Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-02-01
BATH, THURSDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY l. 1855

Ohs In
was far better, that had won the victory over
him.
That night uncle Ned started for his planta-
ton in South Carolina.
CHAPTER II.
My father died three years before this con-
yersation, leaving me an ample fortune. His
two brothers had been in South Carolina for
thirty years, where the father of Rosalie died,
leaving my uncle Ned her guardian.
had often been told that Rosalie was a
very pretty girl but she had been to the north
only once, and then was travelling in Eu-
rope, so had never seen her.
had written uncle Ned, promising TO spend
a month s=iti, hisaa il ~ autumn. Business
had called him to Boston, where our interview
occurred. He had more than once expressed
desire that his brothers. property should re-
main in the family, and pressed me to unite
my fate 10 that of his beautiful niece
That was out of the question. A made
up match was my abomination. Certainly l
had no other reason for my violent prejudice
against the marriage. | considered it sacred
obligation to fall in love, before took wife,
and the idea of being pledged 10 Rosalia before
/ had seen her, was so absurd that l had no
patience to think of it.
And then l had prinoiple for my guidance
in affairs Of the heart, which absolutely for
babe me to think of such thing as a mar
riage of convenience
The autumn came and paid my proposed
visit to uncle Ned's plantation in South Caro-
lima. was disappointed in my cousin Rosal-
lie. She was tolerably good-looking damsel,
but in my opinion very far from being the
beautiful creature she had been pictured to me.
Isn't she handsome, Bob = said my uncle.
Did you ever see such eyes, such lips, such
a head of hair, such a graceful form! Isn't
she handsome, eh, you dog9 And the old
fellow punched me in the ribs, and roared with
laughter till he had nearly split his sides
couldn't, for the life of me, see what he
was laughing at.
Isn't she beautiful you rogue.'
'Passabie,' | replied, rather coldly.
'Passable you puppy! Do you mean to
say Rosalie is not handsome!'
'Tolerably,' l answered, twisting off the
leaf of a palmetto, which grew by the side of
the bench on which we were seated, merely to
show him how Indifferent | was.
Bob,' said he, looking more soberly, |
had an idea you were a man of taste but
see you are as likely to fall In love with one Of
my black wenches, as with the prettiest girl
in South Carolina
Who's that, uncle Nedl'
This remark was called forth by the sudden
appearance on the gravel walk of the loveliest
creature / had ever beheld in my life, and,
considering that have f1irted with the bellies
of Paris. Naples, and Rome, is saying great
deal. was confounded by the sudden ap-
partition, and springing from my seat, as
though an electric shock had reused the slum-
bering blood in my veins, stood bolt upright
before her.
Shades of Venus, Hero, and Andromeda
did any one ever behold such loveliness such
an agile form sach graceful movement !
such divine expression
/ could neither speak nor move, so COM
pletely was paralyzed by the glorious beauty
of the nymph.
4 didn't know there was any one here,
stammered she, with such delectable blush
on her cheek, that had nearly gone mad with
enthusiasm.
Before could recall my wondering senses,
she bounded away as lightly as a fawn.
What ails you, Bob! What are yon star
ing atl' said uncle Ned.
Who is she = asked l, clasping my hands
in the rapturous excitement of the moment
That! Why, that's little Sylphie How
ard, one of Rosalie's friends, who is spending
few weeks with her, replied my uncle,
indiferently.
Beautiful = exclaimed l.
She! Passable =
She is divine!'
'Tolerable blocking, but she is nothing
TO be compared with my Rosalie.'
was about to say something saucy but l
thought, since uncle Ned really believed what
he said, would not hurt his feelings by de-
nying it.
At dinner / met both ladies, and was for
mally introduced TO little Sylphie Howard.
| was provoked with my uncle when he as
signed me seat next to Rosalie. | could
hardly be civil 10 her, with such pair Of
beautiful eyes before me, and | hardly ceased
tc gaze upon Syphie during the whole hour
we spent at the table.
After dinner, we went out to ride horse
back. Uncle Ned annoyed me again by con-
triving it so | should help Rosalie mount her
horse. and ride by her side, while he-the
the provoking old fool did these Offices OF
gallantry for Sylphie.