Spirit of the age., 1861-06-26

I = II "
ne doctor was intimate with tlfe Ashton
iamlly Miss Eva, however, had been at
school four years, and he only remembered
her as a very fair, sweet child. who used TO
steal his Strawberries. Now she was Young
lady, accomplished and highly educated. and
| would OF course be in good plight to laugh
at his awkwardness. Alse and Ike were de-
! iShted at the prospect of their master being
at SO granda party, but it was not SO with
! the Doctor. 10 face Mexican battery
Woc have been a small job in comparison.
ne would have given anything for an excuse
10 stay away. How would he look, great
'aii, awkward fellow, that knew no more
aDcut dancing than he did about the North
pole Ihe more he tried toI econciIe hirnseIf
10 the thought OF il, the worse he dreaded Il
II ne could only get into tie room ufloIissr-
yved, ard get seat by some quiet matron, he
ne thought he could stand it-but to enter
before whole beyy Of fashionable ladies and
! gentlemen, the idea was unbearable and for
once he did hope some one would get sick.
But such luck was not to be- and the evening
| cane round-a bright, beautiful one. Ike,
alter giving his masters boots an extra pd-
ish, stood holding Big Blacks bride. and
wondering If anybody at the party would be
| nall so good looking as his master.
! Alse was just one hour and five minutes
DONG up his shirt bosom and collar and said
she was determined it should be every bit
as smooth and shiny as any city chas's.' All
q these exertions, though kindly received.
dId not give the Doctor assurance. and when
ne rode by the cottage Of Miss Araminta. he
almost wished he could get down and STAY
with her. She was at no loss to detect his
mission. Her keen eyes took in at glance
the whole truth-that new broadcloth and
nat those glossy boots were enough and the
moment he turned the corner, she picked up
her bonnet and went over to question Alsc
80, she commenced, in no very poetical
tones, your master has gone to the fandan-
gle has he =
For moment the negro's eyes flashed
w ny, Ia, no! Miss Minta, faint no fandan-
gle, but the very gfandest-"
Don't tell Inc about the grandestl I've
been thousand grandcr ones and wouldn't
a wentif they'd asked me- and they know'J
It. They know'd | came from big stock Of
Virginia arristocracy,-and no W, YOU tell tb,.
Doctor Tor me, that Miss Eva is the greatest
iiiFt out, and she'll lie setting her cap for
him too"
Alse made no attempt to vindicate her mas
ter, but when Miss Araminta was gone she
SAID, "she blessed the Lord that she wasn't
her mistress"
Meantime, the Doctor pursued his lonely
way, IN no very enyiable state of mind. and
trying to gather courage for the approaching
ordeal; lie rode very slowly, hoping that
II might be too dark for them to see him
allght WAen he reached the house
.>,.RIt tl-c 4laarl al~-.-l
fine mansion of Col. Ashton brilliantly ligh-
tcd.-Music, too, in soft strains came Hoallng
on the breeze, and through the open win.
dows he bcheld graceful forms moving to and
fro in the dance. He hurried on, threw the
reins into the hands of q servant, and ran up
the steps, hoping to be able 10 enter while
the dance continued. But the tateS were
against him. The music ceased and the dan
GERS were all seated when he reached the
door. A perfect food of light and beauty
! burst upon ninn, ,andtor amoment he was on the
/ point of retrcating. He felt very certain that
! every eye i'll the room as on him, and that
! he was the object Of every ones sarcasm.-
| Little knots Of daniys, redolent with musk,
andHfrangpani, stood in different places,
some tanning themselves, some chatting with
the ladies, and all looking the most seli-pos-
sessed and composed in the world But there
he stood, full five minutes, feeling that he
was certainly eight feet high, and wishing
heartily that he was al home, snug IN bed
lie was soon relieved from his embarrassing
position, by Col. Ashton himself, who re-
cciyed him most cordially, and gave him a
seat lust as the dancers again topk the floor.
For half an hour he sat very still, trying to
regain his selfc0mposure, and feeling that
his face must te very red. lie almost ielt
without seeing, that there were many beau
dfuL women present He could hear the mu
sic of their voices, and the soft rustic OF silk
| On garments whirling through the dance
But what was all that to him? No one hat
t ever noticed him, or ever would but Mis-
f Aramnta. 'Good evening, DIR. Fortescue,
c The Doctor started as though under tn
effects Of galvanic battery. Sylph-hk
form stood before him-a white hand was e>
a tended. and then he knew that it was Ev
l. Ashtoa.
S IL believe, Doctor, you have forgotten me,
s and a merry laugh echoed in his ear. Fer
g, moment be was so struck that he could NJ
ID speak to think that she, the admired bel
20 the star of the whole room, had notice
ie him. He raised his eyes, dark lustrous one
ir now beaming with gratitude, and murmurec
er % yes | Miss Eva, believe | should ha'
ne known you anywhere.
sc The next hour passed rapidly. Miss n
y, remained by his side, and he really grew a
SO imated and eloquent When supper was
or nounccd, he actually carried her to the
cs ble, and stood there looking quite digniti
nd and scIf-possesscd. Indeed, he scarcely lo
Us sight of her that night, and when>he retur
o. ed home, at two, it was to d cam OF tn
" whi;c-iobbed figure and laughing face. I
as next morning at breakfast, the Doctor f
tai uncoumonly !onely-he thought the Iii
it table looked badly without some one besl
rs, Alse to preside over the tea equippage, a
lite for moment be inst ianciea how Miss Ev
po- fair hand would look~pouring out tea.
,iO- Alse generally took the occasion, VII
ith her master was eating, to inform hlm
ng' about her domestic carrangements-how gr'
the aud fine the garden was looking-how ma
Jor- chickens had come Off that week, and b
, a risky and funny lhe little lambs were, dc
,at- in ihc green meadow That morning hC
xed ever, her master didn't seem TO enter
pon her plans with his usual zcst only ansV
cos ing her now and then, with monosyllab
was untn she commenced delivering the mess
the of Miss Araminta, when he abruptly cut
by, short, by telling her the COWS had bette
say, MIXED.
: on, Alse was keen enough to see that 81
after thing was in the wind, though she bad
Tor foresight enough to discover what 1t
lust then. All that day the Doctor 81
.ched home, feeling very uncomfortable and lol
the He almost wished sotuc one would get 81
tand- Iiust little so--a spraiped ankle, or
ncng throat, or something that would call
ened thereto Col Ashton's.
and The next Sabbath he attended chur
hand He sat inst ouposte the Coloneps pew,