The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-01-05
Pretty well,' she answered frankly.
: but not so well as could wish

in good society for tolerable performers
to disavow all praises (secretly yearning
for more) and to assail with invective
their own artistic accomplishments
Here was young lady who played well
and had the hardihood to acknowled ge
it. This rather took away my breath
and vacuum began to come under my
waistcoat.
For three blissful days Miss Tarling-
ford and / were seldom separated Her
sister, pale sedate maiden of amiable
appearance, and her brother, small,
rude boy of intrusive habits and unguar-
ded speech, consented TO undergo, for
the sake of conventional necessity. To
the mother of the Taringfords addition
al respect semed due, and was accorded
Three blissful days of sunshine. mead
owy rambles, forest explorations. the
majestic tranquility of Nature spiced with
the sauce of Irritation, or something
stronger. Sometimes we took our morn
ing happiness on foot, sometimes our
evening rapture in an open wagon at two
forty.
The puerile Tarlingford, interfering
at first, was summarily crushed. As
piring to equestrian distinctions, he
wrought upon maternal indulgence. un-
til, not without misgivings. maternal
anxiety was stifled, and, with iniunc-
tons that we should hover protectingly
near him, he was sent forth a thorn in
our sides. In half an hour he was acci-
dentally remembered, and was found TO
be nowhere in view SO we pursued our
way, well pleased. He had dropped qui-
city off at the first canter, into miry
slough, and had returned sobbingly COW
cred with modification and mud, TO the
arms of his parent. Keen questioning at
dinner was the result.
why did you so neglect him p de-
manded fond mama. adding reproachful-
ly. The child's life might have been
sacrificed
Mother, we looked for him and he
was gone. Why didn't he cry out?'
So did, shouted this youth of open
speech, but you two had your heads to-
gether, laughing and talking like any
thing. and couldn't hear l suppose
with juvenile sneer.)
'Oh. fie, Walter Now l think you
were so frightened that you could not
speak
> / shall know better than to trust him
to your care again. said the indignant
mama, as one who withdrew a blessed
privilege.
'Don't say that, mother, it would be
punishment too severe said the mis-
chievous little pale sister in tones of pity,
and her face brimming with mirth.
Everybody laughed and peace was
soon restored.
On the third evening, misery came to
me in an envelope post marked New
York
MY DEAR PLovISs -
shall be with you the night after
you receive this. Engage room for
me.-Have you seen anything of Miss
Tarlingford. where you are staying p
You should know her. She is very bril-
liant and accomplished. but is retiring.
am willing to tell you, but must go no
farther, that we are betrothed.
Yours in a hurry,
FRANK LULLIvAN.
My heart was as the mercury Of the
thermometer which is plunged into ice /;
but | preserved an outward composure.
Turning over the pile of letters await
ing owners, came upon one, directed in
Lullivan's handwriting. TO Miss A. Tar
lingford.
To think that paltry superscription
should carry such weight of tribula-
ton with it
| thus discovered that my lines had
fallen in unpleasant places. | was fish
ing in preoccupied stream, and had got
myself entangled.
| avoided the public table and shrunk
from society. During the whole of the
next morning kept aloof from the temp
tations of Tarling gford, and took to bill
iards.
In the afternoon. as sat gloomily in
my room, with feet protruding from the
window and body inclined rearward,
the American attitude of despair. the
piano tinkled. 1t was the same melody
which had attracted me few happy days
before. Strengthening myself with a
powerful resolution to extricate myself
from the bewitching influence which had
surrounded me. l arose, and went
TO the parlor. Could it be
that flash Of pleasure beamed on Miss
Tarling gford's face or was | deluded
gosling? The latter suggestion seemed
the more creditable, SO cheerfully adop-
ted it.
We have missed you, Mr.. Plovins.'
said the fair enslaver. ! hope you have
not been unwell q
Unwell ?-oh, no. no +
You have not been near me-us to-
day. (reproyingly) not even at dinner,
and the trout were superb
A sudden hope mounted within me.
Miss Tarlingford. pray excuse me-
your first name, may ask what it is 2
Arabella is my name, and (whisper-
ing you may use it. il you Ike
Oh. hideous. horror And this is what
they call ilirtation.' thought. And the
hope which had risen blazing. like a
rocket, went down fulignous, like the
stick.