The Republican journal., 1872-11-21
The Dark Young Man.

| else to ilVp, ana because he was my guar
| dian Now | live with my cousin Tom
Field but you don't care about that. About
the time OF which | am going to speak it
pleased Providence to infiict an illness
| upon Mrs. Chester Field, and so the two
went off to winter in Florida, and after
having held a council as to the propriety
of leaving Ri and me in charge, decided
in the affirmative.
The path being clear there was no one
to object if we did exactly us we pleased,
and accordingly we did. We had the
incest little dinners. the cosiest little tea
! parties, the most intoxicating little dances
| that heart could wish. OF course this en-
oyment of ours could have been con-
siderably improved by the addition OF the
village youth but it happened not to be
their vacation, and there We're few promis-
ing lads home from college; then the
clergyman was IN elderly gentleman and
the medical student was engaged, and not
to our taste; so that our teas and dances
leaned on the slender support OF Frank
Rugby, Tom Field, (who now and then
came home to the house of his cousin, where
he had grown up,) Rob Randolph and
one or two others which occasioned a
great pulling of caps and y tumble of
girls dancing together to their utter CON
fusion. Now you may readily imagine
that in such Il strait an eligible individual
did not enter the village and remain long
unknown.
"Did You see that dark young man 90
by yes1erday?" asked Ri as we sat in
Della Rugby's sitting room, and her
mother nodded in her easy chair.
"What darl, young man ?" asked Della
absently.
"Spanish-loolling ?"
mo, not exactly"
"BraziIian ?' said Della, getting a
point more southerly.
"No. indeed" replied Ri, ''Brazr1ians
always put me in mindof yellow diamonds.
| don't know why; never saw one. No,
Just dark-and- perfectly splendid %
oh, know who ii is said Della.
''Pa saw him get off the stage Yesterday,
and his name is--let me see-a real nice
name. Oh dear! Any way he is stop
PING at the tavern"
''Thcre there - cried Ri, starting up
and gazing ont of the window "Isn't
that-no; ycs-ycs. declare that's him !
Now look at him -
We all obcyed her.
''Well, what Of him ?" said Frank Rug
by, II know 4 score Of fellows as good
looking
"Why, isn't he remarkably distinguish
ed ~
"Incommonly."
''Looks like a prince in Disguise"
Clocks rathc: like 4 confidence man" ;"
said Frank, returning to his paper.
s'kaoul Rossitur! That's the name, !"
cried Della. suddenly.
''JuSt out of romance" said Ri and I in
the same breath. "Do bring him over
and introduce him, Mr.. Rugby"
DO" said Della; 'sand we will ask
him to our troIic tonight -
And poor Frank, who would have beg
cared himself for RPS smiles, dropped in
al the tavern and made the acquaintance
Of Raoul RossItur; and before the week
was ont he was on as intimate terms with
rs rs other young men we had known for
wears He happened in at all unexpected
hours and we never wished him away
There was that in his address that made
constraint or ennui an impossibility. Be
SIDES, fancy that we were a great deal
ilattered by his decided preference of our
society, and t1attelv is always sweet in
the mouth. At all the socables he danced
with Ri and me more than with the
others. He contrived to sit between US
at teas; he sent us wonderful West India
sweetmcats. and confectioneries that was
like eating the crystalized perfume OF rose
and heliotrope We had, of course, no
shadow Of doubt concerning him, for had
he not shown Mr.. Randolph letters from
some Of the most distinguished men of
Y? And hadn't Mr. Rugby known q
Raoll Rossitur in college, who must have
been the father of this Mr.. Rossitur? He
said that he had received n wound in hunt
inc, from the effects of which he had
never fully recovered; and as in the city
he mavoidablv led y gay lite of late hours
and dinners, his physicians had ordered
him to the country for quiet and whole
some air and living.
"As if air wasn't good enough for him
anywheren' said Frank who was lauguish-
inc with jealousy on Ri's account-very
needleSSly Us | then believed.
In the thick of it down came Tom Field
to pass Sunday He arrived Saturday
night, and, rs representative of the mis-
ticss OF the house, | went out into the hall
with some show Of cordiality to meet him
and prepare his mind. He shook my hand
',
OF something else. and glanced past me
into the drawing room, where Rossitur
was bending over Ri at the piano, and
adding n rich tenor to her tremulous So
prano.
"Whom have we here ?" he asked. sur
vcying the scene and stroking his NOUS
tache. "Thc dcuce-a stranger! hoped
10 have q cozy evening with yoH."
"And hope you will Mr. Rossitur
will not interfere. | am glad You haye
come; he is so agreeable | want You to
know HIM"
"Indeedn' tavoring me with a pro-
longed stare. ''Ie's as black rs thunder
cloud 7" Tom, you know, is a blonde
eyes; isn't he splendid? We call him
the dark young man."
And then he went in and behaved very
well, considering. He was not over
cordial to be sure, but when Rossitur had
gone he owned that our dark young man.
was us handsome as the devil, whatever
that may be, and had way that was TAX
ing to the girls, to say the least.
II suppose you are both head and ears
in love with the fellow he continued.
''Oh, no; can't one admire without
loving?" we exclaimed.
''It isn't safe; but it is natural at your
ages. Girls ought to be kept at school
until they are twenty-five, and their wits
developed"
every complimentary sirn' said /, very
Indignantly, not yet being nineteen.
''Fiddlesticks! | mean that the man
you would marry to-day you would not
listen to at twenty-five."
"You give me credit for great sagacity.
Take care you don't marry an infant"
But Tom only stroked his moustache and
whistled an air from ezra Diavolo," and
said good night.
was up early next morning to see that
Tom had warm breakfast before start
ing.
''Don't let your dark young man. run
away with your wits-such as they are
OF with Cousin Chester's spoons" he said.
putting on his overcoat. 81 may not be
down for some time again" and then he
slammed the front door and ran for the
stage. l was quite indignant, l assure
you.