The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-09-05
MISS TIpBERRY,s ELOPEMENE.
BY MRS. s. A. w.

CulldE bIy16 Vi p6EbOudI dpp6dEduC6 III
which auburn curls, rosy cheeks, ruby
lips, and very white teeth, contrasting
with certain lines about tho eyes and
forehead, embarrasses the male behold
er with the delicate question as to
whether it will be most proper to invite
her to moonlight filtration on the piaz
"a or to provide for her a comfortable
armchair and shawl in the most quiet
corner of the ballroom. She herself
| averred her age to be about twenty.
eight-though Miss Spinner, at whose
select boarding establishment at Beech
Harbor she was passing "the season"
had confidentially informed one or two
of her gentleman "guests" that she had
met Miss Tidberry some twenty years
previous, when she herselfwas a child,
and Miss Tidberry had already been
out five seasons. But Miss Spinner
was not fond of Miss Tidberry, and
was wont to regard with sarcastic GRIM
ness from the head of her table, the pro-
fuse auburn curls, and the remarka-
bly, white teeth, as she doomed, phan-
tom-like,t through the cloud of beef
soup vapor-a wholesome and expen-
sive dish wherewith she delighted TO
regale her guests. .is a.. ..i.- i4.
Being the only young lady in the
house, among no less than seven un-
married men, It might naturally be pre-
sumed that Miss Tidberry would be
something of a belle. And such, doubt
less, would have been the case but that,
by some strange uniformity ofaccident,
the opportunities for paying her atten.
ton invariably occurred just at those
times when the gentlemen happened to
be unavoidably engaged. For instance,
were the evening particularly fine, and
she remarked to Mr.. Billings how
charming would be twilight ramble
on the lonely beach. that gentleman
would be quite vexed at being compel
led to keep an appointment with a
friend, upon important business. Or
did she venture out alone, and behold
young Simpkins promenading the
beach, cycling the ladies as the passed,
by the time that she approached he
would be intently interested in spying
through a Eocket-glass an almost tnvis'
ible ship in the o1Hng, and be quite
chagrined afterward when informed by
Miss Tidberry, in girlish playfulness,
of the opportunity he had missed.
Thus n cruel destiny pursued Miss
Tidherry, and she was beginning to
think OF changing her abode, when the
arrival of TWO new gentlemen boaTders
inspired her with renewed hope.
One of these was grave, sensible
looking man of about thirty, who
talked well and made himself quite
agreeable at table. He was called Doc
tor Deems. The other was some TWEEN
ty wears older, short and stout, with a
pale, flabby face, light grey eyes,
whereof much of the white was visible,
and a shock of sandy. colored hair evil
IDENTIFY not his own. He was unsocial
and reserved, keeping his own room
most of the time, spoke but seldom
and ale great deal-particularly of
DESERT, which might account for his
dyspeptic appearance. Miss Spinner
who, as she often remarked, felt that
| clearinghouse keepers were in an
awful manner responsible for the
health of those who SO confidingly
placed themselves under their care,
and consequently considered it her
duty to treat them but rarely To spiced
meats and deserts-Miss Spinner took
a lively interest on this point in con-
nection with the new boarder, and was
particular in helping him literally to
beef-soup, potatoes, and similar whole
some Viands, in hope of his being sat-
| isfied with less of the Injurious oyster
pie and plum pudding. Mr.. Grogan,
| however, generally sent these away
untouched, and INDUCED in the more
dainty dishes with recklessness which
went straight to Miss Spinner's heart.
And he never seemed sensible of her
kindness-never spoke to her-never
looked at her even, or indeed at any
body-unless it might be Miss It'd
| berry.
For the first two or three days of his
sojourn he had appeared as Indifferent
to Miss Lncretia Cthat was Miss lid
berry's christian name-or, as she
wrote in her album, "LHtie") as to the
rest of the boarders. But ono evening,
having made his supper of a small
dish of Holsters, he had leisure, while
awaiting the conclusion of his friend,
the DOCTORS more deliberate repast, to
look around upon the company, and his
attention seemed Immediately attract
l HErEy ia ytNrp 10
| At her, and particularly at her hair and
teeth, he stared SO palpably as to cause
| a dropping of that lady's eyelids and g
| hutter ofthe transparent lace upon hel
| maiden bosom, until Doctor Deems
perceiving it, gave his friend remon-
stratory nudge beneath the table cloth
Whereupon Mr.. Grogan instantly
ayerted his eyes, and took to staring a
the ceiling, and industrionsly slipping
the dreggs of his coffee cup. But from
that day he regarded Miss Lucretis
| with the. species of shy and furtive In
terest, while the hostess. glaring Like ar
avengIng angel through the steam
ed them both. In this she was backed
by Bridget, the duties of which exile o
| Erin were two-first, to attend openly
| upon the boarders; and secondly to in
vestigate secretly into their affairs, ant
report thereof to the missus-such
IknOWleOR6 DeluR B6ueEdhy OOLdluSS
through the mediumiof the key-hoie!
OF the establishments.
Miss Lucretia could not doubt the
interest she had inspired In the bosom
OF her taciturn admirer. She had upoI
more than one occasion, while walking
} in the garden, perceived him turttvelI
regarding her from behind his window
blinds; and once, coming up stairs, shl
had found her entrance to her apart
meilt Distracted by the presence o
i, some foreign substance in the key-hole
which, beiTfg with difficulty distracted
proved TO be sprig of honeysvckle-i
delicate and ingenius mode OF presen
tation which the lady evidently appre
ciated inasmuch as she next evening
appeared at the table with the bruised
flower tenderlys nestled amid her an
burn curls. That the shy admirer fel
himself thereby encouraged was prob
able from what occurred on this very
. evening; Miss Tidberry had retired <
herown apartment about ten O'Clock
when, the window being open, some
2 thing flew thereat, and after striking
3 Miss Lucretia on the head, and knock
, ing over the candle Tell with hRrt
!, thud at her feet. Investigation proved
it to be a boquet of the largest size
collection OF gorgeous tinted flower
such as abounded in Miss Spinner
: garden; golden marigoids, deep blu
: larkspur, and crimson cockscomb, in
I tersperSed with sprigs of thine, sage
and other odoriferous herbs. And, up
on looking out of the window, Mis-
), Tidberry found her hand within thre
feet of that of Mr.. Grogan, at an adjs
cent window. -..f.
"Go9d evening, rna'am ~ said Tbs
gentleman, courteousty waving III
hand. uss4
"Good graciousW exclaimed Mis-
: Tidberry, hastily snatching off her cal
Don't be alarmed, ma'am, resume
the gentleman, earnestly. am You