The Empire County argus., 1854-03-04
From Gleason's Pictorial.
TIL E ON NIBUS FTP.
BY REV. HENRY BACON.

The omnibus was full-so full that BLESSINGS were
pronounced on all thin people, and the thin people
mourned that they were wedges The omnibus ras
full but the driver seemed bound not to know it.,
and so he drew up his horses at the raising of a
tiny parasol ''A fulI!r was the gruff cry of ccr-
tain gentlemen in hurry for their dinners but
one voice, exceedingly musical varied the exclama-
tlons by declaring there was room for ladies' "Come
in come in y That was my friend Bertford
The lady had evidently not heard the pro and
con of the question of fulness and the little para
sol, like the Prov of a fairy ship, pointed the way
ed the comprehension of certain persons to decide
The thin gentleman collapsed the more and on
either side of them, the huge waves of silk and
satin became more billowy.
The lady had run three steps, and that effort,
with the exertion required to get up the awkward
entrance to the coach, caused her to pant not lit
tie while her face was flushed and Eer ewes spark
led, and she bent her head like a bird exhausted
with singing.
Had the accommodating gentleman caught
glimpse of her before she entered! and was that
the explanation of courtesy! Evidently not for he
started with look of surprise, when his eyes fell
on her face, and he was somewhat confused He
soon saw that she had not noticed him. and he
stroked his chin with the thumb and forefinger of
his left hand in that way that seems to say, feel
pretty well, but am a little puzzled"
The new passenger had finished her painting and
seemed much interested in the scenery of ''down
street." for she looked steadily through the open
space in tho door. But hers was a face which it
was no sin to look upon. 1t was all sweetness A
beautiful repose was every feature and the cra-
ces of expression nestled in the dimples of her
cheek and in the roseate hooks of her eyes Those
eyes were screnely blue. and the light hair with
golden tingo, crinkled over her temples and danced
in small curls where the jewels gltered lust enough
to suggest the presence of tiny ears
1t was thought that at least two gentlemen went
further than they intended, for they were still in
the omnibus when the lady lifted herself to pull the
strap when the coach was beyond their dinners.
The horses stopped, and so did the coach, and the
lady took from between tho ivory gates of speecb
the silver ftp, and handed it to the courteous gen.
tlcman, to whom, though she knew it not she was
indebted for her seat, The hand that took the sill
YER did not reach it up to the driver, and it was
quite reasonable to suppose that another ftp was
given for the fare. The lady saw something that
made her lift the eyes that had dropped when she
thanked the gentleman for taking 'the trouble" of
handing the fare to the driver and there was a
slight cough, as though something had suddenly
sprung into her throat or her heart had jumped up
into her mouth.
However this might be, the lady left the coach
without any seeming hesitation, and the gentleman
did not remain more than when square or two was
passed.
Francis Bertford-for such was that gentemans s
name-was not successful in catching sight of that
lady again but he was confident that as he turned
the corner of certain street, the blue silk dress
with the narrow lace intermingled, that just flashed
on his sight as it entered door, was part of the
bright feathers of long lost bird The door was
closed and very ominously appeared to him the
bold Roman letters of the name he saw there
BRowN.
Berford found it convenient to pass by that
Brown door quite frequently; and one evening,
Just at dusk, he saw the blue silk again. but GEN
tleman preceded the lovely form which it adorned.
Fortunately, he was completely on the look out
that he retreated round the corner before glance
could be thrown up the street where he was Sud-
denly he appeared in veranda, standing as COM
posed as though object of special attraction was
in that long and beautiful avenue But it can
hardly be thought that either the avenue, or the
multitude in it, had q share of his attention, for his
eye followed the blue silk in all its crossings, till it
entered the gates of the square, and vanished amid
the trees.
The veranda was deserted, and Bertford was rap
idly approaching the gates of the square on the
opposite side to where the blue silk entered Did
he hope to meet her tace to face? 1t would seem
so, for he did. And when he did meet her, he was
walking with an air of remarkable unconcern, and
he even ventured to whirl over in his hand his light
switch cane, though he were humming q tune
Their eyes met a full, clear, steady gaze was ex-
changed for happily, or otherwise, the attending
gentleman, on whose arm the lady leaned was no.
tcing some object to the right while Berford pass
ed on the left.
a commerce of souls is carried on by looks The
eye is strange ship on the of circumstance. 1t
is freghed with the richest fruits of thought and
feeling. Not from Arabv the Blest can come such
perfumes and spices for lfe's dearest entertain
ments as from the human eye, and one glance can