Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-10-21
THE HOLE I'm THE STOCKING.

ss.What divine creature - said Har-
y Howard to bis friend, Charles Town
send, as they stood together near the
door of bali room. "How gracefully
she dances!N Did you ever see such q
figure, such eyes, or such complex
ion? 20
.ss Handsome is as handsome does,'
drily remarked his friend, quoting an
old proverb, and Struggling his shout
ders.
.. g Pshaw!! !" retorted Harry somewhat
testify. some might as we'll look for
enthusiasm from a stone, as from
YOU
"You must not expect enthusiasm
for a doll," was the answer. "Miss
Osborne is no divinity, Harry but, if
report speaks truly, an unmitigated
dowdy." -
81 won't believe it, said Harry,
half angrily. "It's the gossi, of those
who envy her. Such . beautiful crea-
ture could not be untidy." His friend
replied only by another shrug of his
shoulders. 81 shall ask Mrs. Wharton
to introduce me-" said Harry, leaving
his friend. elf Miss Osborne proves
as conversable as she is handsome, you
will not see me again Tonight"
Nor did Townsend get an opportu-
nifty to speak to his friend again that
evening. Harry seemed enchanted
with his new acquaintance. Townsend
saw him hanging on every word Miss
Osborne spoke, watching her every
look, and scrutinizing jealousy every
one she conversed with. Nor Was
Townsend altogether surprised. For
Miss Osborne was as accomplished as
she was beautiful. She had, more
over, happy flow of spirits. She
possessed, too, great adaptability of
character. She had discovered, d.
rectly, therefore, what subjects pleased
Harry most and, being bit Of a
coquette, had resolved on a conquest
Immediately. She danced often with
him, allowed him to take her down to
supper, and when they parted, said
how pleased she would be to have him
call. By this time her victory was COM
plete, and Harry went home to dream
of Miss Osborne, and to wonder if he
really was, as he said to himself: "the
lucky fellow to draw such prize"
TO do the lady justice, it was moi
coquetry alone which made her voice
when she asked Harry to call, tremblt
perceptibly. In person, mind, anc
manners, he was superior and Miss
Osborne had the sense te see anc
appreciate this. Heretofore, in all bel
many airtations, her heart had never
suffered. But on this occasion, she
also had dreams orange blossoms
and Harry Howard.
The next day Townsend, after &
late breakfast, was sauntering dow
the street. when he encountered Harry
The latter could talk of nothing bu
Miss Osborne. He confessed at las
that he found it impossible to settle
himself down to reading, or indeed
anything; and that he was promena'
ding to pass the time till the con
ventional hour Of making calls ha(
come, vixen he intended to pay visi
! TO Miss Osborne.
"Fve never kept anything from you
Townsend" he said, "and I'll &C
knowledge that / am over head ant
ears in love. If she'll have such {
worthless fellow as myself" he added
energetically, ssI'll marry her at once. ,
His friend was about to say that sh'
would have Harry to certainty, sine
she was Of the kind to take him for hi
fortune, even if she cared nothing fo
himself, when his attention was at
tracted by a lady, who at that instan
left shop just ahead, and began tt
walk hastily up the street. He though
there was something familiar in the fig
ure ; but, if it was that of any one h
knew, it was SO slouched in a huge plai(
shawl as not to be recognized. Harr,
at the. same moment recognized tn
lady.
ooh, how I do hate,'' he said, ST.
see woman walking in that way. Oh
serve her now. It's sort Of fast wad
die, like that Of duck trying to run
BOUNDS ! if I had wife that walked 81
vulgarly and fast, I'd 60 crazy.''
~ believe you would, Harry for
know no man more fastidious. Blu
don't salk SO loud /; the lady nigh
overhear you"
7 Lady" said Harry, with sheer
"she's some girl who has run out tt
buy some haberdashery. Lady indeed
Did you ever know a lady to walk il
that fashion -
eyes! They can't help their wall
you know
"Well, then, they can help dressing
like a dowdy, can't they.'' He spoke
a whisper, admonished by Townsend's
look. "Look how that girl wears bel
clothes. They're thrown on, not pu1
on her dress is shorter on one side
than the other, and, as l live, there's q
hole in her stocking!"
Harry turned triumphantly to Town
send as he spoke. The latter could nc
more deny this than he could the gen.
eral charge Of slovenliness which Harry
had made. The person before them, ii
was plain, was an irreclaimable dowdy.
But Townsend, disposed to be charita-
BILE, answered, "What if there is a hole
lin her stocking? The neatest persons
will sometimes be caught with one
Thew nut Q stocking on, which is per-