The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1860-08-01


mention here, Carrie and Neltie Hyatt
were the two most cha, ming girls had
ever seen, and WAS just hesi,a,ing as to
which Of them should fall desperately
in love with, when my calculations were
all disturbed by all accident--for So |
suppose must call it-,hough really
seeming like II special Providence. What
this was, shall tell in the best way |
know how.
For some days after my arrival at the
farm, my curiosity had been much excl.
ted 10y the occasional pauegyrc lavished
by the young ladies upon once school.
fellow of their own, May Stevens by
name, who was according 10 their highly
colored account, the most perfect thing in
the shape Of II woman, then living.
tried TO persuade my self that nothing in
that line could surpass Carrie and Nettic;
but still the reputation OF this May Ste.
reus haunted me, and came like II shad.
ow across my new born passion. form
ed, "a, last, All imaginary May Stevens
md do what would, the figure was with
me. AT last was worked into AN ago.
ny oI CURIOSITY, and tremblcd with some
great purpose. which should bring before
me the object Of my thoughts and Of the
two sisters continual conversation. In
wha; this would have ended, il is impos.
heard. Que morning, as | entered the
breakfast room, tue startling words from
Nettie -
And 80 she is coming n: last I'm so
g'aIr
Whether il was that The tram of my
thoughts WAS upon that point at the mo
m.n,, or what, cannot say but knew
directly the whole matter. saw Carrie
wilh au open letter in her hand and cou
ping j.. with Netlie's words, krew that
'he hitherto only heard OF Mag Stevens
MAS about to become IA reality. | had no
need TO ask questions. All the Iniurma
ton was proiiereL. May Sre,en.-Ihe
Incompatible May-wa>t TO spehd month
at uyatt's, aud they were to expect her
at nny moment-:hough, as the letter
read, she might not he down for week
to come. a week !: WAS AN aye, n
century; and MAS in a tlutter Of excite.
m.nt. My long sanding passion Of near
~ two weeks duration, for Ncttie and
Carrie, MAS forgotten in an instant, aud
my whC!e mind. MAS absorbed in ma king
tie best figure possible before this Lcw
queen. With this idea, hegnu to look
INTO my Wardrobe. ] had come down
with ,utliren, clothes tn answer al ordi
nary purposes, including, oi course, Net
tie n.d Carrie but the new goddess was
,"r.olc "nrIhy Of new rig On my larl
49,. ccr'ainlv should have II. This reso
lLt!"n Was made within fifteen minutes
after hearing the announcement Of her
intended coming and b.fUie two hours
u I"nn. to carry out that resolve. Ny
choicest murseis of wardrobe Should he
Offered on shrine OF Nav Sle,eis.
i had aLs.n,ed myself on the pea Of
n sudden memory Of business neglected,
and faithfully promised Netlie and Carrie
that the mex, dav should see me down
sgan at uyatts to stay out the month
,irnt May Stevens, the wonderful, was
about TO pass "ith them.
The racEing Of the brain hat day, to
creale grand ensemble If costume
something beyond all criticism, lhar
should at the first glance strike the be.
holder silent with aduiration-w was in.
deed terrible. The labor Of writing Par
adise Lost Was nothing 10 il. 1t was
early in the day when | arrived at my
city rooms, and for six huurs, | dressed
and und,essed, compared, rejected and
selected aad, NJ tie end OF lha, time, !
had laid cut those portions Of my weara.
be goods in which had decided to
make my first appearance before May
Stevens. IL wanted still. several hours To
sun set; aud having got safely through
the great object OF my visit, | thought it
would Tot he bad idea for me to take
the last train and return The same night
to lily ut 5, ius ED Il waiting o!er i'll
morning. No sooner said than done.
packed my habiliment. and away wen,
Whizziug ard putting over an uninter
estng road is provocative Of sleep; SO
found il when the shades Of evening fell ;
Tor, 10 the best oi my recollection, m.s
in tie very midst Of a dream in which
My s e, en-, a,iired in book muslin and
pale blue satin, sat on purple cloud,
aud admningly inquired who my tailor
was. Just as ! was about 10 Inform her
there came a crash, AID fCr moment |
was no, entirely certain whether il was
the cloud that had exploded or myself
had torn some portion Of apparel that
was over strained. IL required but n
moment TO awaken me TO The fact that
both piebumplions were wrong IL was
our rain-tbe 6:2G-.hat had run OIL
the track, smashing :hings generally, and
spillipg the contents OF several baggage
cars along the road. to say nothing oi
frightening balfa hundred passengers into
a condition bordering on lunacy. This
was pretty state Of things, and to make
il still worse, ! was exactly eight miles
from my destination. though as it after
wards proved, not mic from the next
village, where, as I heard II canvassed, a
tavern, supper and beds could be bad
| was disposed to make my yself agreeable
and accofdinuIy Fandare1 all the assia