Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1865-04-05
M(istellaneous.
Over the Water.

age, of such excessive amiability, that it
was generally feared by his anxious rela-
tives that on and after the auspicious day
as get unmix ed-on which he was to
marry Miss Arabella Alma, he would
cease TO be his own master. Miss Alma
was a blue " Of not particular attrac-
tive type-rather strong Prussian than
delicate utramarine but then had not
! her rich uncle Charles announced his in
tention of allowing her sixty pounds a
year when she made a mairi nonial alli-
ance, and was not that better than
nothing? Horace's father thought so,
his sons income not being much over a
hundred and fifty year in Somerset
House.
Young Poppyton admired Arabella, but
was rather afraid of her. Her figure
was large, her voice loud if ever she
asked his advice on any point she usually
laughed at it when given. This was Of
course both irritating and uncomplimenta-
ry besides, her utter contempt for the
theory of unboundcd confidence, which it
is held by some should exist between
those on the brink Of matrimony, did not
augur very well for their future happiness.
Arabela was as reticent as the dark hair
ed gypsy woman of a transpontine melo-
drama, who seldom appreciate the beau
ties of candor until late in the last act
and, as she was fonl of the stage, she
was perhaps prone to initiate her Thespi-
an heroincs. :" ] shall Be henpeckcd to a
dead certainty" Horace often thought
I'm, 10 III ioI,
sighed sigh of resignation whenever the
d;sagreeable 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 metropolis
described by the denzens of the west end
as 8 over The WATER" but we saw him
parading the pavement of a close, dingy
looking street, situated between Westmin-
lister Bridge road and old Lambeth pal
ace.
The suns ravs were warm. and the
limbs Of the Lambeth gamlns rendered
inert and tropically languid thereby, they
sought repose on convenient, bat dirty,
footsteps, and gave themselves up to an
al rresc0 SieSta.
Tie street was almost deserted, when a
human butterfly suddenly made its ap-
pearance, of so dazzling n hue as TO bring
Horace to a standstiIl, cause his cigar TO
drop from his mouth, and his hands to
slide suddenly, but not gracefully, into
his trousers pockets His admiring gaze
took in fashionably small black bonnet,
trimmed with roses a graceful, well
formed figure, set of by a white jacket, a
black lace shawl, and green silk skirt.
The tout ensemble was ravishing. The
facc-well, Horace could not at present
see that all important part of the feminine
whole, for the young lady-of course she
was young-was inspecting the numbers
of the houses, and consequently thus pre-
vented Horace Poppyton, who was on
the opposite side of the way, from obtain
ing a view Of her facade. He, however,
was determined to crafty his curiosity.
"Who is it, Why, by Jupiter, it is
Arabella. In a new rig out, too What
the duce can she be doing in this locality?
/ don't halt like it-ah she sees me-
The above remarks hlr. Horace Poppy
ton jerked out in a manner utterly def
ant of all elocutionary principles, although
his surprise was perhaps some excuse for
his inelegance The lady on the other
side Of the way had suddenly turned
round and presented her full face to him,
revealed 70 the astonished gazer the sig
nifcantly self-possessed features of Ara
bella Alma.
"WeIl, Arabella, this is a surprise
who would ever have thought of seeing
you on this side Of the water; business
chg" said Horace, as he made himself
known to his intended.
Miss 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 familiarly
- might decline to answer an inquiry
the doupt implied by which is only excel
led by the impel tinence you are guilty of
in making it. On consideration / do de-
cline to answer you otherwise than by
stating that it is business that brings me
in the streets of Rome"
"This is the parish of Lambeth re-
marked Horace she's been at the play
books again." he thought.
off in the poetic enthusiasm of my ma
ture chose to speak of it as Rome,
believe I am at liberty to do SO without