The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-12-19

by the occasional panegyrics lavished by
the young ladies upon one schoolmate of
their own, May Stevens by name, who
was, according to their highly colored
account, the most perfect thing in the
shape of woman then living. tried to
persuade myself that nothing in that line
could surpass Nettie anc Carrie, but still
the reputation of this May Stevens haunt
ed me, and came like q shadow across my
newborn passion. I formed at last, an
Imaginary May Stevens, and, do what
would the figure was with me. At last /
was worked into an agony Of curiosity,
and trembled with some great purpose
4 which should bring before me the object
of my thoughts and of the two sisters
continual conversation In what this
would have ended, it is impossible for me
at this time to say, had I not heard one
morning as Ioentered the breakfast room
the startling words from Nettie-
"And so she is coming at last I'm
so gladl' ..
Whether it was that the train of my
thoughts was upon that poins at the mo-
ment, cannot say; but knew directly
the whole matter. saw Carrie with an
open letter in her hand, and coupling it
with Nettie's words, I knew that the hith.
erto only heard-of May Stevens was about
/ to become reality. had no need to
ask questions All the information was
profered May Stevens, the Incompatible
May-was to spend a month at Hyatt's,
fand they were to expect hex at any mo-
ment, though as the letter read, she might
not be down for a week. to come. A
weekl it was an age, century, and was
in a futter of excitement. My long
standing passion. of nearly two weeks,
duration, for Carrie, was forgotten in an
instant, and my whole mind was absorbed
in making the best figure possible before
this new queen. With this idea / began
to look into my wardrobe. had come
down with sufficient clothes to answer all
ordinary purposes, including. of course,
Carrie and Nettie; but the new goddess
was certainly worthy of q new ring on my
part, and certainly should have it. This
resolution was made within fifteen minutes
after hearing the announcement of her
intended coming, aud before two hours
had gone by, I was whizzing on my way
to town to carry out that resolve. My
choicest morsel of wardrobe should be
offered at the shrine of, May Stevens.
i had absented Dayself on the plea of a
sudden memory Of business neglected,
and faithfully promised Nettie and Carrie
that the next day should see me down at
Hyatt's again, to stay out the month that
May Stevens, the wonderful, was about to
pass with them.
Il The racking of brain that day to Gre
ate grand ensemble. of costume-some-
thing beyond all criticism, that should, a,
the FIRST glance, strike the beholder with
J silent admiration was indeed terrible
The labor of writing Paradise Lost
was nothing to it. 1t was early in the
i day that arrived at my city rooms, and
for six hours / dressed and re-dressed
J com pared and rejected and selected; ani
} at the end of that time had laid ou,
: those portions of my wearing goods ir
which had decided to make my 6rst ap
! psarancs before May Stevens; it wanted
, still several hours to sunset Having go
: safely through the great object of my visit
: I thought it would not be bad idea fo
me to take The last train. and return tn,
t same night to Hyatt's, instead of remain
d ling over till morning. No sooner sait
s than done. I packed mys habiliments
/ land away / went. Whizzing and putin,
!. oTer an unintsresting road is provocatiol
!. of sleep. DO found it when the shade
of evening fell; for to the best Of my rec
: election, / was in the very midst of
dream. in which May Stevens, attirsd il
r book muslin and pale blue satin. appeare,
b on purple cloud, and admiringly in
' quired who my tailor was. Just as Iva
8 about to inform her there came crash
: and for moment was not certain wheth
q Ter it was the cloud that had exploded, o
q myself had torn some portion of my ap
I lparel that was overstrained. It require,
e but moment to awaken me to the fac
t that both presumptions were wrong.
It the track, smashing things generally, en-
y spilling the contents of several baggag
j cars along the road, to say nothing q
o frightening half hundred passengers in
q Ito condition bordering on lunacy. Thi
II was pretty state Of things, and to max
q it still worse, was eight miles from M
v destination, though. as 1t afterwards ar
d lpeared, not mile from the next villag
.. where I heard it csnvassed, 9 taverI
5. supper and beds could be had.
y was disposed to make myself agrees
ID BILE. and accordingly. rendered all the Al
N sistance in my power to the uup-otecte
t, females. for which / got my reward @
X arriving at the haven of refuge-tt
a. promised tavern-by being informed .h.
III such thing as q bed for the night WI
th az impossible idea, and that with SON
IN twenty more Of the male gender, I mu
,e be content with chairs, while the bee
q, were appropriated to the gentler Sc:
/ Slightly disgusted, I swallowed my supp