Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1868-03-07
TALES AND SKETCHES.
TURNING ON "A STRAW.
BY MRS. S. \. WEISS.

Ballard Springs, in Virginia, was nice
place for summers sojourn quiet, cool
picturesque, healthy, but rather SLOW )
and therefore was it Il matter of some surprise
to the guests, and of much selfgratulation
to the proprietor, when on iine July morn
ing Messrs Lovingston and CarIyon made
their appearance at Ballard, attended by an
aristocrat negro valet, in charge OF various
trunks, valises, guns, game bags, hshlng-
rods, and other porphernaIia suggestive oi
an emigration into sume unknown anu saw
age wilderness From these appearances,
it was generally surmisCd by the Ballard
community that trout and woodcock might
be the attraction to these two ornaments ot
the beau monde, whose fame as such had
preceded them. 1t was, however, matter
of conjecture merely, for the young gentle
men, though not Extensively arrogant, yet
maintained becoming exclusveness which
prevented them from any familiar question
ing or intrusion on the part of the lower
order of creation by which they were sur
rounded What were their real motives IN
wasting their destinations upon the desert
air of Ballard, may possibly be gathered
from the following dialogue, which took
place one fine morning about week after
their arrival.
They were seated on the piazza OF their
own little cottage" just after breakfast.
their feet elevated upon the railing thereof,
and their eyes dreamily wandering over the
landscape, or lazily following the misty
mazes OF the vnpory wreaths which issued
from their moustached lips.
What shall we do to-day? z" qaered Carl
yon, dreamily.
"Whatever you like" responded his friend
! AL La, cln sad
! his head and with jeweled fingers gave q
| triste turn to his jet black monstuche He
was dark-Mr. Randolph LOvingston-and
| something in the handitti style; while his
! friend Carlyon was fair as girl, with wavy
light brown locks, and very blue eyes,
Both were, as the young ladies declared
| perfect loves Yet they were not exactly
! daudics They were too high bred, ant
| possessed of TOO much good taste, it no
good sense, for any such vulgar weakness
They were simply gentlemen rich, hand
! some, aristocratic, and fashionable Wha
| more was there to be desired
| "Rather slow heTe-hey Z" resumed Mr.
Arthur Carlyon, after IA meditative pause.
"Aw-dare say" After which admission
Mr. LOyingston ldpsed into poetic revert
judging from the manner in which he gazet
upward at the clouds.
Il say, 'Dolph, how much longer are W
| to stay here q resumed Mr.. Caryon, with
mild desperation.
Till those Roxley girls and their mothe
leave the White Sulpher,' responded 'Dolpi
cody. Wbercat Carlyon laughed.
You'll find RoXley girls and Roxley man
mas everywhere at least till YOU get maj
ried, or lose your fortune or your good look;
do This complacently.
Its disgustingr murmured Lovingstor
why cant the women let man alone.
do believe that had not come here as
did-called suddenly away you know, b
the dangerous illness of u iriend-that ire
pressible women would have had me en-
gagged to one OF the red haired daughters bt
fore this
The gentleman was slightly excited
Hence his lengthy speech.
1T is annoying drawled Carlyon, in til
tone of fellow martyr, yet to whom tn
martyrdom was less trial than to the oihe
But here one may rest in peace. There
only those Heyden girls-nice and pretty
but not Of our set. They'll hardly troubl
u.s.
Hardly
1t was at the very moment of arriving Q
this satisfactory conclusion that Cariyoi
! BihnclnS upWaFu, Dtbtiu SUING opJeCs "niS
arrested his cigar when halfway to his lip
and caused his eyes 20 expand slightly.
Il say, Loyingston, what's that 2
Lovingstons eye followed suit.
by Joye = was his low comment
The regular thing and no nistakep ad,
ed Carlyon, with emphasis. t-.r
The regular thing was tall, very fai
rather stately young lady, with wa'
blonde hair swept back from what poet
young gentlemen writing in almume, wou
call queen like brow She was attire
in simple but stylish,looking blue NOR
ing dress, and stood on the upper balcol
of the hotel building opposite, serenely 81
veyiEg the landscape. BY her side preser
ly appeared slighter, more graceful, mo
piqaante hgure-a young girl with Gle
dark complexion, rich dark hair, hazel ey'
aud red lips, whose halfarch expressi
contrasted with fhe somewhat listless sere
ity Of her companion. At this latter apr
rition the two gentlemen exchanged loo
In dumb surprise.
"Who can they be 2" remarked CArlyon,
llength. ~ don't know them, and yet they
!. somebody, that's certain, No mistsking I
air."