why, in the name Of all the saints, did you
point me ont 10 your sister = .1
In long four years intimacy we had neyel
come so near quarreling. He told me frankly
that his sister was disagreeaby surprised al
my appearance, and sat down on my bed and
cursed my stars till was tired.
WE'LL balheJ, and dressed, and at O'Clock
Harry was in my room sgain.
Gertrude will never recognize you,' said he,
measuring me from head and fost. You are
exquisitley dressed, and look as little like the
bIushing youth 1t the liable, as like Hyperion.
A thought struck me |! | was always i'm
pudenl by candle light, and | determined on
my course Instantly. remembered that,
though very tall, was rather short bodied, and
looked like small man at table, and trusting
to the metamorphose Of a studied toilet, pro-
posed TO Harry to introduce me by another
name. 1t was agreed upon as soon as mention
ed. ...4
The rooms were brilliantly lighted, and the
band playing march. The ball had not COM
menced. Fifty or sixty couples, however, were
promenadng round the room, and among them
Harry with his sister upon his arm. ! settled
my cravat, and with an assurance that would
have astonished myself in day light, lounged
coolly and alone up the middle of The splendid
hall, my head slightly inclined in collected
modesty, and my glass passing leisnrely over
the feet only Of the promenaders. felt that
every eye in the room was upon me, but was
sure OF my self-Possession. -s Harry came
round, caught once more, with side glance
lhe glitter Of glass leyelled full npon.mY figure