Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-03-19
.DournaI ann Atateenan
A STORY OF A HANDKERCHIEF.

- @N@s@ ~ a. AAAAAA eNAA@AAhNAAAA
Il beg your pardon Excuse me, Sir ?
The first speaker was a fashionably dressei
young man, and his interlOeutor beautifu
young lady. Their situation was the most EN-
barrassing in the world, for as the gentleman
turned the corner of a street he had been unex-
pectedly confronted by the fair damsel in ques
ton. After a succession Of desperate efforts tC
pass each other, which only resulted in variOu:
disagreeable collisions, and mutual attractions
and repulaons analogous to the man@uvres oil
two electrified pith. bulls, they had come TO O
stand-still. The blush on the lady's cheek al
though deep and rich as the crimson sunset
cloud, was nearly equalled by the correspond
ing hue of the gentlemans face. One last de-
spairing movement on his part TO pass his lovely
antagonist, was unfortunately seconded by d
simultaneous endeavor on hers and perceving
almost irrepressible mirth Oh the countenance oil
his companion, who stood few feet distant ia
watch the issue of the rencontre, the gentleman
raised his hat from his head, aud, marching ai
right angles directly to the curb-stone, gave
utteranee to the above ejaculation, which elicited
its fellow from the rosy lips of the young lady
With bow and glance from her bright eyel
Of mingled amusement and yexation, she ayailed
herself Of his retreat and passed on, entering
chop short distance below, 0qr hero cast hi.
| eyes behind him as she went by; and, noticing
/ thhA oAI AlupEeu niuuheIGnltlt nuhtlll
| picked it up and was on the point of following
her TO return it, when, observing name in ono
corner. he paused, cooy pocketed the delicate
moHehofT, and rejoined his companion. The
latter received him with mock gravity, while
merriment evidently filled his soul to the very
brim.
Bravo + was his salutation. Ralph, you are
in luck to-day; envy you your tefe-a-teie with
SO charming neighbor. Pom honor, now,
don't waste your kisses in private on that hand
kerchief; without doubt, it was fair prisoner
Of war, but be magnanimOus, and give it to me.
| 1t tshall be framed in magnificent style, and re-
ceiye the profoundest alteration
4 should like to gag you with it, Harry re-
| torted his rritated friend. Gould not you have
had sense enough not to stand grinning, while |
| was all in perspiraton with frantic efforts to
i get out Of my scrapeg You haven't as much
heart as q rotten pear, Harry
And you have not as much sweetness as a
premature crab-apple, Ralph replied the i'm
perturbable Harry. Oh, that partial judge,
Fortune, if she had only put me in your shoes =
IF she had, exclaimed Ralph, yehemently. Il
| should like to know ii anything can set your
cold blood afire. You are the most phlegma-
| ito
'Phew said Harry, 'draw it midi left my
Johnson at home this mOrning. But are not
the sweet divinites 80 enchanting on close in
specton, ~
'Confound you, cried his friend, in a towering
passion, it's the third time I've made q fool Of
myself before her, and she's a splendid girl, by
| Jove.
'Aha, an old love, is she p chucked Harry.
What q romantic rendezvous you chosel The
raging mildness of midday moon shed ineffable
fragrance on the pellueid glade where Damon
and Amarylis-'
Don't, don'tu expostulated poor Ralph, in q
wild appeal to his pitiless tormentor. what do
you want TO cut fellow up 80 for, Harryg II
you must know where | have seen her, I'll tell
you, just to put stopper in the bung-hole Of
that barrel Of nonsense which you call your head.
The day before yesterday l was descending from
the Exhibition, and got wedged among a bevy
Of ladies, whose abundant crinoline nearly ex-
tinguished me. was devoting every energy Of
my nature to the one object Of reducing myself
to the least possible compass, and was congratu-
lating myself on never having felt quite so small
before, when, unfortunately missing step,
only saved myself frOla diving head.long into
that sea Of beauty by involuntarily clapping my
hand on the Taima before me. AT the same
time l was conscious of mysterious eutangle-
ment of my foot, and a simultaneous noise Of
silk that set all my teeth on edge for an hour
afterwards. My fair supporter turne round in
wonder and astonshment at my audreity, and
gathered up her torn dress in stately reserve,
| while siammered out my apologies As well as
could. But the sitters that greeted my ears on
every side made me endure agonies untold, until
| es capped from the press, and vanished. Well,
| that was bad enough; but my second rencontre
| was twice as excrucating. Yesterday | was
going out to dine with friend at Brixton, and
aud as | was somewhat belated, hailed on
omnibus to save time. The driver rolled his
clumsy vehicle near the pavement, and as |
began TO ascend the steps, but before had
reached the only seat still vacant, the impudent
blackguard whipped up his horses, thereby
| giving the whole conveyance a sudden lurch to
| one side. l olutched convulsiyely at The strap
above and as found had lost my balance be-
| yond recovery, endeavored to steer myself into
! the blessed little harbor mentioned without in
voving my neighbors in my own distress. But
with glance as quick as lightning measured
the distance between the SAID seat and my own
awkward carcass, and perceived it was imprac-
ticable with shuddering presentiment shot a
momentary look at the lady towards whom l was
helplessly gravitating, and imagine my chGgrin
at recognising the injured prlucess OF the day
before. OF course it was only the infuitesimal
fraction of q second that l hoyered in midair,
but during that period modification ran riot in
my luckless breast; the next instant, a full-a
little shriek-a roar of laughter-and l was
picking myself up from tho lady's lap, and beg
ging pardons enough to reprieve all the crininal;
in Chrisiendom But my emotions were toe
much for me- | could not look the lady in The
face, and if l changed to turn my eyes toward,
any one Of the other passengers an unmistaka-
bic smile curled the corners Of their mouth
They were amusing themselves at my cost, and
| could not resent il SO seizing the first oppor
tunity, when the crazy old thing stopped to pu
down passenger, made my exit from the in
fernal old cart as quickly as possible. And now,
exclaimed the poor fellow, with a oomical, ye
lugubrious expression Of the face, Il am goiu
out tomorrow to hunt up this lovely incOEnta
and return her handkerchief If renoontre nun
ber four is not better than the other, I'll z
swimming in tank of sulphuric acid
so would, returned the sympathsing Harry
I'll fish for your body afterwards, and bait m
hook with Cea's handkerchief; dead or alive
you will snap at it. But If you return the daint
article, tie your heart up in it, and label an
parcel, TO the adorable Celia for one is a
|, much her property as the other
'You are an unregenerate pagan; Harry re
piled the young man, reddening; If you hal
the sensibility of boiled lobster, you wou
know that self-respect requires me to exculpat
myself in her eyes, and-and-'
ooh, understand interrupted Harry, takin
leave of bis companion at the corner of a street
Il appreciate the delicaey Of your sentiments
But take my advice, be sure to conciiate mammI
and don't forget to send your obedient his shaI
4 Of the cake Adieu, mon dHii-piUe amour "
n 'Confound the scamp muttered Ralph, ha
nettled and half pleased at his friends rail-
: some day will be even with him. But yO
E might do worse, after all, Ralph Barker; she's
| fvir xuha bnNit