The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1867-11-28

even a proper vehicle to convey US to
Stonehenge, and were forced finally to
take huge, clumsy wagonet, which is a
peculiarly English invention, a sort of
omnibus without top.
We drove for miles over the dreariest
plain in the world, without seeing house
or human being, and had just caught
sight of the mighty stones of the old
Druidical temple ahead, when it began to
rain. 1t was a 6ne, drizzly rain, that soon
shut out everything from view, except OBJ
jects close at hand. Suddenly there
doomed through the mist a carriage. In
another moment we were by its side. 1t
was stationary, having broken down. The
driver, aud man-servant out of livery,
stood stupidity regarding the shattered
wheel, while lady looked out of either
window.
awe must give up Stonehenge," said
Charlie, sand take those ladies back to
Salisbury"
Certainly" answered.
By this time we had alighted. What
was my surprise to recognize in two ct
the ladies, Lady Emily and Lady Louisa
Vavasour There was a third, who was
older, and was evidently their mother
Charlie had advanced, hat off, to the door,
| to offer our assistance; but when he saw
| the Lady Louisa, he colored to the tenn
| pies, and was SO embarrassed that had to
come to his relief.
The countess was protuse in her thanks.
| She alighted at once
| eve haG expected to wait here, In the
rain, ill the coachman could Tide one of
TIE horses iu;o Salisbury" she said, ''and
that, you know, would have taken hours
Come, girls. If am not mistaken" she
added, addressing me, "you are Amer
leans"
l bowed assent.
81 should have guessed as much, even
if had not known you. You look sur
prised. But Capt. Coldstream, at the
opera, mentioned you to us the other
night. And nobody but an American" !"
she continued, with a charming smile,
"would have offered aid SO sraciously.-
[ am ashamed to say it, but our English
men, generally, are the most selfish, the
worst bred OF all travellers; while you
Americans are exactly the reverse" :"
This was very pleasant, and put me in
quite good humor with myself, and with
the countess also. Tscareiuly arranged a
seat for her; Charlie brought up her two
daughters and what with umbrellas ar
wraps, without which nobody ever travels
IN Euglaud, our party was soon quite
comfortable. The mau-servant Jumped
up on the box, the driver turned tue heads
of his horses, and we were off for Sails
bury, leaving the other coachman to get
home, with his broken carriage, the best
way he could.
ave were only IN London few days."
said the countess, resuming the conversa-
tion. ave ale Oh our way to the Isle of
Wight, for the health of my other daugh-
ter, whom we have left at the hotel
Emily" and she turned to the oldest of
the two girls, "these are the American
friends of Capt. Coldstream."
The countess and [ kept up a brisk
conversation all the way to Salisbury, in
which the Lady Emily occasionally join
ed. Charlie had managed to get along
side of the Lady Louisa, whom he monop-
olized as much as possible; and to Judge
from the lively way they were going on,
he had quite recovered from his embar
Iassment. Few men could make them
selves as agreeable as Charlie; he was one
oil the best takers [ ever knew
"This is a dismal place at best" said
the countess ''the worst inn in a cathe-
dral town in all England; and | fear you
gentlemen are not too we'll accommodated
We arrived here before you, yesterday, |
find, and secured the only tolerable parlor
lett. 1t is quite barn, but better than
the cofee-room, which looks absolutely
intolerable. Do dine with US %
We were only too glad to accept the
| in / haI oil a.,
the Navasours knew a great many people
that We knew indeed, the second son of
the countess had been in America. and
both Charlie and l had met him. So we
were at once on comparatively intimate
terms.
The next day we devoted to the cathe-
dral, aud to drive to Wilton House
On both occasions [ attended the coun-
tess, while Charlie devoted himself to the
girls. But be managed, more than once
to get the Lady Louisa for half an hour
to himself, leaving me to entertain the
Lady Emily and her mother. | must
confess [ abetted him in this maneuver.
| said to myself, "Charlie is better-Iooking
than any London swell, and quite as rich
as most of them-why shouldn't he 90 In
and win if he can z"
And it began to look as if he could. If
be had fallen in love at 6rst sight, was
not SO sure but that the Lady Louisa had
done it, too. AT any rate, [ was resolved
to give Charlie a chance, whenever L
could. The countess did not seem to sus-
pect the state of affairs. But once or
twice | thought the Lady Emily did
BE this as it may, she was too loyal to
betray her sister, or even to interfere.
It was moonlight evening; so, an
hour or two. after dinner, proposed a