The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-06-03

die! Seliin' vegetables On ""s
Lydas cheek grew scarlet: doom
"Dear me, chiid!" said Kate !ou "
needn't twitch that hair-pin out OF M, IT,,
frizzes. 60 down for minute,t W" INN"
! dare say he is your sweethear'' s,.hed ont
lydia Nothing of the sort. Ia no one
hut Jonathan Sturcis. who lives on ti'e 'alin
go IN nv fathers, and -. but you
NIL .';,i a w me lust for five minutes, MISS
And And away few Lydia, scarlet and feather
iov :, hesming and radiant, honest Jonathan
e..sn'r;s s,ood there, awkwardly twisting ms
sai lind and round in one hand, while with
t,r othcr he held little covered basket OF
red winter apples.
al thought. Lyddic, he began, forcing OUT
the words. as with some strong inward CT.
fort. al Just thought, bein' as was comm
,p with load Of garden sass, ia crop III 70
see YOU, aud bring you some o thc1ii ,so
Baliwins YOU always used to Ike so We'll.
"rm much obliged to you, I'm sure sald
Lydia, demurcly. ,,o,,,o
"You haven't no idea o. coming nome
agan?' he hazarded, still twisting tue pr'ih
OF the cap round and round.
mo"
nce-Aunt Tbyrza's dead, and there's no
one TO keep house for me. And Lyddic-"
"Don't be a goose, Jonathan" said the
girl. laughing. and yet yexed. " What would
1nI saw now. if were to tell you that Twas
going to a party tonight with real gentle
mani" :.r..5
ayes. l dare say; it's like your cnvious
nature: but it's true all the same. And so
wish YOU very good morning."
"There's no harm in my wearing MISS
Kate's pink silk" Lydia said to herself, rs
4ehe was dressing for the ball, after MISS
Wyman had gone to her party. she never
will know 1t, and it's so much more DC
coming than that horrid old green polih 0,
NV own. And the black lace shawn, dfapem
like an oycrskirt. NarcisSe Fontalne siali
not be ashamed Of his partner"
Rnt fine deep color stole into her cheek,
and she cast guilty, ftlrtive look over her
shoulder at the door when, the rest OF her
toilet ALI completed, she took little Key from
under her Young lady's lace-frilcd bureau
cover and unlocked al inlaid lewel-TlSe.
"Sarcissc wants to see how would look
i'm real diamonds" she murInured 10 hcrScl!,
"and he shall be gratified-lust tins once
There can be no possible harm In wearing
them one eycning-as we'll that us 10 nave
them lying in their case"
None of the other servants saw her dress
il was all shroudcd in the grave fo! Jus OF
long au,la-scutum cl0ak---as she hurrlcu
down TO the carriage which Mr.. ontalnc
aallantrv had provided, and thrill OF de-
light passed through her heart rs she felt
how entirely she should do credit TO that
peutlnmalI's taste and fancy.
II was a brilliant ball enough for public
ball. and LYDIA, Respondent in her silks,
lace. and diamonds, danced until her little
feet were weary. 1t was past nldnlSht,
when at last she remembered that. like Gin
dereIla at the Princes ball, she must bc
home hetimcs.
"Mr. Narcisse," she whispered to her
partner, who was rather flushed win the
wine he had abundantlv been partaklng OF,
a, he trippcd to her side, alter whlrilns
gallon with some other young lady, and petit
TONED, in llorid French way, for lust one
more dance" at is past II. must he home
before Miss Kate returns
Narcisse bowed low. "Miss AinswOrth's
will was his law" he protested, "and the
carriage should at once wait her pleasure"
Five minutes afterwards Lydia was lean
ing back in the carriage, with Mr.. Fontaine
at her side, and the weary, dissatisfied feel
ing, which is the sequel Of most dissipation,
stealing over her heart.
Miss Hates pink silk and diamonds had
been very delightful for the time being; but
LYDIA felt sad and guilty now. She almost
wished that she had not gone. How she had
pitied Jonathan little while agO--poor JON
athan, who had never been to q ball in his
life Now she was not so very certain that
he had missed such great deal. .-..'
Suddenly she sat up and looked eagerly
around her. These vacant lots and wide
stretches of dark street seemed SO unlike
what she had fancied out to line their route.
"Are we almost there? 2" she asked.
"Surely the man must have lost his way
And how slowly the carriage crceps along!"
AS she spoke, Mr.. Fontaine uttered low
whistle, and the carriage swept up to the curb
and stopped.
Very sorry to Inconvenience a lady,"
said Mr.. Narcissc, chuckling; "but l must
trouble you for those diamonds. Better not
make any noise about it." he added, his voice
turning to a low fierce growl, like that OF u
wild animal. "Iou are alone and helpless.
All chat will happen to you, if you are quiet
and reasonable, win be the being lett alone
here to find your way back as best you may !;
if not" alu1
81 will never give them up!" gasped poor.
lydia. beginning to comprehend all the hor-
r0rs of her situation. "You may Kill me
first, but YOU shall not take them from me"
And in her extremity she uttered wild,
piercing scream, which seemed to cleave the
darkness like knife.
0Tll make you pay for this, young wo-
man." calculated the Infatuated Frenchman,
"Pll-a
you'll do, Squire! !" roared out voice
which was like the rush of March winds
through a pine forest. "Or p'r'aps you'd
prefer the fiat o. your back in a good, COM
Portable gutter. There, you needn't holler
arter your coachy; he's gone to tell 'cm
you're comm. Now, Lyddie, don't you
be afeard you're all safe now. Pm goin' to
drive you home"
And before the aStOnished Lydia could
open her lips to express her surprise and
delight Jonathan Sturgis had sprung on the
box, and, Selling the reins, turned the
horses heads homeward, entirely regardless
OF the shouts of the two disabled ruffians
whom every step left further behind them.
"Jonathan-dear Jonathan-how, when-''
she began eagerly, as he opened the door for
her to alight, at her own home.
"Well, kind o. wanted to get look ut
that fellow you spoke of, Lyddie," he an
swered, with sheepish laugh; $50 arter
I'd sold my things sort O. hung round and
watched you drive OF, and followed the
coach. wanted to see you come out agin,
and as l waited heard the Frenchy saw
somethin' didn't exactly like the sound of.
so made up my mind you shouldn't be Left
without one friend in case of emergency. /
amt bad walker, you know, Lyddie, SO |
just kept you in sight till-you know what"
ooh, JonathanP' sobbed the poor girl,