Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-05-04
NO.. Ill.


self the luxury of winking lest the time so
employed should be lost.
Frank was perfectly sure that he had
never before felt exactly as he did at that
halcyon moment. 1t seemed as though all
the divinities of paradise were concentrated
in the fair form before him-as though he
had been transplanted to an elysium Of
love.
And the maiden was not altogether un-
moved. The embryo merchant several
times detected her in the act of stealing q
glance at him through the long fringing
eye-lashes that adorned her peerless brow.
He plainly saw her blush-saw her bosom
heave with a fiutter, as she caught his
earnest gaze.
Frank Howard was handsome man;
and, somehow or other, men and women
who are favored in this respect always con-
trive to find it out. Frank knew that he was
handsome man, and never in his life did
he more devoutly thank his stars, which
had given him personal beauty, than at this
particular moment.
The lady had already found out that he
was handsome, and if the stupid fellow had
not stared so furiously at her, she would no
doubt have done the same thing he was
doing.
Mr.. Allen finished the money article, and
laid down the paper. Frank has owned to
me that he wished it had been twice, or even
four times as long.
The details of the business were discussed.
and the papers drawn. While it was in
operation Frank more than once detected
the beautiful fairy in the act of looking at
him-several times detected her in the
very act of blushing, when their eyes
| met
The business was finished at last, much
to the regret of my handsome friend, who,
when he got into the street, went straight
way into fit of abstraction, and had walk
ed half way across Charlestown bridge on
his way home, before he happened to think
that he lived at the South End.
| 1t was all up with poor Frank he had
fallen in love-was stark, staring mad in
| love-with whom, he knew not, for it was
well known that Mr.. Allen had no daugh-
ter. She was a relative, however, for she
bore his name
But if Frank was in love, there was some
consolation in the fact that the fair creature
who had stolen his heart, was in the same
predicament.
The next day she came a shopping at
his store, and the next, and the next; in
deed, almost every day. No conversation
had passed between them, and though he
had been introduced on the evening of his
visit, he had been too much overwhelmed
to use words.
My friend, however, did not lack that
necessary attribute Of successful wooer,
somewhat vulgarly termed ''spunk." He
had no further business with the merchant;
but then his case was desperate one, and
he made an errand.
Miss Allen blushed as he entered, but
she was social and agreeable to the last
degree SO that Frank staid till the bells
rung for nine o'clock before he knew it
The ice was broken, and nay friend was in
for it.
The lady was a niece of the merchant,
twenty-one years Of age, and an heiress
| In the course of O few months, Franks
energy won the victory, and it was under
stood that they were engaged.
The merchant did not like it. Being
somewhat exclusive in his ideas of social
intercourse, the prospective marriage of his
wealthy niece to poor retailer, was repug-
nant to the last degree, and resolved to
thwart the purpose of the loving couple.
At first he appealed to the lady, but she
only laughed at him; told him bluntly that
| she loved Mr.. Howard and ,could have him.
Then he reasoned with Frank on his ingrat-
itude to him, his benefactor. The young
man was touched, and promised to consid-
OIL II