The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1866-06-23

UO(ty uuu ICtiuCoViiS oo pSAooAs'A 49,
vor to be held on the ground.
"Pray who"-and addressed the
interrogatory to a no less distinguished
individual than my friend, the Hon. T..
Jefferson Skeggs-''pray, who is that
gorgeously beautiful high -priestess of
the resistlcss Terpsichore who is just
now so happy in the conventional en-
braces of the fortunate Fantadling"
"FANrADLlNG you mean," said my
friend the Hon. r. JEFFERSON SKEGGs,
smiling at the wreck I had made ofthe
young gentleman's name in the ex7
citement of the moment; "that,' con-
tinued he, ais young Lady,"
"Holdw / exclaimed, care you quite
sure she is not what she unquestiona-
bly, seems to be-angel? But pardon
the Interruption; proceed"
Gas was about to sa9, she is a
young lady-or, young angel if you
will-of the name Of JlNKINsoN."
"By St. George! q most romantic
name for so romantic looking divini-
ty! However, there is nothing under
the circumstances worth mentioning in
a name. And now, geographically and
financially speaking, in what enviable
section of this unreconstructed coun-
try does she reside, and what amount
would you name before an acting JUS
tice ofthe peace, if necessary to do so,
as the present assessible value Of her
personal and real estate! =
| had of course, been informed as to
both the present and prospective value
of Miss Jenkinson's hand for the Sc,
cret Of lady's wealth, unlike the Sc
.cret of lady's age cannot be safely
warranted to keep long in any climate !;
but ] was not fully convinced of the
accuracy of the information given me
by the boys in town, and l was anx-
ious to have it confirmed by such
high authority as Skeggs. Besides, |
was sure that to be seen in familiar
conversation with so distinguished q
character as the Hon. T. Jefferson
Skeggs, would be duced good letter
of credit In any crowd.
~ perceive, my dear Bricks said
the Hon. 4. j. S., in answer to my
question, "that you are in the pursuit
of knowledge under species of diff
Guilty which l am utterly unable to re-
move but do you observe that hearty
old gentleman sitting at the window
opposite?"
After taking careful observation
in the direction indicated, l did not
hesitate to declare that unless l was
deceived by very remarkable optical
illusion, 1 did observe the hearty old
gentleman sitting at the window op-
positc.
"Well," continued the Hon Mr.. S.,
II am told that he is aresident of the
young lady's neighborhood, and l
presume he is the only person present
who is able to furnish you the informa,
ton you seek. From his very genial
and benevolent appearance, l am quite
sure he will cheerfuly enlighten you to
the best of his ability"
With the hope that the movement
might lead to an introduction to Miss
Jinkinson, walked over, incidentally
as it were, to where the hearty old
gentleman sat
"a warm evening, Sir" / remarked,
Just as ] would have addressed the
same observation to any other stran-
ger in whose company | might have
CHANGED to be thrown.
"WcIl-yes-rathcr warm," answer
ed the hearty old gentleman, with a
look indicative of some little surprise
at the extent of my meteorological in.
formation.
"Quite an array of what the newspa-
per reporters call Beauty and Chivalry
with us tonight, Sir" ! added.
"Yes, eir,-quite an array of that
sort of thing certainly"
"Spcaking of beauty" continued,
"the lady now dancing with young
Fantadling seems not to be wanting, to
any perceptible extent, in that species
of attraction. Will you permit me to
ask if you do not think SOP
perceived at once that the hearty
old gentleman could appreciate female
beauty as fully as could myself, and
| would have sworn on the spot that
he was widowcr in search of a third
wife. 1t was clear, from the twinkle
about the eye, and other manifestations
of pleasure, that had stumbled upon
one of his pet weaknesses. Fully sat
isiied of this fact, I felt encouraged to
proceed. Which accordingly did.
"Rather pretty! Why, good heav-
ems, my dear sir! She is absolutely
too beautiful for earth. She is gor
geously beautiful. And then, how
1neenly! Observe, sir, if you please
with what unapproachablc grace those
delicate fingers lift the immaculate dra
perry floating around her like storm
driven cloud, to delight our eager Wis
ion with clysian glimpscs of thos'
dainty feet, whose tread would scarcely
crush the petals of the lily"
The hearty old gentleman smiled
cheerfully, the twinkle ofhis eye grow
ing livelier at every word l uttered
clearly indicating a full-blown apprc
citation of my style Of remark.
"And do me the kindness to observ'
further, sir. the elegant fit of that fair,
slipper, which even the tabled Cinder
ella could not have worn; and ifit i
not leading your eye into forbidde
paths, sir, suffer me to invite your at
tention to that classically exquisite an
kle, which so charmingly courts tn
gaze of admiring eyes"
The hearty old gentleman drew hi