Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-11-11

outodly the hour could have been
lbled or multiplied indefinitely.
Mrs Harrington" said Mr. Cooke,
ting the hostess in the room, "when
he irresistible Mrs Dayton expected
.onor u.s."
Why" said Mrs. Harrington, "you
e the irresistible Mrs. Dayton hang
on your arm. Has nobody intro
ced you yet? Let me do it. Mrs
.yton, this is Mr. Cooke, Mr. Cooke,
RS. Dayton. Now | hope you know
ch other"
Mrs. Dayton's eyes were fixed upon
e carpet, but there was world ofms-
lief lurking in them, if her partner
ould have seen it.
80" she said at length, IT have, it
Gems, the enviable reputation of being
irresistible"
"a reputation so well deserved as
scarcely to merit repetition, was the re-
ply.
. A number of other gentlemen were by
his time collected round Mrs Dayton.
Her skill as fortuue-teler was now
again called into requisiton, and many a
hearty laugh rang through the circle, at
the witty turn she gave to each ones
cherished Irritation, Or they thought, si-
lent admiration.
=" May | see you home ?" said Horace
as the rooms began to thin.
Sorry, but am already engaged"
" May | call tomorrow p
"Ah," thought the widow, as she gave
permission =" he intends to commence
his siege in good time F."
The next morning, the beautiful widow
looked even more lovely than on the pre-
vious evening. She received her guest
with quiet, easy grace, and they chatted
for some minutes on Indifferent subjects.
Then something called forth remarl;
upon the literature of the day, and from
that :hey passed on to books One author
after another was discussed, quotations
flew about as thick as hailstones, and
each was really trying to lead the other
out of their depth. Mrs. Dayton
thoughts was:
Z" This man is no fool, in spite Of his
impudent vanity" And Mr.. Cooke was
thinking:
"What a mind Horace, that wager
must be won. 1t is worth more than a
! thousand dollars, my boy
From books they passed to music, and
it was an easy transition to the grand pi-
ano in the corner. Mr. Cooke took his
seat at the instrument to recall to hci
memory a favorite air. His voice wa.
good, his accompaniment showed skill
and taste, and bent upon dazzling the
widow, he sang with feeling and power.
"Do you remember this?" he asked
touching few chords of Duet from
Martha after finishing his own song.
She replied by singing the first notes.
A bold chord supporting her occasion
ally, she gradually let her voice out il
all its rich beauty. and his blended with
it. He sang low, listening intently.-
All! Mr. Cooke, who is dazzled now?
At last he rose to take his leave, ask
ing and receiving permission to call again
and Mrs. Dayton took up book, threv
it aside, practiced few moments, am
stopped when she found she was singin,
his song; walked out and returned home
wondering why she could not get "tha
man" out of her mind.
To say that their future intercours
was pleasant is a dull phrase to describ
it. Each being bent upon making
conquest of the other, their best power
were exerted; their richest treasures q
wit. accomplishment and thought dis
played and somehow Mr.. Cooke bega
to feel ashamed Of his wager, and Mrs
Dayton wished she had never seen Hor
ace Cooke.