True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-01-04
STEUBENVILLE, THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 1866.

over her face as she saw the two Ashleys,
Martha and Emma, alight. They were not
pretty girls, and their attire, which was
certainly very ungraceful and wanting in
taste, made them appear still palmer. The
elder, Martha had Il stone-colored drawn
silk bonnet ON, not one season old, as Mr..
Dunnoran had predicted, but two or three
A large blue and orange changeable silk
mantilla with an cdging of black lace
around it and dress of the same, compile
ted her attire. The other was not much
better, with her old French lace, lined and
trimmed with blue Grape, and brown silk
dress, too short by several inches forNcity
fashions, and narrow scarf Of black silk
scarcely covering the Worn back, thrown
around her shoulders. But our brave
Blanche had made up her mind to do !;
right sensible thing, as her father had said
and when the servant opened the door
she met them in the hall with kind inq1li-
,ics about their journey, and then went
with them to their room, where she turned
to leave them, thinking they would like to
change their drcsses-but upon her saying
something of the kind, they answered that
they had brought no change Of dresses, as
they calculated upon returning the next
day with their brother. Blanche conceal.
ed her dismay as best she could, and said
something very civil about the shortncss OF
their visit, and then invited them down in
to the parlor, where they cnsconccd them
selves each at a front window, with Their
white cotton knitting work. They were
good sensible girls, but rather common
place, and showed to far less advantage
amid the luxury of city life than III tho
simplicity Of their own home.
IT was with great relief that or heroine
saw her father join them as the carriage
came to the door for them, at the appoint
ed hour. His ready wit and keen discrim
nation enabled Blanche to entertain he
guests with more case than she had antic
ipatcd. Blanche knew her father had done
this out of pure tenderness to herself, fo'
it was a rare thing for him to accompan,
her on occasions of this kind-for he wa
an eminent lawyer, and usually went will
a bevy of his own profession.
She was proud of her father, as sh,
might well be; and felt almost repaid cvcl
for the modification of having such gawl,
girls with her, as his wcll-known figure es
cortcd them up the aisle, amid the thron!
of fashionablcs, to a front seat She sc
cretly congratulated herself, as she LOOKED
around, that none of her own set wer
within their vicinity-and had settled her
self quite comfortably, when u rustic of sill
and muslin, a delicate perfume of magno
liza, and a low, silvcry laugh, which sh'
knew but too well, then a small, lilac-glov
ed hand was laid upon her shoulder, anc
her satirical, ridicule loving friend, Clar
Maybe, greeted her with charming word
of courtesy, but with an ironical culv
to her lips, and satirical CLEAN in he
light blue eyes. Clara Maybe of all per
sons, and her companions, the identica
Mark Shirloy,-witty Mark Shirley, ant
the Uptons.
what in the name of all the graces hav
we here| she heard her say to Mark Shir
ley as they seated themselves. Blanch
knew it was intended for her car. 'Tis
shame for our pet bird to be victimized il
this way! Country cousins are so trouble
somewhat happy thing now that
haven't any
She had reckoned without her host thi
time, for Mr.. Dunnoran, leaning back wit
an odd twinkle in his eye, said playfully
but with mysterious meaning, and jus
loud enough for the party to hear:
No,yowuncleJ Jake didn'tseem tothriv
on country air, Clara. [ belive he prefer
his old trade of harness-making at Cal
fornia.'
An angry crimson mortified her delicat
cheek, and for moment her chagrin wa
quite cvident-but with her usual hard
self-possession she rallied and replied in
gay, bantering tone, that relations wer
slippery things in America
| 'Yes-we should take care how we thro
stones at other peoples windows said NJ
Dunnoran-and nodding good-hmoredl
he got up and joined a group of gentleme
t on the next seat.
Blanche, dear, do introduce me to- 20,
} companions, said Clara, in a few moment