Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1864-06-24
4 SILLY STORY ABOUT LOVE. FOR
FOOLISH GIRLS.
But why don't you like him, MisS Agatha? 2

| this trtie woman reason? Because, means ten
thousand things that present dimpled lips don't
choose to put in shape, it means that they don't
know sohy perfectly well themselves, but won tell;
and not all the coaxing Of curiosity can get it out
them.
| And so pretty Agatha Milne played with the
knot of scarlet roses, whose velvet petals glowed
in her hair ribbon, and lifted up her soft hazel
brown eyes with proyokngly absent, Unconscious
look
But, Agatha, pursued Ruth Ellenwood, stop
ping for moment in her occupation Of braiding
4 and arranging Agatha beautiful waves Of auburn
gold hair; Il m sure he's pleasant partner at
balls and parties, and-oh, Agathal don't jerk
your head so, or shall have to braid all those
strands over again ~
Nonsense that no test at alIt' said Agatha
pettishly the peach like crimson mounting to her
cheek; what can you tell about young man,
from mere ball room acquaintance Amy one can
be agreeable enough to hold your bonnet Or bring
you an ice-cream that is if he knows enough not
to tread ON your toes in the polka nor TO step ON
your founces in promenade.
i know it, said Ruth, but the question
but the question is, interrupted the imperi-
Gus young beauty 'show do [ know that Mr. Fitz
| Aubyn, silver tongued as he is to me, With his
4 homage and his compliments, don't go home and
| swear at his mother and sisters? How do know
| that Mr. Jennings, who has the whole dictionary
at his finger ends, dosent cheat his landlady p
! What means have | of asceEtaining that st. Sim
mons, who le such an agreeable smalltalker does
not finish his evenings in drinking saloon? Oh,
Ruth, We have tests for ascertaining spurious dol
lars and counterfeit bank notes, but how on earth
are we to know counterfeit husband, until he is
tied to our uniucky apronstring for life.
She laughed as she Sprang up to look Tor her
bonnet, but the long eyelashes dropped with
| suspicious moisture
! Well, said Ruth, carelessly patting Agatha's
i hnuI Al IL
| violence didn' make me beauty and an heiress
since lt has such a tendency to awaken suspicion
and distrust. But Agatha, in spite of all you
have said, feel convinced that Charles Staunton
| is noble fellow.
''Yery likely, said Agatha, lightly, ''but here
comes Fitz Aubyn, with, those splendid horses of
| his, so give me my shawl.
And whittier are your footsteps to be directed
to-day?p
''Oh, we intend to go to that private view of
pictures in - street.whieh | told you Of.
And Agatha swept out of the room with the
1 port of queen.
The white lustre of moonlight pouring down
| through the eircng dome of frosted glass, gave
life-ke glow to the superb baintings whose guild
ed frames literally covered the walls of the spacious
| apartments. Here and there groups of absorbed
| 7ilectaat moved, with subdued whispers and bran
dishing opera glasses, if it were forbidden
thing to speak above ones breath in the presence
of these fair landscapes and scenes from hstory's
page
Directly ia front Of these finest works of art
stood pair who had unconsciously been the OBJ
! ject of many curious and whispered observation
of the other sight-Seers-a tail, stylish looking
| young man, with an old lady leaning on his arm,
whose antique dress of snuf-colored bombazine
and oddly shaped beaver bonnet occasioned great
many covert smiles and half concealed titters from
/ those present.
| "0h, by the way, Miss Milne" said Fitz Au-
| hyn their nroDraSS around tho raorno 4b
couple gradually came in view, you have not
seen the greatest curiosity of all yet. -
| Where p said Agathai raising her OPEN
/ glass
You are mistaken, it don't hang on the WALL
| sud Eitz Aubyn, laughing. Look nearer earth,
if you want to see Staunton and his fossil aunt
| Agatha turned her head accordingly without
renaark-she smiled little, howeYer-twas all
| Fitz Aubyn wanted.
Should you suppose any mortal youth would
have the courage to bring such last century
specimen 10 place like this where he might know
he would meet all his fashionable aequaintaneesl
Upon my word believe he'll take her to the opera
next See him carrying her morocco bag, and
cotton umbrella! Don't khe remind you of Don
Quixote in his youthful days?'
Probably she has money to leave one of these
days, said Agatha, the distrustful element upper
most in her mind for the moment
Not solitary red cent, know, for have in
quired. She is in reduced eircumstanees-that's
the term, believe, but Staunton is very fond of
her nevertheless She has come up to town from
the back woods for few days, and -
He paused abruptly as the very pair in aues-
ton approached still absorbed in picture gazing,
My dear Charles said the old lady at length,
you cannot imagine what treat this is to me
have not seen such pictures since l was a child.
How thoughtful of you to bring me here!"
II knew you would enjoy it, aunt /"
"And you are not ashamed of your old fashion |
ed aunt among all these gay young people ?"
"On the contrary, dear aunt, i am proud as
monarch while you are leaning on my arm"
Agatha heard it ALL and she also heard him an
swer in reply to the gay challenge of some COM
pan0n:
Thank you, but don't count upon me as one
of the party this evening at the opera am 90
ing with my aunt, who is passionately fond of mu-
sic so you must excuse me for once
Il told you so" said Fitz Aubyn. in soto uoce
tone, struggling his shoulders. Did you ever
see such fellow as StauntOn?
Never, was Agatha reply, but it was so en- |
phaticaly spoken that Fitz Aubyn started And |
that night while the courted beauty brushed her |
uxuriant hair, she paused many time and fell |
into thoughtful reverie.
Moral couragel she murnured to herself
i have somewhere read that it is nober far than
the iron resolution which makes men reckless In /
battle. really wonder"
And there she stopped resoluteE.
What glorious bracing New Year & ciay it was Z |
There had been Just enough snow in the night to /
form white glistening coal over everything, and /
afforded an excellent excuse for the merry sleigh
that darted hither and thither with streaming frsi
and jingling bells All the fashionable world was
astir, the gentlemen consulting their intermiable
list of calls and the ladies putting the last touches
to their gorgeous toilet.
There were not many upon that day who re-
ceiyed more adulation than Agatha Milne as she
stood like young empress in her splendid draw
iflo rooms every mirror flashing hacE her lovel; Ia
ness Her dress was very simple-pink silk
edged around the shoulders with snowy ernine, /
and long sprays of jessanine dropping from her
hair, yet she knew that she had never been 81,
beautiful as now, as she listened with languii
smiles to the compliments showered upon her ~
1t was nothing new.
The gilded chandeliers had been lighted and the
inrrnlnd krnnra nf tiny nlahnstnr .innl. AlanI