The mountain Democrat., 1865-10-28
" Over the Waters

tIeman Of about twenty.touF years Of aRe,
Of such excessive amiability that it was
generally feared by his anxious relGlives
that on and after the AuspiciOus day-as
yet un6xed-On which be was to marry
Miss Arsbella Alma, he would cease to be
bis own master.
Miss Alma was blue Of o not partic.
ularly attractive iyPe-ratheF q strong
PrussiaO than . delicate UlIra.marine; but
then had not her Tich uncle announced his
intention Of allowing her sixty pounds .
year when she made q matrimonial alli.
ance, and was not that better than moth.
ing HOrace's father thought 60, his sons
income not being much over . hundred
and fifty . year 10 Somerset house.
Young POPPytOn admired Arabella, but
was rather afraid Of her. Her figure was
large. her voice loud il ever she asked
his advice on any point, she usually laugh.
ed at it when given. This was OF course
both irritating and uncOmplimentary; be.
sides, her utter contempt for the theory
OF unbounded COZ eidence, which it is held
by some should exist between those on
the brink Of n,atrimOny, did not augOr
we'll for their future happiness.
ArSbella was as reticent as the dark
haired gypsy wOma0 Of transpOtine me.
10 drama, who seldom appreciates the
beauties Of candOr until late in the last
act; and. as she was IOnd Of the stage, she
was perhaps prone to initiate her Thes.
pan herOines.
Il shall he henpecked to dead certain.
ty,' Horace often thought; but the good
insured fellow invariably sighed . sigh Of
resignation whenever the disagreeable
idea took possession Of him.
We are unable to give any information
Of the nature Of the business that took
Horace POppytOn one fine morning in
August to that district Of The metrop lis
d, scribed by the denizens d the west end
as over the water, but We saw him para.
ding the pavement Of close. dingy look.
ing street situated between Westminster
Bridge road and old Lambeth palace.
The suns rays were warm, and the
limbs Of the Lambeth gaminS rendered
inert and trOpically languid thereby, they
sought repOSe on con venIent, but dirty,
dOOrSteps. and gave themselves up to al
al freScO EieSta.
The street was almost deserted, when
human butterfly suddenly made its ap.
pearance Of SO dazzling hue as to bring
Horace POppyton to a stand.still. cause
the cigar 20 drop from his mouth, and his
hands to slide suddenly hut not graceful.
ly,-into his trousers pockets.
His admiring gaze took in fsshiOnably
small black bonnet, trimmed with roses !;
q graceful, well formed figure, set OG by
q white jscket, . black lace shawl, and
green silk skirt
The tout ensemble was ravishing. The
fsce--well, Horace could not 1t present
zee that eli important part Of the feminine
whole, for the young lady-Of course she
was young was inspecting the numbers
Of the houses and consequently prevented
Horace. who vas on the opposite side OF
the way, from obtaining . view Of her 10.
cade. He, however, was determined TO
crafty his curiosity.
who is itl Why, by Jupiter, it is
Arabella! In I new rig out, too! What
the deuce can she be doing in this queer
localityl don't half like it--ah she
Eees me-
The above remarks Mr.. Horace Poppy
ton jerked out in manner utterly defiant
Of ell eiocutionary principles. although
bis surprise was perhaps some excuse for
inelegance. The lady on the other side
Of the way had suddenly turned round
and presented her full face to him, reveal
ing 10 the astonished gazer the significant
ly self possessed features Of Arabella.
We'll, Arabe!ls, this is q surprise!-
who would ever have thought Of meeting
you on this side Of the wSter; business
eh ? Ssid Horace, as he made himself
known TO his intended.
Arabella eyed her lover from top to toe,
then raised herself to her full hight.
Mr.. PoppytOn, she replied-she never
addressed her lover more famiIiarly-t
might decline to answer an inquiry, the
doubt implied by which is only excellrd
by the impertiOence you are guilty Of in
making it. On consideration, do decline
to answer you otherwise than by stating
it is business brings me in the streets OF
Rome
This is the parish Of Lambeth re.
marked Horace she's been. at the play
books agsin, he thought
If in the poetic enthusiasm Of my ma.
tuse.L ! choose to speak Of it rs Rome,
believe 7 atm at liberty 10 do SO without
asking the permission Of Mr. Horace Pop
pyton, retOrtrd Miss Alma.
Call Lambeth by any name you may
please, It's sure to smell as sweet, said
Horace.
Good morning, Mr. POppyton, said
Arabella. i an in no mood for the real
this morning the ideal world claims me;
good morning, Mr.. POp-ah, | must pop
in here
So saying, Miss Alma made her exit
through the door Of what appeared to be
q fourth.rate boarding house, leAving her
lover irritated and bewildered.
4 wonder if there Is madness in that
family. must find out thought Hor
ace. "A queer. looking house that, almost
disreputable in appearance. Whom can
she know therei I'll inquire the name
of the tenant. Oh, ! see there's an ice
and gingerbeer shop exactly opposite, and
an elderly lady behind the counter, who
may prove communicative. iii go in and
invest sixpence.
With an icecream melting in his mouth,
Horace endeavored to melt the tongue Of
the prOprietress into words; but he Ias
not skilled in that sort Of 6nesse, and
could not get much out Of her.
NO, SIR said she; much as | always
likes to oblige my customers. and great as
is the satisfaction | always gives,yet when
it comes to OveE the way, I'm dumb; ; for
you see when there's ten shillings owing
for tarts, and-Ihey never enters the shop,
bad feelings get into the art and OOe can
speak impartial like Of ones enemies, SC
I never say ore word either for or against
though much fear that. were I'd com