The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-08-31

| the not very envlable task OF introducing Mr.
Boggs to the proud village beauties, who re-
| turned his low bow with scornful curl of the
| lip. Mr. Revere led off his friend to his office,
on business matters, but stopped an instant at
the door to whisper to Lizzie, "Nlr. Boggs is a
schoolmaster from New England. / hope you
will pay him every attention"
| When Lizzie communicated this piece of in
| formation to her visitors, they declared with
one voice, that it shameful for Mr.. Revere
to make such fuss with a mere schoolmaster.
Miss Julia, with toss of the head, ''wonder-
ed what the world was coming to, when vulgar
Yankees were allowed to mingle in genteel So
ciety.
ale is not vulgar" retorted Lizzie, "though
he has an ugly name, and is not very prepos-
sessing in appearance; yet his conversation be-
tokens him gentleman"
"I wonder if he is to stay here altogether %
said Mary Maurice. "I know my brothers
won't let me come to see you, Lizzie, if he
does"
"Why, Lizzie" cried Maggie Atwood, chow
could you keep your countenance with those
great green eyes staring at you all the time ?
And such hair, and such shocking coat~ and
the merry girl flung herself on chair, laugh
ing heartily.
The gentlemen soon returned and Mr. Re-
we're apologized for leaving his guest to the ten
der mercies of the young ladies, as he had
promised his wife to spend the afternoon with
her, in a visit to lady who lived ten miles
| from Somerton.
An awkward pause followed his departure.
Mr.. Boggs essayed to draw Miss Lawton into
conversation, but her cold sneer and reserved
manners chided him into silence. Mary Mau-
rice had thrown herself upon the rug, and was
busily caressing the kitten, when Mr.. Boggs,
drawing his chair close to the fire, remarked
upon the beauty of the animal, and enquired
whether she was fond of pets. She shook back
the cloud of ringlets from the fair forehead,
and, gazing childessly up in his face, made
him no answer. Mr. Boggs repeated his re-
mark in louder voice, thinking that perhaps
the young lady might be deaf. A silvery laugh
was his only answer, and ''baby Mary turned
to the kitten again.
Almost despairing, Mr.. Boggs approached
the piano, where Maggie Atwood was seated
rattling over the keys. She inquired if he
liked music, and upon his answering in the af-
irmative, volunteered to play for him. He was
evidently gratifed, and, when the piece was
ended, was about to ask for another, when the
lively girl, wheeling herself around on the pi-
ano-stool, asked if he know the name of that
piece. In duty bound he was anxious to know,
and Maggie, fixing her eyes on his face, vocif-
Grated, ''The Redhead's March,, !" and left the
instrument
Lizzie was very much mortified at her friends
rudeness and poor Mr.. Boggs seemed quite
hurt 1t was a relief to all parties when SER
want entered to announce thet tea ready.
Lizzie did the honors of the table, and en-
deavored to draw her friends into conversation.
At first it seemed that her efforts were to be
unsuccessful, the young ladies preserving
rigid silence. At last Lizzie's little niece Lii
ly, in endcavoring to reach tempting cake,
lost her balance, and fell from her chair As
she fell, she cazghtt the arm of the servant, who
ives about to hand glass of water to Mr..
Boggs. The water streamed down over Lizzies
dress, and the broken glass nestled amid the
rich braids of her hair; but she sat everything
to rights with her accustomed sweetness,
soothed the frightened child, and resumed her
seat at the table as if nothing had happened.
After this mishap the ice seemed bro ken, the
girls talked glibly; but it would have been far
better had they been silent. Julia complained
about parUenues, and talked very wisely about
school masters. Maggie Atwood turned the
conversation upon gentlemans dress, and won
dered whether it was the fashion to wear blue
coats and metal buttons; while Mary, with
great naiOete, turned to Mr.. Boggs and asked
him what was the price of green spectacles.
Mr. Boggs, protesting his supreme happiness
in being able to crafty her curiosity, informed
her of the place where his own were procured,
and gave her the exact cost of them. This
who hung her head and said not another word,
Immediately after, Julia Lawton rose from the
table, and, followed by the rest led the way to
the parlor.
Very soon, to Lizzie's great surprise, the
girls asked for their bonnets, although they had
prirposed spending the evening with her; and
though she begged them not to go, she ws
soon left alone with Mr.. Boggs.
Now tete-d-tete with gentleman was Liz
zie's aversion; but she soon discovered Mr..
Boggs to be as different from the Somerton
beaux, in intellect and wit, as he was in ap-
pearanee.
The hours flew by very pleasantly, and if
Lizzie was pleased with Mr.. Boggs' conversa-
ton, he was equally charmed with her spright-
ly remarks. Lizzie possessed the fasulty, as
agreeable as it is rare, of being an intelligent
listener. Every passing thought and feeling
was pictured on her glowing face; and before
the evening was over, Mr. Boggs was decided
ly in love.
When Lizzie laid her head on her pillow,
she thought of Mr.. Boggs, not as the green
specialized, blue coated, red-haired stranger,
but as an agreeable, highly intelligent man, for
whom she already felt friendship that mi ght
ripen into love. "What love such an ugly
man! wed Mr.. Boggs~ whispered Pride
''But he is so intelligent, so noble in his every
thought, could love him for his real WORTH
chimed in Conscience
The next morning, as Lizzie was entering
the village store to make a few purchases, the
splendid equipage of Mrs. Lawton whirled up
to the door, and Miss Julia alghted. A hear
ty greeting passed between the two friends,
Julia eKclaiming-
''Lizzie you are the very one want to see
have whole budget of news to unfold to
you. Last evening, when we were all laughing
at Mr. Bopgs' decent from the STAGE little did
think that there was distinguished foreign
er in the same vehicle, gazing intently at us
all the time. He is an Italian count, young,
rich and handsome, and he has taken rooms at
the Widow Markley's. 1 saw him pass the
Hall this morning, and he looked SO handsome,
in his sportsman's dress, that [ lost my heart
directly. Aunt is going to have a grand din
ner party, and invite all the village, SO 1 came
down to the store to order glass and china, and