The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-08-14
erto only heard of May Stephens was no

prOEeI6u3 MdY OISPHeuS--tuG lIICOlnp pax
able May-was to spend month at Fly
ats and they were to expect her at any
moment, though as the letter read, she
might not be down for q week to come;
a weck-it was an age, a century, ana
was in huttcr of excitement. My long
standing passion, of nearly two weeks
duration, for Carrie was forgotten in an
instant. and my whole mind was absorbed
in making the best possible figure before
this new queen. With this idea [ began
to look into my wardrobe. had come
down with sufficient clothes to answer all
ordinary purposes, including, of course,
Carrie and Nettie; but the new goddess
was certainly worthy of new rig on my
part, and certainly should have it. This
resolution was made in fifteen minutes af-
ter hearing the announcement of her in
tended coming, and before two hours had
gone was whizzing on my way to town
to carry out my resolve. My choicest
morsel Of wardrobe should be offered at
the shrine Of May Stephens.
II had abscnted myself on the plea of
sudden memory of business neglected,
and faithfully promised Nettie and Carrie
that the next day should set me down at
Hyatt's again, to stay out the month that
MAY Stephens, the wonderful, was about
to pass with them.
;sThe racking of brain that day to Gre
ate q grand ensemble Of costume-some-
thing beyond all criticism, that should, at
the first glance strike the beholder with
silent admiration-was indeed terrible.
The labor of writing Paradise Lost" was
nothing to it, 1t was early in the day
when arrived at my city rooms, and Tor
six hours dressed and redressed, COM
pared and rejected and selected, and at
the end of that time had laid out those
portions of my wearing goods in which |
! had decided to make my first appearance
before May Stephens. It wanted still
several hours to sunset. Having gone
through the great object of my visit, l
thought it would not be bad idea for
A me to tako the last train, and return the
same night to Hyatt's, instead of remain
ing over until morning. No sooner said
! than done. packed my habliments and
away I went. Whizzing and putting over
an uninteresting road is provocative of
. sleep. So I found it when the shades of
. evening fell; to the best of my recollec-
! ton, I was in the midst of a dream, in
: which May Stephens, attired in book
: muslin, and plain blue satin, appeared on
a purple cloud, and admringly inquired
who my tailor was. Just as l was about
1 to inform her, there came q crash, and
for moment I was not certain whether
4 it was the cloud that had exploded, or
i myself that had torn some portion OF my
apparel that was overstrained. 1t re-
CURED but moment to see that bothp
sumptions were wrong. 1t was the out
train-2:27-that had run off the track,
smashing generally, and spilling the con-
tents of several baggage cars all along the
}, road, to say nothing of frightening half q
;, hundred passengers into condition bor
: dering on lunacy This was a pretty
state of things, and to rnakeit still worse,
I was eight miles from my destination,
though, as it afterwards appeared, not u
mile from tho next village, where I heard
it canvassed, tavern, supper and bed
could be had
II was disposed to make myself agree
able, and accordingly rendered all the ass
sistance in my power to unprotected fe-
males, for which got my reward on ar
irving at the haven of refuge, the prom
ised tavern, by being informed that such
thing. as a bed for the night was an i'm
possible idea, and that with some twenty
more of the male gender, must be con-
tent with chairs, while the beds were ap-
proprated to the gentler sex. Slightly
disgusted, I swallowed my supper and
looked out upon the night. 1t was a
beautiful moonlight and verging on ten
o'clock. BY Jove, would walk over to
Hyatt's. No sooner said than done. Civ
ing my carpet bag into the hands Of the
landlord, with the most emphatic charges
OF it's safety, and punctual delivery at
, Hyatt's next morning. at my expense, [
set forth. Eight miles is a triAe, and just
, as my watch marked the quarter after
, midnight, l went up the lane that led to
: the house. They were early to bed and
early up. walked round the house try
, ing each entrance, but each and every
! one were fastened. 1t was of no. conse-
quence; my bed room window looked
out upon the piazza would not disturb
!, the house by knocking; a bit Of climbing
would do the business; and should it be
! fastened, / would tap and wake Horace,
who was my roommate and bed fellow
The thing was executed as soon as thought
of, and my hand on the window, which
yielded, and I stood in my room. By
the moonlight which streamed in, l saw
that the bed was occupied, and by the
heavy breathing knew that Horace was
in heavy sleep. l would not awake
} him, but save the story of my mishap for
, the following day. With this resolution,
, slipped quietly into bed, and in three
minutes was oblivious. What ought to
, have dreamed that night? But l shall
not anticipate. | lay facing the window
~ boro II, 1;e+on4