Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-05-26
"Saucy puppy !" and my uncle laughed.
We were on the most familiar terms.


"But on one condition"
"What p
"That you come to my estate in South
Carolina with susceptible heart-that you
are not engaged to another"
II accept the condition." said grasping
his hand uncle. you have lost the bet"
"Not yet, Bob wait Bit"
1t was rather foolish in the old fellow to
make such a silly bet but was sure l could
resist the attractions of my cousin even
though she should prove to be a Venus, that
l considered the money already mine, and
what was far better, that | had won the vic
tory over him.
That night Uncle Ned started for his plan
tation in South Carolina.
CHAPTER II.
My father died three years before this con-
versation, 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 Resale was a
very pretty girl; but she had been to the
North only once, and then | was travelling in
Europe, so | had never seen her.
had written to Uncle Ned promising to
spend n month with him in the autumn
Business had called him to Boston, where our
interview occurred. He had more than once
expressed desire that his brothers property
shoud remain in the family, and pressed me
to unite my fate TO that Of his beautiful niece.
This was out of the question. "a made-up
match" was my aboniination. Certainly |
had no other reasons for my violent prejudice
against the marriage. | considered it a sa-
cred obligation to fall in love before took a
wife, and the idea Of being pledged to Rosalie
l. -. l. 1 I.
that had no patience TO think Of it.
And then l had principle for my guidance
in affairs of the heart, which absolutely for
bade me to think of sdch thing as ''mar-
riage for convenience
The autumn came and paid my proposed
visit to Uncle Ned's plantation in South
Carolina.
WAS disappointed in my cousin Rosalie.
She was a toerable good looking damscl. but
in my opinion very far from being like the
beautiful creature she had been pictured TO
me-
isn't she handsome. Bob ?" said my uncle.
did you ever see such lips, such head of
hair, such eyes, such a graceful form Isn't
she handsome, eh, you dog 2" And The old
fellow punched me in the ribs and roared with
laughter till he nearly split his sides.
couldn't for the lie Of me see what he
was laughing at.
Isn't she beautiful, you rogue? ?" he con-
tinued.
"Passable," replied very coldly.
"Passable You puppy! What. do yen
mean to say Rosal!e is not handsome? p
"Tolerably," answered, twisting off the
leaf Of a palmetto, which grew by the side of
the bench on which we were seated, Just TO
show him how indifferent was.
sI,b " coil ha lnnl-fntr r,,n.,o cnl,nr1, IL
had an idea that you were n man of taste, but
| see You are rs likely TO fall in love with one
ofmy black wenches as with the prettiest
girl in South Caroliua"
Who's that, Uncle Ned?"
This remark was called forth by the sudden
appearance on the gravel walk OF the lowell
est creature | ever beheld, and that, consider
ing have irted with the bellies Of Paris,
Naples and Rome, is saying great deal. |
was confounded by the sudden apparition. aud
springing from my seat as if an electric shock
had reused the slumberiug blood in my veins,
| stood bolt upright before her
|. Shades Of Venus. did any one ever see
such loveliness? such graceful movement
such Il divine expression
could neither speak nor move, so com
pletely was paraly2ed by the glorious beauty
OF the nymph.
Il didn't know there was any one here"
stammered she, with such delectable blush
on her cheek that | nearly went mad with
enthusiasm.
Before could recall my scattered senses
the beauty bounded away as lightly as fawn.
"What the devil ails You. Bob What are
you staring at e. said Uncle Ned.
'Who is she 2" asked |, clasping my hands
in the rapturous excitement of the moment.
That! Why that's little Sylphie Howard
one of Rosalie's friends who is spending
few weeks with her" he replied ind ilerently
Beautiful !" said J.
she! Passable !"
she is divine !"
"Tolerable good looking, but she is nothing
to be compared TO my RoSalic."
was about to say something saucy but
thought since Uncle Ned really believed
what he said | would not hurt hs feelings by
denying 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 a seat next to Rosalie. | could
hardly be civil to her, with such a pair of
beautiful eyes before me, and | hardly ceased
to gaze upon Syphie during the hour We
spent ut the table
After dinner we went out to ride on horse
irving it so that i could help Roslle mount
h"r horse, and ride by her side, and he, the
provoking old fool-did these Offices Of gal
lantry for Sylphie.
No use. old chap, you shall lose your
bet. thought !, and tried to be civil to my
cousin.
don't think ! succeeded very well. | am
very sure did not fall in love with her. My
eyes rested all the time upon the fair and
graceful horSewoman who rode before me.
And thus it was for a week. Uncle Ned
managed to keep me by the side of Rosalie
nearly all the time. If we played whist she
was my partner; if we rode in the carriage
she sat by my side; if we walked, he monopo-
lized Sylphia and left Rosolie to me-and
more than once the old fellow left us alone
| together as though he thought j WAS all rea-
dy to pop the question, and hand him over
the thousand.
| But l was discreet. ! gave her wide
berth. and sighed for the love Of the beautiful
Sylphie Howard. l was head over heels in
'ove-would have eloped with her in mo-
ment, II she would have coDsented.
In spite OF my uncle's vgilence. however I
found opportunities to hirt a little with Syl.
phle, and one day i lured her into a grove of
pQlmett0S In the rear of the mansion la,,.