The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1861-08-14

with school mate but the third
brought me home.
I went over to Sellingham's that
evening with my sisters. On the way
Mary said:
/ "You will find Jennie very much
improved, Justus."
All indeed? She is quite smart
child then, 1 suppose"
"Child !" exclaimed Mary and En-
ma both. -" Why Jus, she is but two
years your junior"
1.-TWO years? That will make her
-ah--about seventeen" drawled |
stroking complacently my upper lip.
Mary rejoined, with burst of
laughter "Not quite SO fast, JUS
You are only eighteen, and that
would leave Jennie at sixteen, you
know. Now there is no use of your
looking angry, for you are more OF a
child than she.
And / would advise you," contin-
ued Emma +" to leave off your airs
and affectation before you meet Jen-
ME, or yon will be told of them
freely"
felt provoked enough to have Civ
en- a very lofty reply, but we were al
ready entering the gate, so | nursed
my wrath. adjusted my necktie,
smoothed my faint moustache, and
advanced, prepared in my own esti-
nation, at least, to make an immedi-
ate conquest.
Now be it known that ! expected
! to see Jennie come forward to well
come me, and further expected, that
on seeing me so wonderfully improV-
ed in appearance and manners, she
would start back, blush violently, and
finally offer me her hand with enchant-
ing timidity, greeting me, as became
my augmented dignity, as Mr. Carr.
/ am sure all novel readers will agree
with me, that any well bred young
lady would have conducted herself, so
under the circumstances.
So following my sister slowly, pom
dering the while as to whether it
would be incumbent on me to kiss her,
or whether only saluting her hand
would do, / went in.
AS | reached the parlor door, I saw
that several young ladies and gentle
men we're there, and the next mo-
ment the old, though far richer voice
greeted me.
GLOW do you do, Justus |" and
Jennie Buckingham came with profftr-
ed hand, in the most easy, unembar-
raised way in the world.
She merely touched my hand and
took no note of the excruciating bow
| had gotten up, and she turned and
presented me to the company then
giving me a chair she passed out with
my sisters. I think to this day, they
must have plotted against me; at all
events, when they came in, Jennie
took a vacant seat between DR.. Har-
ris and myself, and went on convers-
ing with the young doctor, as compo-
sedly as though she had never seen
that neck tie. Sic talked with me
too, they both did, but presently Ma
~ called Harris, and then it was my
turn. Assuming the most affected
and self-complacent style, remarked;
81 had imagined you would not re-
cognize me, Miss Sellingham but
suppose seeing my sisters gave you 6
clue"
"Not recognize You Why l don't
think you have changed at all You
look PRECISELY as you used to-"
! This was comfortable.
"You have improved greatly, Mis-!
Sellingham."
II think there must be some won
drous change indeed for I dom
; think you recollect me. For whom
do you take me ~
"Miss Sellingham, of course"
II supposed so. There is Mis-
) Sellingham, pointing to her elder sis
ter. II am your old playmate, Jen
ME. Excuse me if you please DR.
Harris is calling me-"
II convicted Of so gross viola
tion of etiquette, when I had though
myself a perfect handbook of fashion
able forms had much rather hat
her knock me on the head The witch
/ felt savage enough, particularly
when 1 caught her eye fairly dancing
with amusement.
But she has improved wonderfully
"she has grown quite pretty au(
graceful" ! thought to myself and tt
that, added, "and rude"
That commenced the campaign fol
that vacation. We quarrelled ant
made up, flirted aud quarrelled again
the entire month of my stay.
How she leased aud ridiculed me