Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1869-09-22
SeIeeteo MlseellanB.
MY CASUAL ACQUAINTANCE

AT five o'clock one August afternoon,
few years ago, it was hot in Piccadiiiy:
s.NIust one dress 2" / asked In pathetic
tones.
in London, my dear Stumps.-1ou Will
excuse my leaving You new, but have I'M
nortant letters to write before dinner.
Remember half past seven to a fraction of
a second. till then, fare you well.
Important letters, knew meant ADJOURN
nnent to his chambers in the Albany, the re-
moval of his coat and neckloth, glass oi
sherry an1 bitters, q cigarette, and sound
nap till ii was time to aslorn himself Tor
the event of his day, and / thought he
n,ioht have kept company for once with q
poor provincial, who had but his hotel to
20 to when he was weary of strolling about
the streets. But still q dinner at the Api-
clan is doubtless very great treat, and
felt ashamed of nay ungrateful repinings-
An. here was one OF the bhss-houses OF
my youth. still open, and showing by large
announcements that 1T continued 10 eatsr
for sight-seers. My heart WAS tcrty-two,
and did not beat on approaching the
Egyptian Hall so violently as it had done
thirty years before, but it gave decided
though slight wobble; so fresh do hearts
keen in the country. Any entertainment
would be more amusing than sitting alone
iii the hotel smoking room ro-perusing the
newspapers. What the Victoria Gross
Gallery? Why. that was one of the things
Z had wished to see directly heard of 1t
An old sehOol-fellow had shot six Russians
with hiss ewn revolver at the affair OF the
Ovens in the Crimea, and another nsd
sni.ted several mutineers In India with
regulation sword; wonderful feat TO the
<Iu of
vesuons clumsy enough in his hand after
the fo.L I turned in. paid my shilling,
and ascended the well-remembered stairs,
hoping that the room would hot be crowded
that hot afternoon. The selfish wish was
rratifed; the only living being In the place
was an official seated behind a green baize
table at the entrance, who wanted me 10
bay catalogue, and write my
name in large book spread open
before him for the purpose.
To the first request gladly acceded, bai
not the second The name of Stumps is
not beautiful IN itself, and could not fat
ter myself that it would awaken any par.
:ficuiar enthusiasm In the mind of subse-
auent visitor who might read it; unless. in
deed. he was a monomaniac about cricket
So left the halt-filled page unenriched by
my autograph, and gave myself up to the
enjoyment of real treat. The room was
cool, there We're seats at intervals, and the
pictures were just what enjoy; full of ac-
ton, AID representing stirring scenes A
man named Stumps cannot be expected to
appreciate high art; or at any nate / don't
1 ovn with shame that like music with a
tune, and painting with a story; that l am
n being without culture; in short, 1T TO
make all Mr.. Wv A-ds nerves Jar
horribly If came within five yards of him
Now, with the exception of few French
works, ike the George du Malakoff' ard
The '.Prise du Malahod." all the battle pie
tures Ihad hitherto seen were disappoint-
ing representations of smoke and impossi
bic horses, with q broken grln-carriage and
"A few dead soldiers in the foreground. Blu,
there was vivid, thrilling episode in each
of the paintings which now engrossed my
attention, and TO study them seemed a
good as reading Napier.
/ was reused from rspt admiration of @
couple Of midshipmen in the ditch of for
,tised place at midnight, one Of whom was
quietly lighting portfre with his cigar, by
the sound of voices and the rustling ol
dresses, and turning round / saw five new
conlers clustered round the visitors book
They had no objections to signing theil
names. Paterfamilias, who was round an6
stout and pleasant-featured as the idea
middie-aged gentleman III Punch, said
..Eh. what?" and scratched his signature
with the rapidity of a man who was con
SANITY performing that operation. His wife
pc-tiy lady with an imposing nose and
proud demeanor, took longer about it, evi
dently reading the names which preceded
her own. Her two pretty daughters-tht
relationship was written on their faces
signed next; and then a young man II
fower-show apparel. with silky hair parte.
in the middle, took the pen, whispering
something to the youngest girl, who sim
.pered. I'd have taken slight odds that h'
uttered an allusion to q ceremony which Il
performed in vestries-
OF course, was not staring, but tool
this little by-plsy i'm out of the corners o
my eyes, which were still apparently rivete,
upon the midshipmen who were engage,
IN patriotic arson. Why only apparently
Because the proper study for mankind Ii
man; because. though Art is very fine
Nature sometimes beats it; and because
even at forty-two, if one lives I'm tn
country, pretty girl IL still pleasing oh
ject.
soon discovered q fact, however, whicl
modesty and experience alike prevente
my calculating upon; they were not,cin
me. / remember story, told, think, i
this Jours.rl, of a man who fattered him
self that he was stalking lion, and hearin
rustic in the bushes behind him, foun
that the lion was stalking him. I sympa
,hizcd with that sportsman. There coul
be no doubt about it. Madam was the fir
to gaze on me, as though she thought SD
knsw me, whenever she fancied herself M
perceived: then she nudged her husband
and whispered In his ear, whereupon he to
inspected me. as if I had formed part of tn
exhibition; then a mysterious commun
cation was conveyed to the girls, and the
examined me in quiet sort of way, shyl
butpereepGbly. Theyoung man, too, CAV
a glance IN my direction, but evidently di
not think much Of me.-his attention bein
engrossed by the charms of the younge
looking of the two sisters, though. indee'
neither of them appeared moro than .went.
An incident soon occurred which 1 am q
most ashamed to mention, lest il shoul
appear to be insinuated that it was not el
s1ireIy accidental, as of course it must ha'
been. The whole party, making their to'
of inspection, passed behind me ia sing
rile. Materfamilias bringing up the rea
and lust as she passed me, she dropped Il
pencil with which she was marking b
catalogue, without perceiving the loss UNI
she was two pictures of, when she sudde
IL called to her eldest daughter: 70 do lot
here, love; here is dear Sir Henry Slashe
whom you danced with the other nigh
cutting a horrid natives head off, ! mu
put a cross against that. Dear me, wh
has become of my pencil?"
picked up the little golden toy, stu
ded With torquoises, which lay at my fee
and presented it to her. Her gratitude W
amazing. She set particular value upt
the article; would not have lost it
worlds; was SO much obliged 20 me. Pc
haps you are aware how fascinating Il
manners of proud matron with Rom,
nose are when she condescends to maj
herself agreeable. I was quite charme
and being very sociable in disposition, pl
ferrine, indeed, almost any ones society
my own, was glad eno0gh to accept Z
advances towards conversation viii
were made to me, in cordial mannt
Presently Paterfamilias chimed in; al
then the eldest girl asked some questi'
about picture which was imm
diately referred to me, and 80 in lit