The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-03-23
FIRST IMPRESSION
HOW A PERT YOUNG LADY WAS TREA-
TEn i-L

=
HOW A PERT YOUNG LADY WAS rREA-
TED.
s'The bridge broken? How provoking p
and Barbara Lynn leaned from the windows
speaking to the brown faced boy who had vol
unteered the above peice OF distasteful infor-
nation.
"Yes, maam-the freshet carried the tim
bers clean away, day before yesterday"
"But how are We to get across We are
gRng to visit Miss stspleton at Stapleton
Park"
''They keep ferryman there, ma'am, with
q little boat-he'll take you across. and if
you'll drive round by Uncle Ezra's, he'll send
your trunks by the mountain road ''
Very well. Driver follow the boys di-
-rections."
Close under the green sweep of a clump of
water willows lay little boat fastened by a
of the destroyed bridge, and tenanted by one
man in picturesque straw hat whose broad
brim shadowed his face altogether.
"IIe's. reading, declare, instead of mind
ing his business and looking out for passen-i
gers A literary ferryman ~ sneered Eda
Carson
Miss Barbara made no verbal comment, but
walked resolutely down to the landing, and
reused the absorbed boatpan from his studies
with the point of hsr parasoi.
bring your boat around r' she said, sharp
ly, "we want to cross the river BE quick" !"
The boatmcn pushed back his broad -brim-
med straw hat, with look half puzzled, half
amused, that made Barbara Lynn turn toward
her companion with the petulant words
81 believe he's an idiot J"
"Where do you wish to GO, ladies 7" asked
the man when they had safely bestowed their
multifarious Aopnces upon the seats, not with
out many compliments tothe smallaess of the
accommodations.
HStapleton Park landing ~
AS the oars flashed through the bright tide
less water, Eda Carsen drev deep sigh of re-
lief, 8
: awen, we shall be there soon, I hepe,-
IF ven HAD only writ.en, Barbara, Miss Staple.
ton would have sent some one to meet us
perhaps that astonishing brother of hers J"
"Yes,r said Barbara, curling her lip, sand
nice first aopearasc, we should have made,
tired and dusty, with our dresses all crumbled
and our hair uucurled, No-I choose to
meet Harry Stapleton en- grap1e tcilette, when
do meet him. Everything depends on FIRST
impressions, you know"
.sAnd yon mean to captivate him p
ssI.mean to try y
GLOW do you know he will make a good
husband p s
90 what differences does that make he Is
rich p
The boatman stepped ashore, and dofiing
his hat, pointed TO superb gray stone man
sion whose gables and mullions cleaned
through groups of trees just beyond, saying !:
'.There is Stapleton, fadies--you will have
no difficulty in finding it.
Barbara tossed piece Of silver to him, and
said 49,
''See that our trunks are sent up as soon as
they arrive" 9
"Apd now, girls, get ready for dinner as
soon as you can ~ said Miss Stapleton, as she
ushered her visitors into dainty little dres-
sing raom all panelled in oak and gold and
green, with curtains of pale-green silk, and
mirrors that Ielched from the ceiling to the
floor. Il have delightful party of guests
s,sying here and want you both to look as
lovely as possibly. Remember our school
comDact. you are to captivate Harry I"
Barbara did look lovely as she entered the
drawing room, where lights and flowers and
delicious perfumes made sort of fairy land,
dressed in rose colored futile caught up in
boqpets of moss rose buds. and branch of
trailing rose buds fastened in her glossy curls,
as careess'as if L had fallen from the vine.T
Eda was pretty too, in white muslin and Ill
lies $ Eda's beauty was to Barbara's as twi-
ignC TO sunSniDe pearl 10 tne lmpeTlal Ola-
mend. Anna Stapleton's eyes frightened with
sort of admiFisg pride as she came forward
leaning on . gentleman's arm, to greet her
guest
Miss Lynn, uiy brother, Mr.. Siapleton T..
And Barbara's cheeks blazed with scarlet
FIRE, us IN the calm glance of the gentleman
bowling before her SHE had recognized the dark
blue eyes that had beamed 50 quizzically be-
meath the shadow of the ferryman's straw hat!
She was literally struck dumb, she could not
have spoken to have saved hsr life, but Har.
ry Stapleton was less embarrassed.
1--WE have met before he said with 4 half
emile. st was my first appearance in the
r le of ferryman. hope it gave satisfaction.
Everything depeHds on FIRST appearance, you
know Pardon me for not disclosing my
name, Miss Lynn, but your orders were too
inpera.ivsiy given for me to disobcy p
He stopped abruptly. for Barbara, overcome
with shame and modification, bad tainted in
his sisters arms.
And then and there ended all her hopes of
ever becoming mistress of Stapleton Park
Alas what radiant visions o little mistake"
will Sometimes overthrow.
-S<.-s-.Aa--
SPECULATION OF OLD ABE.-It appears
that the President Is laying something by for
rainy day, aud in tho pursuit OF that landa-
bic undertaking is Using the advantages of his
official position. An instan ce Of this has late
Iv come to our knowledge that is vouched for