Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-03-24
IN / istRlla nfn II &
FIRST IMPRESSIONS.

f'The bridge broken? How provoking n
And Barbara Lynn leaned from the assriage win
unteeFeH ga lsHssteinl mo-
.'Yes, ma 'am--the freshet carried the timbers
clean away, day before yesterday.
But how are we to get across We are going to
visit Miss Stapleton, at Stapleton Park.
.'They keep ferryman there with little boat
he Il take you across and if you'll drive around by
uncle Ezra $ he Il send your trunks by the mountain
road
.sVery WE'LL Driver follow the boy directions. "
Close under the green sweep of clump of water
willows lay little boat fastened by rope to the
upright post which alone remained of the destroyed
bridge, and tenanted by in pieturesqe straw
hat whose broad brm sbadowed his face altogether.
.sHe's reading, / declare, instead of minding his
business and looking after passengers literary
ferryman - slcercj Ela Carson.
Miss Barbara made no verbal comment, but walk,
ed resouely down to the landing, and aroused the
absorbed boatman from his studies with the point Of
her parasol
"Bring your boat around she said quite sharply
I'VE want TO cross the river. Be quickr
The boatman pushed back his broad brimmed
straw hat with look half puzzled, half amused,
that made Barbara Lynn turn towards her comPan-
ION with the petulent remark
II believe he S an idiotr'
sfwhere do you wish to go ladies p asked the man
when they had safely bestowed their multitudinous
Aounces upon the seats not without many complaints
at the smalness of the accommodations.
'tTo Stapleton Park landing.
! AS the oars flashed through the bright sparkling
water Eda Carson gave sigh of relief
| l'Well, we shall soon be there hope lfyou had
only written, Barbara, Miss Stapleton would have
sent some one to meet us--perhaps that astonishing
brother of hers. "
''Yes" said Barbara, curling her lip, land nice
! first appearance we should have made, tired and
dusty, with our dresses all crumbled and hair
uncurled For choose to meet Harry Stapleton
en- qrande toilette when do meet him. Everything
depends on first impressions you know"
| Eda put up her little hand to hide yawn
"And you really mean to captivate him ?"
II mean to try.
Chow do you know he viii make good hus
band r.
"What difference does that make He's rich. =
The boatman stepped on shore, and dofing his hal
pointed to superb gray stone mansion, whose ga,
bles and millions cleaned through groups of trees
just beyond saying
'There is Stapleton Park ladies-you will have
no difficulty in finding it.
Barbara tossed piece of silver to him..
''See that our trunks are sent up as soon as they
arrive she said, loftily.
.'And now, girls, get ready for dinner as soon as
you can" said Miss Stapeton, as she ushered hel
visitors into dainty little dressng-room all pannel
led in oak and gold green with curtains of pale greer
silk and mirrors that reached from ceiling to foo
II have delightful party of guests staying here
and want you both to look as lovely as possible
Remember our old school compact, Barbara-yol
are to captiyate Harry"
Barbara did look lovely as she entered the draw
ing room-where lights and flowers and delicious
perfumes made sort of fairy land-dressed in rose
colored tulle caught up with boquets of moss,rosc
buds fastened in her glossy brown curls as careless
ly as if it had fallen from the vine. Eda pretty
too in white muslin and lilies but Eda's beauty
Ito Barbara as twilight to sunshinepearl to tht
imperial diamond. Annie Stapleton's eyes bright
ened with sort Of admiring pride as she came for