Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-04-16

3 AOHS~Sf
rode; plenty of fish, and we fshed; plenty of
wood cock, and we shot. All this shall be spo-
ken with proviso. l say we-by which, let
4 it be understood, / do not mean Horace's two
sisters Carrie and Nettie, as having participated
in all these sports. They rode, to be sure-and
charmingly they did it; they ished, and, am
obliged to confess, were much luckier than their
guest. But they did not shoot, though l shall
not exult over their lack of this accomplishment
they were charming enough without it. am
sure shall excite no jealousy by declaring that,
with one exception, which | shall not mention
here, Carrie and Nettie Hyatt were the two
most charming girls had ever seen, and was
lust hesitatng as to which OF them should fall
desperately in love with, when my calculations
were ali disturbed by an accident-for so, sup
pose must call Though really seeming like
a special Providence What this was, l shall
tell in the best way / know how.
"For some days after my arrival at the farm
my curiosity bad been much excited by the oc-
casional panegyric lavished by the young ladies
upon once schoolfellow of their own, May Ste
vens by name, who was, according to their
highly -colored account, the most perfect thing
in the shape of a woman, then living. | tried
to persuade myself that nothing in that line could
surpass Carrie and Nettie; but still the reputa-
ton of this May Stevens haunted me- and came
like shadow across my new born passion.
formed, at last, an imaginary May Stevens; and
do what would, the figure was with me. At
last was worked into an agony OF curiosity,
and trembled with some great purpose, which
should bring before me the object Of my thoughts
and of the two sisterss continual conversation.
In what this would have ended it is impossible
for me all this time to say had l not heard, one
morning, as I entered the breakfast room, the
startling words from Nettie-
nd cho SC of Loot Pms lad
whether it was that the train of my thoughts
was upon that point at the same moment, or
what, cannot say; but knew directly the
whole matter. | saw Carrie with an open letter
in her hand, and coupling it with Nettie's words.
/ knew that the hitherto only heard-of May
Stevens was about to become reality. had
: no need to ask questions All the information
was proffered. NAV Stevens-the incompatible
May-was to spend month at Hyatt's, aud they
were to expect her at any moment-though, al
the letter read, she might not be down for q
week to come. A weeki-it was al age a cen
tury; and was il futter of excitement. My
long standing passion, of nearly two weeks du-
ration, for Netlie aud Carrie, was forgotten iT
an instant, and my whole mind was absorbed in
making the best figure possible before this new
queen. With this idea, / began to look into my
wardrobe. had come down with sufficient
clothes to answer all ordinary purposes, includ-
ing of course Nettie and Carrie; but the new
goddess was certainly worthy OF a new rig OF
my part, aud certainly should have it. This
resolution was made within fifteen minutes aftel
nearing the announcement OF her intended com
ing and before two hours bad gone by, was
whizzing on to town to cary out that resolve
My choicest morsels of wardrobe should be of
fered on the shrine of May Stevens.
II had absented myself on the plea of sud
den memory OF business neglected, and faithfully
promised Nette and Carrie that the next day
should see me down again at Hyatt's to stay on
= the month that May Stevens the wonderful, wa
about 70 pass with tlem
"The racking of brain that day, to create
r. grand ensemble OF costume-sonething beyont
all criticism, that should at first glance strike th
beholder silent with admratioD-was indeet
4 terrible The labor of writing Paradise Lost
was nothing to it. 1t was early in the day wher
q arrived at MY city rooms, end, for six hours,
e dressed and redressed, compared, reflected ant
selected and, at the end of that time, had lait
1t out those portions of my wearable goods il
t which had decided to make my first appear
,e ance before May Stevens II wanted still severa
hours to sunset, having got safely through tn.
AZ great object OF my VISIT thought it would no
" be bad idea for to take the last train ant
return the same night to Hystt's instead O
d waiting over until morning. No sooner said
PoOnVN
"a went Whizzing and putting over an unipter
3 es:ing road is provocative of sleep; SO found i
when the shades or evening fell, for to the bes
l. OF my recollection, was in the very midst of
v Idream, in which may Stevens, attired in bool
muslin and pale blue satin, sat on purple clouG
b and admirjDgly inquired who my tailor was i
Just as | was about to inform her, there came {
r, crash, and for moment was not entirely GER
O. tain whether it was the cloud that had exploded
e or myself had torn some portion of my appare
It that was overstrained. 1t required but q mo-
O ment to awaken me to the fact that both pre-
|. sumptions were wrong 1t was our train-the
I, 6.26-that had run off the track, smashing things
g generally, and spilling the contents of severa
q baggage cars along the road, to say nothing o.
IS frightening half hundred passengers into con
d EDITION bordering on unacy. This was pretty
state of things, and to make it still worse. was
/, exactly eight miles from my destination, though
as it afterwards proved, not mile from the next
: village, where, as | heard it canvassed, tavern
It supper aud beds could be had. l was disposed
to make myself agreeable, and, accordingly rem
dered all the assistance in my power to the un-
. protected females, for which | got my reward
q on arriving at the haven of refuge-the promised
: tavern-by being informed that snch thing as
| q bed for the night was an impossible idea and
Q that /, with some twenty more of the male gen
I der, must be content with chairs, while the beds
were appropriated to the gentler sex. Slightly
disgusted swallowed my supper, and looked
b out upon the night. 1t was beautiful moon
t light, and vergng on to ten o'clock. By Jove
d would walk over to Hyatt's. No sooner said
: than done. Giving my carpet-bag into the
Q hands of the landlord, with the most emphatic
charges for its safety and punctual delivery at
: Hyatts next morning, at any expense, Iset forth
Eight miles is trlfs; and just as my watch
II marked the quarter after midnight, | marched
n up the lane that led to the house. They were
II eray folks at the farin-early to bed, and early
up. | walked round the house trying each door
). and window for an entrance, but each and every
one was fastened. 1t was of no consequence
"a my bedroo window looked out upon the ROOT
t of the piazza; would not disturb the house by
knocking; bit of climbing would do the bu-
n siness, and should the window be fastened.
q would tap and awaken Horace, who was my
/ room-mate and bed-tellow. TIE thing was ex-
ecuted as soon as thought of, and my hand on
% the window, which yielded, aud stood 10 my
D own room. By the moonlight which streamed
q in l saw that the bed was occupied, and by the
II heavy breathing | knew that Horace was in q
O deep sleep. would not therefore, awaken him,
y but save the story of my mishap for the follow
J. ing day. With this resolution clipped quietly
into bed and in three minutes was oblivious.
It "What ought l to have dreamed that night
J But | shall not anticipate. I lay facing the
g windows as the sun Dsapad nm ahova tha die