The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-12-17
a HOOP STORY.
CHAPTER L.

CHAPTER ].
And | waited in the drawing room till
| thought my hair would grow gray before
she would appear. The carriage was at
| the door; 1t was bitter cold night;
could hear the coachman swinging and
sapping his arms to keep his hands warm.
| wound up the musical box for excite
mcut, and listened TO its soulless jingle for
occupation; | had made the little King
Charles spaniel stand on his hind legs un-
til he began to think that was his normal
position. | tried with my right hand to
coax Uncle Ned' ont Of the piano
much to the chagrin of that instrument,
whose mission was classical music beat.
ii retreat from the realm Of sweet sounds
to that ofsweet feelings patent leath-
er boots were awfully tight. In blissful
agony heard, at last, the opening of a
door, a musicallaugh, the rusting of silks,
and there, before me, just giving the last
Tightening to her glove-lace, was Blarche
Berceau. Such q seraphic smile, such "a
cooling voice!
"And did keep him wating?-the dear
! little Arthur! And did he grow fretful?"
In the lexicon of politeness which fate
has ordained for bright man of the world,
there is no such word as fretful," | an
swered
/ had been studying this answer for
two hours-Bulwer gave the lesson. As
| replied, my eyes fell Oh the ball costume
of Blanche. The pyramids of Egypt were
evidently intended to be represented by
that dress, her head the apex, and the bot
tom of her skirt the base. had to open my
eyes wide to take il the full circumference
there was no end to that lower hoop!
Can she get out Of the front door?"
thought l. Granted; yet can she get in
to the carriage? Hadn't l better ride
outside with the driver" l mildly asked
her this last thought.
"Never, dear Arthur, on such night as
this. Ride inside, only put your feet up
on the cushion; then l can stand up"
"Kind-hearted Blanche" thought l,
what sacrifices you make for one you love"
! | entered the carriage first; it was not
gallant but then, she insisted upon i'll
| Then she came in--ho0, l can't tell; but
she did. Then. standing up like hippo
drome girl in her chariot, and holding ON
to the straps, we started off to attend
Madame Ravencourt's grand ball.
CHAPTER II.
1t was full house; how it would have
gladdened the hearts of "a prima donna at
dollar head. Through the crush of
human beings ] stepped onward with
Blanche; once only l thought it was all
up with the whalebone, but we got through,
little bent, but still lastic. OCCASIONAL
ly, passer-by would sweep the skirts
round till | saw those dainty chase tiny
feet, and her figure looked like dinner
bell cut in two; but the wave swept on,
and the pyramid was pyramid.
"Will you waltz?" l said to her as the
music sounded.
"Uh, no! | never waltz now"
"Confound these hoops" thought 7.
But we "did" "a quadrille easily.
Only two steps, and the figure was com
pe,e; All awkward step from the gentle
man ris cis, and rip went the lady's
skirts, hoops, &c, then came apologies,
retreat to The dressing room-repairs i'm
possible had to send home for the car
riage ard, instead of having Il splendid
evening, Blanche and I-she sat down OH
the seat now, and | took her dear little
gloved hand in mine, and poured conso-
lation into her heart-rode home before
ii o'clock Nh, horrors ..
CHAPTER III.
In few days, Blanche and ! will be
married Hoop, hurrah! The wedding
ring-I wish it was some other shape, it
reminds me so much of hoops-now lies
on the table. And that cartload of whale
bone l saw going into her house one day
last week
Blanche" said I, ais there an um-
brela factory near you ?" reminds me
that the bridal dresses are being built
Blanche hasn't been to church for three
months owing TO the narrowness of the
pews and the width of her hoops.
/ CHAPTER ".
sit down in my arm chair, and won
der if such things can be possible, and il
what was, was right; and I've come to the
conclusion that everything is that is.
My wedding day! "Now, old boy!" l
solioquzed, "you can only go through
this operation once in your life-three OF
four times at the outside. just raise the
window and see if there are any unusual
operations going on i'll the heavens above
or in the garden below, or over in the
neighbors' houses the other side of the
street. .,othing. Then nature is inaus-
picious. There will bea row to-day some,
where"
Prophetic words! We were to be mar
ried in church, e,a grand tenue, at l(
O'Clock in the morning. The hour came
f carriages, friends, &C., along with it. w
went up to the church. We descended
, walked M to the GOor-side dOOr--yer,