Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-03-15

s'"So "oht iartner, Dut Coventry was one
OF the piao es on the route. Opposite me. in
the stage sat young rosy checked maiden of
very attractive appearance. She was some-
wnat deRure, withal, and only cast stolen
glances at me which pretended not to see.
~nlie l, In turn, looked at her whenever l
could get q chance. Whenever our ewes
ehanced to meet, they were instantly with.
drawn All this was very foolish, Of course,
but may allege, in my own defence that nv
opposite neighbor, besides being exceedingly
pretty, was the only presentabIe female in the
coach Close beside her was spinster, of IS
or thereabouts, with pursed up mouth and
two hat sections of yellowish hair plastered to
each cheek. Her nose was long and thin,
while she herself was lankness personifed.
Add to this pair of blue spectacles, and you
will readily imagine that the beauty beside
her was heightened by the contrast.
There appeared, however, to be some ac-
qualntance between them, as I observed the
young lady speaking familiarly with her less
prepossessing companiR. s.....t ..
Ihe road over which we were riding was
rough and hubby. In parts it inclined to one
side, SO that one part of the coach was higher
than the other On one of these occasions the
inequality was further increased by the wheels
al the upper end passing over a stone. The Jolt
was such that the passengers were all violently
precipitated to one side Of the coach and I,
much to my surprise, but not at all to my dis
pleasure, L found my pretty neighbor opposite
seated In my lap. L made not the least effort
to relieve myself from the unexpected burden;
but the young lady, half blushing, half laugh
ing, Withdrew as quickly as possible from her
embarrassing predicaments. On looking about.
L observed that gentleman Mt my side, bluff
stout gentleman, was in a state of ludicrous
perplexity. The spinster, whom have men
ton, d, had been thrown forward at the same
time; opening her arms in the vain endeavor
to save herself, she involuntarily clasped her
opposite neighbor around the neck In her be-
wilderment, she did not immediately release
her hold, but uttered succession of piercing
shrleks, which first alarmed and finally con-
vulsed with secret laughter, all the passengers.
Fortunately for US, We were near the end of
our journey. My opposite neighbor and her
companion got out at a neat two-story brick
house, about half mile from the hotel at which
L myself stopped.
After passing the night comfortably at the
Coventry Arms, inquired of the landlord, in
the morning, if he could inform me where Miss
Ethelinda Blackstone resided
In brick house, about half q mile from
here" was the reply
ga two story brick house, with lilac bushes
ON either side of the gate?'' inquired.
= That is the place"
at once jumped to the joyful conclusion
that my pretty stage companion was the lady
to whose hand could urge so strong a claim.
dressed myself carefully, and about ten
O'Clock. armed with a letter of introduction
from the President of the Gift Enterprise,
walked over to the brick house.
My modest knock called to the door my pret-
ty stage compan on. A blush of recognition
showed that was not forgotten.
Stammering out something about the beauty
of the morning, L delivered my letter, and ac-
cepted an invitation to take seat in the par
lor. My lnamorata left me, to read the letter
in private.
Meanwhile, 1 began to feel the embarrass
ment Of my position. Nevertheless, 1 deter
mined, now that had taken the first step, not
to faint or falter with such prize in view On
the walls Of the little parlor were various neat
and tasteful drawings, attesting the skill of
my late companion.
While L was busily occupied in examining
these, the door opened and admitted-the spin
ster l knew her instantly, by her long nose
and yellowish hair.
MIR. Bugbee3" she said
bowed.
II am Miss Ethelinda Blackstone, to whom
your letter was addressed.
was petrifed. 1t was the aunt, then, and
not the niece whose virgin hand had won. In
my dismay and perplexity l with difficulty
eJaculated that l was glad to make her acquain-
tance.
II feel, Mr.. Bugbee," said the spinster.
casting down her eyes in modest confusion.
:" that-that this meeting ia on both sides an
embarrassing one. As we may both desire to
become better acquainted, may l ask your
company to tea this evening? Our hour is six
Hastily accepting the invitation, seized nv
hat, and IN very unhappy frame of mind re-
turned to the hotel. .E
If it had only been the young lady" I
thought, g L should have been delighted but 1
never, never can make up my mind to wed
this antiquated spinster. hundred thodsand
dollars would not tempt me?"
took tea at the house Of Miss Ethelinda.
The young lady, Miss Carrie Blackstone, who
proved as suspected, to be the niece of the
elder lady, was very demure; and could now
and then detect a miechievous glance from her
black eyes as they rested in turn on her aunt
and myself. She said little, but left the bur
den OF the conversation to us. As might be
supposed, 1t was precise, formal, and heavy
After tea We walked out, l was forced to offer
my arm 10 the spinster-while Miss Carrie yery
demurely tripped behind.
How long will this farce be kept up?n
thought L, signing. "I am very much afraid
Miss Ethelinda will throw the burden of reiec-
tlen upon me. She appears to have taken q
fancy to me already. Just my luck!''
groaned IN spirit, but had to preserve an
outward appearance of cheerfulness
80 invent on for fortnight Miss Ethelinda
evidently looked upon me with favor, while
she became more and more distasteful to me-
more especially as | was already deep in love
with her niece. Hitherto had no opportunity
to speak in private with the latter 1t so han
pened that at this time, ON one of my daiiy
calls, found the lady absent. Carrie assured
me that she would be in soon Accordingly.
nothing 10th, decided to await in her company
the return of her aunt.
Before the interview was over, 80 unusually
bewitching proved my companion, blundered
out my love.
"I-thouyht," said she blushing, "that it
was my aunt that--that you"
very earnestly assured her that although l
had the highest esteem for her aunt, I loved
only ler-that was perfectly willing to resign
all claim to the twenty thousand dollars-that
no amount of money, however large, could sat
isfy the heart--that love Outwsighed every
other consideration-and much more to the
same effect.
Since you set 50 high value upon this
hand, said she, frankly placing i, in mine,
Il yield it to you freely; the moro freely that
you will not be compelled to make the sscridc 9
you anticipate in claiming it. 1t is myself,
and not my aunt to whom your letter was ad-
1ra.