The Shasta courier., 1861-02-09
Beauty at Billiards.

There Is a woman in this case.
For three days she had set opposite to me at
the table of the most pleasant of the White
Mountain resorts, (of course give no hint as to
which that is-tasses differ) and had gradu-
ally become snthralled. Her beauty was dax-
cling and her name was Tarlingford. For the
first Of these items l was indebted to my own
intelligence; for the second to the hotel regis
ter, which also informed me that she was from
New York.
!, too, had come from New York coinci-
dence too startling to be calmly overlooked.
Our acquaintance began odly. One morn
ing, at breakfast, was musing over a hard
boiled egg and wondering if could perforate
her affections with anything like the success
which had followed my fork as it penetrated
the shell before me, when | felt timid touch
upon my toe, thrilling me from end to end, like
a telegraph wire, when the insulation is perfect
looked up and detected pink flush making
Its way browward, On the lovely countenance
across the table.
AZ beg your pardon" said I, with much con-
cern.
I" 1t was my fault, sir, excuse me-" said she,
permitting the pink flush to deepen rosily.
"Shall pass you the buttered toast 2" said I.
Mullins, il You please" said she, and so
sweetly that I was blinded to the absence of su-
gar in the second cup of coffee
was confused by this incident. Many men
would, by affectation of sudden appetite,
have concealed their disquietude, or by bullying
the waiter, or by abrupt departure from the
scene-but did neither. I felt had right to
be confused, and glored in it.
Very soon Miss Tarlingford withdrew, and l
experienced an aching void within, which chops
and fritters had no power to replenish.
opened a chambermaid's heart with half
dollar, and the treasures Of her knowledge were
revealed to me. The beauty and her party were
TO remain fortnight. Among her companions
tnere were no males except youthful irrespon-
siblity. Exultemor /"
Later in the morning, heard the tinkling of
the parlor piano forte. Music has soothing
charms for me, though have no savage breast
drew near and found Miss Tarlingford trifing
with the keys-those keys which lock together
SO many chains of human sympathy She rose
and gave out demonstrations of impending dis
appearance. Iinterposed
Pray continue. | am famished for music,
and came especially to listen"
1t is hardly worth while"
:" How can You say SO? II is who know
what need.n
will play for you them"
And she did. This was wonderful. Usually
long and painful struggle precedes feminine
acquiescencs on such occasions. Repeated re-
fusals, declarations of incapacity, partial con-
sent youchsafed and then waywardly with
drawn, poutings, head tossings, feeble murmurs
of disinclination, and final reluctant yielding
form the fashionable order of proceeding. The
charm of it all is that the original intention is
the same as the ultimate action. Whence, then
this folly' Having been many times bored by
this sort of thing, l was now correspondingly
gladdened by the contrast.
Miss Tarlingford played we'll, and said so.
Pretty well" she answered, frankly, " but
not 80 we'll as I could wish"
Shock number two. 1t is customary, in good
society, for tolerable performers to disavow all
praises, secretly yearning for more, and to nssal
with lnvectiye their own artistic accomplish
rhents Here was young lady who played
well and had the hardihood to acknowledge it.
This rather took away my BREATH and vacuum
began to come under my waistcoat.
For three blissful days Miss Tarlingford and
l'were seldom separated. Her sister, pale,
sedate maiden, of amiable appearance, and her
brother, small rude boy, of intrusive habits and
unguarded speech, consented to undergo, for
the sake Of conventional necessity. To the mo-
ther Of the Tarlingfords additional respect SEEM
cd due, and was duly accorded
Three blissful days of sunshine, meadowy
rambles, forest explorations, the majestic tran
guilty of nature spiced with the sauce of lirta-
zion, or something stronger. Sometimes we
TOOK our morning happiness on foot, sometimes
forty.
The pueriie Taringford, interfering at first,
was summarily crushed. Aspiring to eques-
tflan distinctions, he wrought upon maternal
Indulgence, until, not without misgivings, ma
ternal anxiety was stifed, and, with maternal
inJnnctions that we should hover protectingly
near MIN, ne was sent forth, a thorn in our Sides
IN halt an hour he was accidentally remember
%, and was found to be ,where in view so we
n - all Ill
quietly on, at the hrst canter, into miry slough,
and had returned sobbingly, covered with NOR
thcation and mud, to the arms of his parent
Keen questioning At dinner was the result.
why did you neglect my son 7" demanded
the fond mamma, adding, reproachfully, " the
shild's life might have been sacrificed"
Mother, we looked for him and he was gone
Why didn't he cry out7"
$50 | did" shouted the youth of open
speech, but you two had your heads together,
laughing and talking like anything and couldn't
hear, suppose" with juvenile sneer)
"Oh, 6e, Walterl Now, think you were 80
frightened that you could not speak"
al shall know better than to trust him to
pour care again." said the indignant mamma as
one who withdrew blessed privilege.
Don't say that, mother; it would be pun
ishment too severe said the mischievous little
pale sister, in tones of pity and a face brimming
Everybody laughed, and peace was soon re-
stored.
On the evening of the third day misery came
to me in an envelope post marked New York:
My DEAR PLovISs II shall be with you
She night after you receive this. Engage room
Tor me- Have you seen anything ofa Miss Tar
Hngford, where you are staying? You should
know her. She is very brilliant and accom-
piished, but is retiring. am willing to tell
you, but it must go no further. that We are be-
srotheds Yours in hurry,
FRANK LuLLivAN."
My heart WAS as the mercury of the shermom-
eter when it is plunged into ice but preserved
an outward appearance of eomposure. Turning
over the pile of letters awaiting owners, l came
upon one directed in Lalliyan's handwriting to
Miss A. Tarlingford. To think the paltry super
scrintion should carry such a weight of trihula-
ton with it. thus discovered that my lines
had fallen in unpleasant places. was fishing in
pre-occupied stream, and had got myself en-
tangled. Iavoided thepublic table, and shrunk
from society. During the whole of next morn
ing keep aloof from the temptations of Tarlng-
ford and took to billiards.