Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-12-17

cation, brief as delightful, in which could
take my carpet-bag in my hand and wan
der off whittier listed, lying in the grass
under great trees, sketching present water
falls and distant hills, sleeping in farm
houses, and living gloriously. -
There was. going to be q great party up
town, an extra-exclusive and particularly
brilliant party; l learned il from certain
set of our customers, who came to Million
& Billions to buy their dresses Each
guest was expected to add his or her sparkle
to the general luster till the whole affair
should glitter and coruscate like one of
Houghwoughts magnificent chandeliers
with all the gas on. l was surprised by re-
ceiving an invitation to this fashionable
mob. The day after the arrival Of the pom
derous square card, Miss Theresa Tall
madge, the eldest daughter of the family
who gave the .tete, was in the store, buying
gloves; she crossed over 10 Che silk coun-
ter, TO admire new mauve tint Of moire
and to say to me-
"You must be sure and be at mammals
Thursday evening, Mr.. Brownell we shall
be disappointed if you do not come"
] looked curiously into the face of the
naughty heiress, to read, if possible, the
meaning of this extraordinary condescen-
insincerity of polite life, or what2 Even
the duplicity of fashion could have no OBJ
iect in making itself agreeable to me, q
clerk on a salary.
al am very much obliged to you for saying
so, Miss Tallmadge, but never go out, and
should be q stranger in the midst Of your
| friends"
"Oh well, we are all strangers at first
are we not2 We will never grow friendly
| by remaining so. Remember, we shall ex-
pect you W And she turned away with
| superb gesture, which could not help ad-
miring, Notwithstanding had unanswera-
BILE antipathies against that class of women.
As she returned to the glove counter, l
noticed a young lady who had been waiting
for her, and to whom she spoke with the fa-
miliar air Of q relative or family friend l
had but q momentary glimpse of her face as
they turned to leave the store, but the glimpse
made me resolve to take advantage of the
opportunity offered by the invitation, which
had not previously the faintest thought of
accepting. l would have done rasher things
sor the hope of seeing that face again. 1t
was the living incarnation of the dream
which had haunted my soul for years. I
had sketched it on canvas a thousand times,
and destroyed it as many, disgusted with
4 my utter failure 10 reproduce the shadow Of
my wish. 1t had the rich fairness of the
lily, noble, and yet delicate; its purity was
that of thought and spirit; its sweetness
that of loving heart; it was face full of
peculiar womanly beauty, quite different
from the magnificent order of Miss Tall
madges charms. l could not help feeling
that its possessor had grown up in some de-
licious country home, not wanting in the
refnements of life, where nature gave her
exquisite influences to increase the delights
of wealth and culture. For, although the
lady was more plainly dressed than her
friend, and had not the air of Indifferent
| pride, mingled with absolute self-possession
and utter vacuity, which is the triumph of
"our best society,"" there was about her
quiet elegance which only culture and
thorough education could give. She was
modest as a violet but peerless as came
| lia watched her slight figure as she
| glided out of the store with vague longing
which prompted me to follow her as if had
suddenly discovered some near relative
whom had been wishing to meet So alb
sorbed was by this new influence that my
scissors went straight through q piece of
lute-string, which l was measuring off for
customer at the.wrong place
Il said seventeen yards, and you have
but ten."
Very true, and did not blame the cold
looking female for her chilly tone. l had
| spoiled the pattern, and had nothing to do
but lay aside the ten yards for a dress for
Florence, and give the lady the required
amount from another piece.
at will become the child exceedingly;
Just the tint Of blue to match her eyes, and
she has never had such handsome dress"
I said to myself consOlingly. A girl of her
age ought not to be indulged in too much
finery but Mr.. Chester hinted that she
needed something for the evening of the ex-
hibition. l will take it to her tonight"
And pleased myself anticipating the spark
ling smile and grateful kiss of my pretty
darling; so ] folded up the silk in a neat
parcel addressed to Miss Florence Brownell
and charged myself with the cost quite
cheerfully.
When / entered the hall of Mrs. Chester's
house that evening, l heard my sister sing
ing and playing in the parlor, her fine voice
being frequently called into requisition for
the pleasure of favored guests. L found no
one with my hostess, upon entering, but one
lady, who was just thanking Florence for
her music, and who Immediately left, having
only been making a call. l heard the
wheels of a carriage roll away from the
! door before q word of what Mrs. Chester
was saying entered my ear, for the visitor
was the same young lady who was with
Miss Tallmadge in the morning.
Florence was wishing you would come
tonight"
"Well, she has her wish, and something
besides" and tossed her the package, for
getting to kiss her, as was my custom.
"Who was that, Mrs. ChesterW
"Oh, no one whom you are acquainted
with. She was one of my pupils few
years ago; she's only eighteen now. She
always comes to see me when she visits the
city. L, love her very much She heard
Florence singing, and was so delighted with
her voice, she begged her to sing for her."
"She does not live in the eityp
"No. She is visiting some of her wealthy
relatives at present. She is related to some
of our first families, though her own family,
/ believe, are not very rich, only cOmforta-
ble."
"Whats her nameW
"She's a Tallmadge. Really, you are
quite curious about her, for person usually
so provokingly indifferent as you are"
A pair of pretty arms were about my
neck, and pair of darling lips against my
cheeks by this time.
"What a dear, kind brother you are
was wishing l had such a Dress but
didn't think | ought to have it,"
| UWas vou 2 Well enioV IT, then little