Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-07-29

"It's altogether too late to begin, to-
night, the .vexed and disturbed question of
woman's rights. Why, it would take us
! two hours to define our platform, wouldn't
| it, girls 7 Take your hat, Royal Nane,
and go home, and pray to your guardian
saint, whoever he may be, to protect you
from old maids and designing widows %
Mr.. Vane departed, rather discounted
by this novel view Of the perils and dangers
of gay young bachelors life.
''They can't be in earnest-it's only their
nonsense" he muttered to himself, as he
strobe moodily along the streets but if
their should be any foundation to it"
He involuntarily wiped the cold dew
from his forehead.
Meanwhile the merry group of girls he
had ''lefl behind him" were comparing
notes, very much to his disadvantage.
He's conceited popinjay, if he is my
cousin" said Barbara Drewitt land the
way he has treated Constance Martin is
perfectly disgracetul-h flirting with her, un
Til the poor little thing was ready to believe
him desperately in love, and then coolly
turning round to sun himself in the light
of some newer attraction ~
'lt's a shame" said Annie Tighe.
.'They say Constance is just going into a
Decline"
more fool she, to let man alive exert
such an influence as that over her,n said
Mary.
but you know, Mary, we're not all con-
stituted alike, d" chimedin soft-hcartcd Alice
Bruce.
swell, at all events, he ought to be pun.
ishcd for tritiing so cruelty with her aliec-
tions," said Barbara.
And he shall be - pronounced Mary
Drewitt, with an emphatic nod Of the yei-
low curls Come, girls, here's an oppor-
tunity to avenge the wrongs of our sex.
Just all Of you keep still-stop whispering,
Alice Bruce-aDd l'll tell you the incest
old head ~
And to a rapt and listening audience,
Miss Drewitt sketched an outline OF action
that would not have discrcdited Bismarck's
self.
| Royal Vane was sitting in his Office, the
next afternoon, smoking very excellent
cigar, and very leisurely looking over pile
of legal documents, when there came q
dcsoate 'thump, thump,' at the door of his
room.
Come in," said our hero, laying down
the hali.consumed weed.
The door swung open, with cracking
sound, and there filed in an apparently in
terminable procession. First came VEN
cradle old lady, in black bombazine, spec
tacles, and mouse-colored furs next q
skinny female, hoopless, and attenuated in
figure next a plump old maid, in glasses,
and full suit of Bloomers next-but here
Royals eyes became bewildered. He drag
ged forward chairs and stools with reckless
| haste.
''Be seated, ladies, pray-what cln 1
have The pleasure Of doing for you this
afternoon 20
The Boomer lady, who had taken up
her stand on the hearth-rug, with her back
to the fire, in rather masculine attitude,
here consulted paper which she took from
her pocket.
'Lct-me-soe--yOu are Royal Nane, l
believe lawyer by professional twenty six
years old-and unmarried In
A chill pang struck to our hero's heart.
Was that paper the dread List he had
heard OFF, and was he now the victim Of 4
Vigilance Committee p He bowed-aud
awaited further developments, with a sort
Of forced cGlmness.
"Well, Royal, old boy" said the Bloom
er, giving him an alabe slap on the shoul-
der. 'it's high time you were married.
How DO you like mes"
"Like you % stammered Mr.. Vanc
flushing to the very roots of his hair 81
don't like you at all.''
"Mittenod, eh ~ was the fair ones COM
mcnt. "Well, I've tried my chance, and
failed. Hope the next fellow will have
better taste, that's all. Come on, Amarin-
thia Fowle it's your turn now r''
And Amarintha took her turn and so
did the old lady in mountaineering Widow
l1otchkiss,' by name and so did - but
at this stage of affairs Royal Nane jumped
over Widow Holchkiss' hastily-intorposed
umbrella rushed down stairs and made
straight for his boarding-house, never rest
ing until he had locked, barred and bolted
himself safely in.
Good Apollo !" he grasped, wiping the
streams of perspiration from his throbbing
brow, what peril have escaped The
girls were right-Leap year is IA fearful sea-
son i wish l were securely married TO
dear little Constance Martin MatrimOny
is my only safeguard they'll haunt me TO
the ends of the earth ~
Pretty Constance Martin, dropping over
her embroidery that seii-same evening, like
Il blighted lily-bell, was startled by the APP
partition Of her rccreant cavalier Royal
Nnuc.
"AIr. Vane !" There was dignity about
the little girl yet.
"Coustance not speak so coldly."
He knelt down beside her, SO rs 10 bring
his dark hazel eyes, full Of pleading light,
directly In range with her own soit-blue
orbs. "Constance, YOU have not forgotten
me--you love me a kttle yet I'
Aud Constanco's eyes betrayed the truth
she scarcely dared to speak.
Look here, girls :" exclaimed Mary
Drewitt as she uniolded the damp news
paper at the breaktast.tabl about a week
afterwards, "here's the eluo % Royal
Nanas unaccounlable absence. Hes mar
rled married o. Constance Martin !"
II knew how il would bc," said Ann
Tighe, chipping lac egg'shell, calmly.
lilcss you, girls, u man Is Us easily man
aged as a pa puppy, If ono only knows
hoW 10 do IT,
"And hore's a note from the young man
himself 10 tyll Va he viii call thla ,yening," +"
said barbara. "Mhat shall 40 dol,
tMe'l reeoiye him, of eunrss Ia mll
drrss, % said Mary, bursting into pcal oi
laughter "What uU Constance asy \"
Mr. aud Mrs. lloyal Naas we're duly
ushered into the pl,asant oliIishlohel
drawing room that cyenlus, AMI waited
slne Tins bfiDre any Olle apiTarvl'
~ don't see what has lAe1ne ~ lAe glfls,
aid hoyal, altsf a its mlnuirs' salllag,
/. tt ILL ~. sstlsa.a -. al