Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-04-27
CHAPTER III.
MR.. EGBERT EGBERT.

MN. EubEhI EGBERT.
1t was at breakfast one morning that stran-
ger made his appearance at the Chickabddy
From the door to his seat, we shall be able to
give some terse description of MIR. Egbert Eg-
bert: He was tall, say, FIVE foot eleven. we
dared not give him full six feet, broad on the
shoulders, But ah, for making him a hero Of
romance, he had neither black whiskers, nor
moustache, nor was he young; Mr.. Egbert Eg-
bert was forty, if he was day He had
brown eyes, rather good eyes, tolerable hair,
had it been properly combed, quite good teeth,
and yet there was one thing that would have
consigned him to the lowest depths in the
Chickabiddy list, aye. even had he been young
and handsome. 1t was that dread leprOsy Of
the world, that terror of society, Shabbiness.
Mr. Egbert Egbert was unquestionably shah
by. His black coat was buttoned nearly to
the chin, and worn quite to the thread, indis-
putably white on the seams, though still not
buttoned so close, but shirt collar could be
seen which was clean, there could be no dis
putting this fact, and this alone could redeem
the rather distingue Mr.. Egbert Egbert
Strange fatality, Though a hundred other
way directly to one opposite Miss Julia The
gentleman's appetite, showed him a gentle
man: he did not devOur indiscriminately, he
slipped cup of tea, toyed with'a biscuit, ate
an egg, tasted bit Of ham, dwelt over the
buttered toast, and finished up with cup of
coffee, all in the space of an hour And was
he occupied alone during all this hour with
his appetite? All no. Miss Julia Doldrum
flashed her arm at Mr.. Egbert Egbert, an
the old prophets at the Chickabiddy, said
from that moment, that if the gentleman were
q permanent, that he was the victim of that
arm, and so it proved. Mr.. Egbert Egbert
held the morning before him, it would not do
to say, read it. He drank in that arm, with
his tea, and dwelt on it with his toast and
when at last Miss Julia rose, and passed away
like tripping fairy, he followed her with his
eyes, to the last glimpse, and then buried his
head in abstraction, and the morning paper.
When Mr.. Egbert Egbert made his way to his
seat at dinner, his most intimate friend would
hardly have known him, and even Miss Julia
could not refrain from a little pleasurable
stare, at the alteration. The curse of Shah
biness, was all gone, and he stood radiant in
unexceptionable broadclOth, of an unmistaka-
bic cut. His coat was open, his linen unim-
psachable, his hair would have done credit
to an artist, and even more than all this,
on the finger of Mr.. Egbert Egbert, cleaned
adiamond, before which the finest at the Chick
abiddy, aye even in all Smushray, paled their
inefectual fires. 1t was plain the gentleman
was not poor, therefore it was plain the gentle
man was worth cultivating. This was Chick
abiddy logic, and very good logic it was; and
thus as Mr.. Egbert Egbert was to be perma-
nent at the Chickabiddy for the summer, he
IL
much difficulty that the gentleman was not
long in seeking an introduction to Miss Julia
and fine food for the gossips it was 1t was
love at first sight without question, and on its
discussion the Chickabiddy sets were divided
one party going broadly for marriage, the
other declaring as roundly that it was shame
full outrage upon the matrimonial VOW even
though her husband be dead, as long as she
had no evidence, and thus many days went
over, and Mr.. Egbert Egbert was getting
deeper and deeper; and the strangest part Of
all was that no friendly tongue should warn
him of his danger, and show him the dreadful
effects of his course by relating the history and
mystery of Miss Julia Livingston Doldrum
1t can only be accounted for on the principle
that what is everybody's business is no
body's business" What caucuses were held
to discuss the probable result that would en-
sue when the gentleman was informed of the
fact, what surmises as to whether he would
commit suicide or murder, and sincere hope
was voted by an overwhelming majority that
it would not be done at the Chicksbiddy and
by such means bring that unexceptionable
house into the papers.
And SO the days went on, the love-making
progressed exceedingly. And one warm sum
mer afternoon, when the ladies were gathered
in the parior, and the gentlemen smoking on
the piazzas, a strange noise was heard in the
entries of the tramping of many feet. The
Ia1ies uioPPcu tneh SossippinS ana listened.
In an instant all eyes were turned to the door,
where entered Mr. Egbert Egbert, followed by
several gentlemen of the Chickabiddy, in evil
dent excitement. 1t was plain to the ladies
the secret mystery had reached his ears, and
n Nv comes the terrible results. They were on
their feet in an instant. But what was the
surprise Of all to see that gentleman rush
wildly towards Miss Julia, and, catching her
in his arms, cover her with kisses. By all the