Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-03-04
MISCELL A n Y .
The Bachelors Button.
CHAPTER FIRST.


Some years ago when was single man and
dreaming Gas some single men do) ofdouble bliss
vet destined to arrive | went to concert at
the Musical Hall of Boston. Music is POLITICALLY
and proverbially "the food of love-" and in my
sentimental state consumed good deal of 1t;
not that had any object in view. Mine was an
abstract love; cultivated it, | increased my
stock. so that | might have good stock OF the
tender passion in hand whenever saw an eligi-
BILE opportunity of investing it. Well, to return
To the concert; it was crowded to excess and
the rush, on leaving, to reach cabs and carrla-
geS was very great. | wore on that memorable
night, blue coat with brass buttons, and flat
tered myself there were worse looking men in
the room. | tell you candidly admired myself;
the other party was struck with was fine girl,
with dark eyes and black hair, who sat with
some young friends,a few forms distant. hoped
she noticed ne and my blue coat, with brass
buttons looked at her often enough to at
tract her attention TO both; and being, as my
friends would say, in rather spo0ney state
worked myself in towering passlon-of tore.
But how was to come at the object OF my ad-
mration, for was as dffident as devoted-"as
shy rs | was vain" as an over-candid friend
once said. "Hail Columbia" which concluded
the concert, surprised me, as unprepared as on
the company were shoaling ont, while | stood
mutey gazing after the object of my love at
first sight She and her party eddied tnr while
by the inner door of the concert room, and were
then drawn out into the retiring current, and
lost to sight.
| followed quickly AFTER lest should lose for
ever all opportunity of identifying my idol but,
alas! the lights in the outer corridor were few
and so far between, that mo glimpse of my star
could | get" pushed and fieIcely elbowed
through the crowd, with view OF getting to
the outer door before my fair ones party had
emerged, and thus gaining once more sight OF
my sweeting.
"Hang it, muttered, impatiently, as felt a
TUG at my coat skirt and was instantly conscious
of one of my hind buttons having hitched to
some lady's dress; my progress was suddenly
arrested "How provoking" thought Las was
brought to stand, for could not push on with
out losing a button or tearing dress "how pro-
yoking the modern fashions; q lady now has as
many hoops, as many tentacles about her appar-
el as a scauemone." 1t was with some irrita-
ton I stopped to undo the button, but my hur-
ry made the task more difficult, and instead OF
undoing, | only bungled and more twisted the
loop round the button.
"Please let me try" said the lady herself, as
| bunged over the business; she ungloved her
hand-it was a sweet white hand so | looked
at her face. Stars and garters! but it was the
very fair one, black hair and dark eyes, | was
in pursuit of. As she stopped over the entan'
ged button, slight flush tinted her cheek Oh
it was delicious. hoped she never would un-
do the loop; and indeed she never would, for
her fingers were twitching nervously, and my
heart was beating audibly tried to help her;
our fingers met.
'Please to make way there" shouted gruft
voice behind. We We're blocking up the pas
sage was there ever such all unlucky spot Tor
so lucky an eutanglementl
You hinder the people from going out, An
ME- exclaimed one finer companions with some
asperity; plague upon the tiresome loop, break
:" aud suiting the action to the word the speak
er leaned forward and caught the sleeve Of her
beautiful friends dress in one hand, and my coat
tail in the other, and giving quick and decided
tug, severed Us. The crowd behind bore on,and
we were separated not, however, before | gave
my ''star" look which intended to speak vol
umes. | thought she did not seem unconscious
of nv meaning-our eyes met, know, and this
was the only consolation left me, for immediate
" afterwards lost her and her party to view
in the darkness outside.
CHAPTER SECOND.
That night hardly closed my eyes, thinking
of nv "bright particular star" and what means
| should employ to find her out. L knew little
of the town, which was large one, and to eH'
pect to know the name Of my fair one by mere
description was hopeless, for there doubtless
must be great many with dark eyes and black
hair within the bills Of mortality" there as else
where.
Ny love fit grew more and more violent in
the course of the day but tired out at length
with my search, returned to the hotel, and
took out my dress-coat from my portmanteau to
feed my flame even with the contemplation of
the inaniinate button that had detained the
''back-eyed divinity" so long. 1t was with no
little delight now discovered what did not be-
fore catch my eye-a fragment of the silk loop
of her dress still adhered to the button twisted
round the shank pressed it to my lips it was
lylac in color-and stopped to disentangle it