Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-11-06

STRANGE MISS DEvONPORT.

ls
IT was the night of the marlborough
unit ball and marlborough, as bef1tted
le occasion, was employed in holding
Ugh festival. The large room Of the
sgerton Arms was full, and the company
IS select as the most fastidious could wish.
There were representatives of all the
sreat families of the country, and the
sream of the society of the town of Rat
leborough itself, not to mention q score
Or so of unattached males who had estab,
lished themselves in the Egerton Arms
and in various lodgings in the place, for
the express purpose Of being in the inn
mediate vicinity Of the far-famed Rattle
borough hounds
1t was to the very best of this society
that Mr.. Oliver Henley belonged-a gen.
tlemsn young in point of years, and COM
Portable off in the matter of money-a
barrister, member of the inner Temple,
burdened with no briefs, nor with the
necessity or the intention of getting any
His father was still living, but he had
already come into very respectable
little property; and, as was natural for a
gentleman in the flower of existence as he
was-to-wit, seven-and-twenty years of
age-was bent on enjoying himself &C
cordingly. With this highly laudable OBJ
ject in view, he had just made his debut
in the marlborough district and by his
good riding, genial manners and generous
habits, which comfortable balance at
ones bankers makes easy enough, he had
produced decidedly favorable impression
upon those whose estimation was usually
considered worth having. Henley had
lad day with the hounds, which he had
pjoyed most thoroughly and he was just
n
vents with a newly-made acquaintance,
I'D at the same time passing kind of
inning commentary upon the dancers as
ey whirled past him.
"Now, Mr.. Henley" said the vigorous
u-room whip, "will you choose your
'tner? can introduce you to any one
like"
Who is that young lady there She
just sat down. The one with the
lderful amount of black hair, and"
Miss Devonport," was the prompt re-
"a wonderful nice girl-dances
tally. Let me introduce you"
md after Henley had gone through the
lcers with Miss Devonport, he was of
nion that this account was not eXag-
ated. Miss Devonport, he discovered,
8 a very nice girl-so nice that he
de up his mind to get all the dances
n her that she would give him. If Oh.
Henley had been asked to give an &C,
int of himself, he would, in all prOba-
ity, have described himself as the most
impressionable fellow in the world. He
become bored with Irritation, and his
rs Of heavy iove-making were over.
perts, however, in the diagnosis OF
Ie-making will tell you that it
persons of Henley's selfreliant and
liant nature who are most apt to
victims to the tender passion, and il
iver Henley had not had such consum-
tie belief in his own powers, it is prob
q that it would have occurred to him
re than once in the course Of his con
ssation with Miss Devonport that he
on dangerous ground. When a
ltleman finds himself telling his partner
history of his life, interspersed here and
re with touches half pathetic, half bit
and cynical, it may be as well that he
uld take heed unto his ways at once.
According to your own account, Mr.
nley, you must be a terribly rolling
ne," said Miss Devonport.
1 feel myself so, Miss Devonport, 8
ing stone which gathers no moss, but
ich longs to do So"
there was a certain amount OF vague
S in the latter part of this remark but
aehow or other it seemed the natura
ng to say, and Henley made it in tont
ich was expressive of depth of feel
rather wonderful in so CAUTIOUS ant
sentimental man. He was almost as
ished and half angry with himsel
en- the words had escaped him. HI
ked confused-why he did not exactly
ow. Unfortunately, however, looks ar,
ood deal more eloquent than speech
! more unfortunately, the looks wer,
unnoticed by Miss Devonport Some
or other the remark, sufficient,
aningless as it was, seemed to have es
lished kind of understanding between
IS Devonport and Mr.. Henley, and whel
is Devonport's carriage was announces
Mss Deyonport, senior, the younl