Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1868-08-13


sure Of Mr.. and Mrs Fen wick to dinner
in quiet way on the 10th inst. Only
one or two brother officers were coming.
The fatal day arrived. Remember,
thought that thousands depended on the
result, and that Mrs Dundee was as L.
norant as her husband of my intended ap-
pearance Imagine me with q p-ofusion
/ Of false black curls flower or two stuck
here and there no end Of lady's Jewelry
rings, earrings, hroach, &c. ; thin
muslin dress, with high body my face
skillfully painted In fact I was alto
gcther very we'll made up by a first rate
hand sent for from Dublin. Partly to
keep up my courage and get me up to the
mark and partly because knew that in
my assumed character | must not drink
much wine, | imbibcd considerable guam
tity before | started Moreover, in Sc
crct pocket, conccalci0a small flask Of
brandy, with Which | hoped 10 be able to
keep up my spirits on the. sly.
At table | played the part we'll. l talk
ed and firted, chattcrcd about dancing
and so forth, and protested ] was mad
about balls Poor wretch that was, | wish
| had held my tongue ; was unwittingly
+ rushing to destruction. | drank as much
champagne as dared in my assumed
character, and thought every thing was
going all right, and that my friends were
sure TO win their money. Scarce had the
! cloth been removed, when Mrs. Dundee
said Il have a. pleasing surprise for all
YOU good people. a. few days ago, / re-
ceiyed an invitation FROM Sir George and
Lady Clonmcll to a ball at their house
this evening, with permission to bring
any Of my friends. Sir George lives
twelve miles off Dundee has secured the
large omnibus from the inn, and ordered
tour horses, and We are to start at nine
o'clock We can all 60 together; we
shall have Jolly evening, and am de-
! lighted to think that you will be able to
enjoy Yourself, Miss Fenwick, "
Good gracious! how my heart sank
within M My bet held good till the
time we separated My friends must lose
their money. could never get through
hali, knew. | SAID my dress was high
and would not do fer a bail.
MY m:.,d.' sud Mrs Dundee, Shall
drc,, You in one of my evening dresses. :
"No. that she shan't. Ialnost Shrek
cd out ''if | must 20, | will 90 Just as
am. | am 50 delicate that the doctors
will not allow me 10 wear a low dress"
perhaps, dear, you would like her to
dress you HAIR differently She is very
clever or to put another wreath on your
head 2"
~Oh. no. thank you, said and most
bitterly did | inwarliy abuse my luck,
hut almost casrcd IF you had a
spare room where could wash my hands,
and lust put my hair straight for myself,
should he very much obliged"
| was shown into room, and sat down !,
the very picture, am sure. Of despair.
1t now BEGAN to flash across me, too, that
what was. to say the least. a not over
crvditablc joke among few larky broth
cr officers. would be very dishonorable if
practiccd on -s0Sety at large that 1t
would be very wrong of me to 60 TO ball
at Sir Georges disguised rs young lady,
that | might be the means of uninten-
tionally causing pam and shame to some
Indies. O dear | was doubling whc;h-
er | should send for Mrs Dundee and
make clean breast Of it-li;tle thinking
that all the time the wretch knew my fix
But then my friends would lose fifteen
thonsand pounds. q horrible , just at
that moment my hand unluckily touched
the pocket in which was my flask. To
pull It out and drain it WAS only the work
If moment or two My courage re
turned at once; my spirits rose only toe
rapidly: | would 60 through with tt
would win. Ny scruples vanished in thin
air-l forgot them WIS not drunk. but
terribly excited
Soon the ladN's mail entered with hot
water, brushes, &. | remember | felt
much inclined to chuck her under the
chin. and ask her 20 get me some more
brandy On the sly. The mere thought
however, Stcadicd mc At once as it STRUCK
me how nearly | had made q mess Of the
whole matter sat down before tht
glass. touched up my hair, somewhat
composed my flushed face, shook out my
skirts. riustd my mouth with eau de co
loruc to remove the Smcl, of brandy, and
put scent on a new lace pocket haudk2r-
chief hAd borrowed from Mrs. Dundee
| had often acted lady's part in rr,vat,
thcatrical>, and was toIerably au fa!t II
work. NEtn | descended to the draw
inr room Mr. pmdec looked ne over
Oh, how | shuGdered when she touched
one ct my turiS nd wished to put 1t quite
straight. Knowing rs she did my assam
ed character, She must have been might