Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-04-23

WOAA, was larry III IOI Tue LuluB, AnQ
so resolved to play my part as perfectly
as could. now betook myself, uJ der
the guidance of the page. to my room.
found two bedsteads there, and / was
told that l was to share the apartment
with the second footman who, at the
moment entered, was securing his face
with copiOus soap.
Now to throw myself into my part. /
flung off my jacket and went to scrub
bling my face in similar manner, except
that az was connected with horses,
made the groom's conventional hiss dur
ing The operation. l brushed my hair
and clothes to the same accompaniment,
combiDg the former into two symmetri
cal curls over my temples. Indeed, after
surveying myself in the rather diminu-
tive looking glass, 1 came TO the conclu-
sion that my appearance was that of what
is termed "a very respectable young y
drew on my white cotton gloves, and
50 Gas Pepys would say to the dining
room.
am not OF SO unobserVant a nature
to be uDacquainted with the correct meth.
cd Of waiting at table, and / now prom
ised myself no small diversion in thus
witnessing the "business" of a dinner
party in 80 novel a character.
had not stood in my place, with care
fully folded arms, long after the sound
ing Of the gong, before dinner was an
nOunced, and the party, laughing and
talking, came in. First of all, Sir
Thomas and a dOwager, then four others,
and then-ll
1t is no use. Not all the asterisks and
notes of admiration in the printers font
can adequately express my amazement as
Lawley came past.
Who was that on his arm9 Miss Gran
ger2 Miss Fiddlestickl She Ods no
other than 0ly oaOn Angy LinffeLd!
She was dressed in mourning. How
lovely she looked How we'll the black
lace contrasted with the dazzling white
ness of her arms The auburn of her
hair was as rich as in June, 1841, and the
blue of her eyes as deep.
With difficulty prevented myself from
falling into the arms of the nearest foot
man, and staggering to the door.
''What is the matter, Mr.. Fibbins9"
asked the butler; "ain't you well9"
'I've got a sudden STITCH" / replied,
holding my hand to my side, 81 shall be
better directly
'I'll give you glass of champagne
be said, going to a wine cooler outside
and uncOrking a bottle; 'I'm troubled
with these little disarrangements myself,
and find that glass of champagne is as
good "a stOmachic as any thing. So
simple remedy too"
l drank off the tumbler he handed me,
and did feel better afterward. l had, on
discovering Amy, resolved to escape and
hide my ridiculous head, but now 1 de-
termined 10 stay. Would it not be a
pleasure to wait upon herr Aud as to
my livery, had not great Jove himself
wooed DAME in a shower of gOlJ2 Why
then should be ashamed of my gilt but
tOns2 Would she not appreciate the
joke as much as any one after had told
her of it Perhaps she would not recog-
nize me; and if she did l would make
sign to her TO keep the secret.
Never was lady better waited on than
Amy that day. l piled her with every
delicacy on which l could lay my hands.
twas in vain, however, that l attempted
to catch her eye. She was perfectly
absorbed in Lawley's conversation she
laughed heartily at his airocious jokes;
and was interested in the adventures Gall
horrible lies) that he told of himself as
DesdamOna had been in those Of her dark
lover.
l was instantly seized with all the jeal-
Ousy of the latter. Could my Desdemona
be happy thus in my abseacel Had Amy
turned hirt? As TO Lawley, l lGathed
him. 50 he was going to allow me one
dance with Miss Granger, but no more,
because he intended keeping her to him
self If had had poison in my pocket,
l verify believe | should have mixed II
with his sherry. l did what 1 could TO
annoy him; for l whispered to the butler
that my master never drank wine,
and had the satisfaction of see
ing his glass passed whenever the
went round. l returned a
stony stare to him az he app alingly
pointed to his glass and looked at me and
chuckled with delight when, in despera-
ton, he at last poured himself out glass
Of water. But even this did not lower
his spirits; he talked TO Sir Thomas about
hunting and shooting, cOmplimented the
Miss Humplebys on the arrangement of
the flowers in the center piece, seemed up
in the state OF the crops, and set all the
gentlemen right on the state of the latest
odds In a word, l could see that all the
Amy amongst the number
Looked upon him with the respect due
to most entertaining young man, and
one who had driven up in his own tan
dem.
Tle crisis came at last. l was en-
ployed in biting my lips with rage, when
Amy turned T0Gnd TO me, and said in a
tone as cold IS the weather outside,
'Bread please" and then turned to an
swer Lswley with the sweetest of smiles.
did not take her any bread, but made
my way out OF the room-out of the
house, AMI walked about in the frosty
m0onlit air to cool my heated blood.
l took quite long walk down the ave-
nue., and on my return had come 70 my
senses a little, and then l began to
be ashamed of my foolish Jealousy.
What had Amy done wrong? Why
should l blame her for being amused at
Lawley's stupid talk2 Did l wish her to
go mOping about the country with a sad,
pale face until she should see me agaiu2
Was it not d thousand times better to see
her rosy and cheerful?
With these better thoughts l returned
TO the house, where l found every body in
high spirits. The maids appeared in cIea
print dresses and freshly trimmed caps,
the men in Sunday coats and hyper-po-
nsded hair. They were all busy in put
ing the finishing touch to the decorations,
while the butler was piling log on log on
The fire, as though he would never stop.
"Hold, Mr.. Tristram !" said one of
he grooms; ''we shall find it hot enough
dancing, III be bound"
''In that case we can open the win
lows" replied The butler II never
.hiuk Christmas eve IS Christmas eve
without topping good fire. Besides"
be added, eve amt all of us gong to |
lance the night through"
The Fieoch maid here called for some |
)ne TO help her arrange the mistletoe. l
vent to her assistance and began the fol
owing conversation:
"You have young lady named Miss
Granger staying here, haven't yOu2 Do
you know any thing about heIl"