Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1855-12-28
misttllant0ns.
COU SIN BEN
DY MIRIAM =. HAMILTON.

"VIsroRs!H exclaimed Kate Bennett,
nnpatientlv, as she laiI ailo the book she
had been reading, and in which she had
been deeply interested, and took the cards
which the servant presented.
Dear me, how provoking. just as |
am in the most exciting part of the story
-al1 that pert, disagsccable Emily Arch
G., to" she added, rea.ling one of the carls;
who else, | wonder"
Wa, there magic in that simple bit Of
plstaboarl, Inscribed only with the two
words, "Richard Warren?' 1t woul al
mot seem 50, 50 instantan"ouly did her
countonancr change. The frowu which had
Ii figured her beautiful brow DISAPPEARED,
h~r eyes sparkled and without another tho't
of the book, $he hastily assured herself by
glance in the mirror, that her toilet wa,
unaxcrptionabla, and left the room.
As sha entered the drawing room, and
greeted her guests with all the grace and
rInganca of mannor for which she was dis
tngui he'd, Emily Archer surveyed her with
ane rapid, critical glance; but dress as well
as manner, was faultless.
at must be confessed that Kate Bennett
enters a room like a queen" she thought
with a pang of envy and jealousy, as in
Richard Warran's face she read undisguisad
admiration of the lovely girl before them.
What casual observer who had marked
the meeting of these young ladies, would
have dreamed that, under all their outward
Ifrendliness, each hated the other with her
whole heart?
Yet so it was. Kate and Emily were
rival bellies, and their claims 10 admiration
were 50 equally balanced that it required
no little excrtion either side to gain the as
cendancy and be acknowledged the victor.
If Kate, with her classical features, queen
" dignity, elegant figure and exquisite
taste; at fir sght threw her rival into the
thade, Emily's piquant style, sparkling, an
imatcd countenance, and sprightly CONVEX
sation, were by many preferred to Kate's
,tatuesque beauty. 1t was impossible to
decide which was lovelieet; each had her
adherents and admirers, but as they were
equally numerous, it seemed probable that
the season would draw to close without
the all-inportant decision of the question,
which hal bern, par excellence, the belle.
Ju at this time, Richard Warren return
ed from Europe. The arrival of so unde-
niably elegant, handsome and wealthya gen
tlcnan was an event-all the fashionable
world was in fiutter, and the rivals saw at
once that the important epoch had arrived.
She whose claim he advocated, whom he IA
vored with his admiration, would at once
stand upon the precarious pinnacle of belle
snip. Each loft nothing undone to win him
to her side, though their tactics were entire
ly different.
Emily brought to bear upon him the bat
tories of her sprightly W.T. while Kata lroit-
" laid the mine of apparently quecnly in
difference. And yet, though it was evident
that Richard admired both, his preference
was not known-perhaps he hardly knew
himself which he thought the most charm
ing.
But during this exposition Of the Charms
of the rivals, a livoly conver;atio had been
going on. The last now novel and the OPP
ra hal been discussed, as we'll as soma OF
their mutual friends, aud in the mi,lst of
some wickedIv witty remarks of Emily on a
would-be fashionable lady, loud voice was
heard in the hall. II came nearer the door,
and the words could be di tinctly understood.
"You no-5rained, imrudent jackauapes,
IHtoach vou manners. I'll make you laugh
on t'othar side of your mouth"
The door was flung open, and in walked
a tall, athletic and sun-burnnd Young man,
whose really fine form was disguised in an
ill-ftting suit of evidently domestic manu-
facture, and who stood for moment awk-
wardly looking around him; then, hastily