Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-04-23

He was gratlfed, not long after
by the appearance Of a tall
young lady twhO struck him, the
more he looked upon her, as a very
unnaturally and disagreeably tall
young LADY,, attired in 0 rather
short, ill-6tting dress, and wearing,
upon a countenance full of "brOad-
blown cOmeliness, red aud white
about the most thorough frOm-ear-
to.ear sort Of smile that Mr.. Rich
ard LivermOre ever remembered
having seen. T..
"HOw dye do 2" said the gigantic
virgin, accompanying her salu-
tatiOn with a rather vacant
sounding laugh. slope you're well.
You're Mr.. LiYermOre, of course ?
Well, LivermOre, l don't ike your
looks a bit. How do you like
mine? p
'1-I-lhink there must be some
mistake" murmured Livermore, il
amazement. IL understood
that Miss Clara Townley was to-
well, l am Miss Clara Town
ley"
"Impossible"''
you're complimentary, I'm sure !
But perhaps you mean that | dis.
appoint you agreeably, Mr.. Liver
more. l hope | don't, l dare say
you're a COOL enough kind of fellow,
butthcn you're decidedly not the fell
low for Inc. Saw that the instant
clapped eyes on you, Liycrmore,
if you'll pardon So vulgar an eX-
preston. Pm the sort Of girl that
likes plucky sporting men with lots
Of 'go'in them, and a general air OF
being up to snuI.' Now you're not
that sort ola chap, Liyermore, as
told at a glance
"No!" exclaimed poor LivermOre,
who had grown pale By this time,
and with something which was not
embarrassment "no, Miss Clara,
l decidedly am not the type OF
manhood which you seem TO adj
miro. l~s-is-your father in? l.
I-mean, can l see him for q few
momenis!'
"Our girl told you he was asleep,
didn't she?' was the young lady's
Indifferent answer, searching for
something, as she spoke, in the
pocket Of her dress. Besides, Liv-
ermore, as you've come to stay sew
eral days, and have brought your
for that pur.
pose, any time will do, l suppose,
at which TO hold confab with pa"
Mr.. Livcrmore seemed to be re.
gaining his self-possession. "SincC
/ cannot see your father, Miss
Townley, "hc said, ~stifTening visibly
in manner, "itis better that | should
at once take my Departure
"And why so, Liv?"
LiC." Could Richard LivermorC
believe his own ears? Was thil
viXenish, hoidenish, overgrown fe,
male the Clara TownIey whom he
had worshipped in dreams a.
his future wife? Had her father
been mad, to write as he had writ.
ten concerning her? lie woult
rather die-the man was already
telling himsclf-than become The
husband of so h~ideously ogreish
creature.
IL have no reason to give fol
leaving so abruptly" he now said
in sharp, cold tones.
Miss Townley made some ode
sound between q giggle and
chuckle. you don't like me ; con
fess you don't" She cried, and
taking the unsuspecting Livermort
thoroughly by surprise, she per.
formed the action popularity known
as 4 poke IL the ribs.
"Miss rownley!" gasped the un.
happy gentleman, thus maltreated
"do you intend insulting Inc p
"Pshaw not n bit oft. Only il
fun. Have cigar, won't you?
"%lleavens!' exclaimed the be
wildered Livermore, holding VI
Soth hands, and stumbling back
wards in his astonishment, "you
can't possibly mean that yor
smoker
"Certainly I do was the reply
Miss Townley biting the end of
very nice lookingfJaTo as sue spoke
Nj. Liyelmore once again, and d
if by a mastery effort, regained his
self-contrOl. Walking deliberately
towards his portmanteaU, he pick,
ed up that article, and, having bow.
cd TO his hostess, was about quit.
ting the apartment, when, Mis-
Townley exclaimed
II hope | haven't offended you.-
Pail be f~rightiully mad when he
hears you've gone in this STYLE
He'll be sure to blame me, too. ]
wish you'd leave q little note OK.
planning that you go of-of your
own free-will, us it were. You
don't mind doing this do you?"
She looked at him with what wa,
evidently intended for a winning
smile, but poor Livcrmore thought
1t ouly a repulsive lee.. Il shall
be very willing, Miss Townley," he
said, "to leave a note for your
father, thoroughly vindicating YOU
IN the matter Of my Departure
What is it that you desire me to
write ~ taking q card-cl,e and O
pencil from Que of his pockets.
"Only that you don't want ia
marry mc-that you don't think W.
shall suit each other, and all that
Please be good enough not to say
anything about the smoking, be.
cause pa don't know that / smoke
and
But Livermore, without waiting
for further instructions, began
writing rapid Oh one of the cards
which he had selected from his case,
When he had finished, he turned