The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-08-31
Select WiseelIanp.
MODERN ARIsTocRATs.
BY HADDIE LANE.

1
Near the close of bright day in October, a
merry party of young ladies were assembled
in cozy little room, fronting the street par
ereellcncc of the village of Somerton. OF all
| the beauties the village conld boast, those four
girls shone preeminent. We will introduce
them.
| That queenly creature, reclining so listlessly
on the sofa, is Miss Julia Lawton-the great
heiress. She is an orphan, and her wealth is
entirely at her own disposal. Suitors she has
without number; her aunt's stately dwelling of
Lawton Hall is daily besicged by boquets and
billets- doux, but the fair Julia is of the opin-
ion that her starry eyes and raven ringlets
would appear to better advantage in a European
drawing-room; and she, therefore, looks down
rather disdainfully upon her plebian lovers.
Miss Mary Maurice, the young lady so grace
fully occupying the ottoman, is really beauti-
full girl Those long, faken ringlets, and clear,
childish blue eyes, together with her winning
ways have won for her the appellation of
''baby Mary" She is the pet and the play
thing of half a dozen brothers, who are all her
seniors, and all desirous that she should never
quit playing with dolls, and never confine those
shining tresses with comb. But ''baby Mary"
knows her own consequence. She has consult
ed her mirror, and it has told her pleasing
tale and, instead of dolls, she now plays a
most desperate game with hearts.
That young lady in the rocking-chair, who
is so vigorously tugging at the needle with her
little thimble, is Lizzie Linton. At first sight,
you would deem that Somerton bellies had little
to fear from her rivalry; but when she raises
her head, and you see the bright color come
and go in her cheek, and the mild light in her
dark gray eyes, you would all agree, with the
village gossips, that 'fsweet Lizzie Linton is
the most charming girl in Somerten."
Lizzie is an orphan, and poor one, too;
and, were it not for the kindness of her broth
er-in-law, who took the lonely little one to his
own home and promised to be to her as ia
ther, she would be desolate indeed
Do you hear that merry laugh from the win
dow? Do you see the toe of that little slipper
peeping from beneath the folds of the curtain
The laugh and the foot are the property of
Maggie Atwood, the greatest romp the sun ever
shone upon, and favorite with every one, not
withstanding. She has the prettiest pair of
roguish black eyes, and the most pouting cher
ry lips, to be found for miles around She is
the only daughter of an invalid mother and
doting father. She acts just as she plsases; is
responsible to no one; gets into numberless
scrapes, and makes a great deal of mischief:
In the present instance, she is giving vent to a
little of her pent up vivacity, by singing snatch
es of wild songs in the widest possible man.
ner A spirited conversation is going on be-
tween the other three respecting the beaux.-
This very interesting subject is interrupted by
the sound of wheels, and scream from Mag
gle Of
ssDo girls come here! There is the greatest
specimen of humanity getting out of the
stage"
The young ladies rushed to the window A
curious looking individual was slowly alighting
from the stage. His eyes were obscured by
green spectacles. His hair of a flaming red,
stood out, ON all sides of his head, like the
quilts of porcupine. A bright blue coat,
with brass buttons, and gray pantaloons, very
much too short for him, completed his equip
ment.
Screams and peals of laughtersfrom the win
dows told that this apparation not without
its effect on the risible muscles of the young
ladies; and the noise was very much increased
when the man quietly unattached the garden
gate and advanced up the gravel walk
."Mercy on us! He's coming right in -
What shall we do? 1 hear his voice in the
hall ]" These and sundry other exclamations
were checked by the entrance of the individu-
al in question, who, bowling politely to the Ia
dies, he inquired for Revere.
"My brother-in law is not at home," said
Lizzie Linton, coming forward from the win
dow; "please be seated, he will be in pres
entity
The stranger took the chair she handed him,
and Lizzie could do no less than seat herself
near him. He made some remarks upon the
weather, and our heroine, conquering strong
inclination to laugh at his remarkable appear
ance, answered him politely. Lizzie soon
heard laughter from the window, and it became
very evident that her friendds were audibly
discussing the visitor
"Shame on them l'' she mentally exclaimed;
and perceiving that the stranger seemed much
embarrassed, she began conversation which
very soon set him at his ease
When Mr.. Revere entered the room, he found
the trio in the window seat shaking with laugh
ter, and his little sister in earnest conversation
with his visitor.
"Ha! my friend ? he exclaimed, 81 am hap