Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-12-18


all declared our readiness to place our
enormous fortunes at the disposal of
the mess committee, the next question
was mooted as to when and "where r
"When: Next week." was the an.
swer from one ofthe younger and more
enthusiastic of the Prince Consort's
Own. Where? In Aylmer's hall"
The ball was finally fixed for that
day fortnight at Aylmer's hall, a
tolerably good set of public reception
rooms in the heart of the little town.
The day before that fixed for our
ball. and when my arduous duties were
over, drove out to Villa Duval to pay
my respects to la belle Marguerite.
1t was lovel v weather in early spring,
and when l reached nv destination |
found the jealousies closed, the awnings
spread over the balconies, and some
of the inhabitants of the villa assembled
under the sheitering colonnade, while
the more ventersome were returning to
croquet with all the zest that long
interval devoted to sleighing WAS likely
to inspire them with.
was received with considerable
enthusiasm, and iluttering of color
on Maggie fair checks as she left her
game and came forward. mallet in
hand. to greet me. was not little
annoyed. however. when | discovered
IN young man who was her partner in
croquet, one of my brother officers.
therefore rather suriv refused
Margurltes request that | would Join
their party on the lawn, and throwing
myself lazllv on rug that was spread
under the colonnade devoted myself TO
a younger sister of my cnchantress.
who, for her age, scarcely sixteen. had
a very fair idea OF flirting Miss Eunice
was kept as rule in the background.
and how heartily she enjoyed on this
occasion being first instead of second.
could see by the dimples round the
mouth and the quiver of the dark eve.
lash.
My back was turned To the croquet
party, but could see the whole scene
reflected panorama-like in the plate
glass of the window In front Of me,
and in spite of my access of temper |
was not little amused at the evident
pique which Maggie endeavored to
hide by apparent absorption in her
game, and l was As usual irresistably
fascinated by her grace, and the per
feet foot she displayed in the rapid
movements entailed by the vagaries of
croquet. Meanwhile Eunice did Ia
belle ingenue TO perfection.
And You will, you promise me.
won't you, Mr.. Manners - she sald.
ending with these words torrent of
vivaclous nonsense about her first ball
and her fears that | should be too
grand TO dance with such a stupid
httle thing rs me, you know"
=, e.. v"m moor little Cinderella.
Will 90 anything IN the worm NUu IiAu
TO please you" | replied, returning her
soft glances with interest, and in tender
tones for Maggie WAS approaching
and was probably within ear-snot.
Eunice looked little astonished.
and, fancy, received an admonishing
look from her sister, for she got up
and went into the house, saying some
thing about ordering tea, and then
Maggie and l were left to a certain
extent alone. AS the house was
square surrounded by 4 piazza, the
step or two l had taken in rising had
carried me round one corner of it. n
newly-leafed and thicklv-growing Vir-
glnla creeper screening us from the
rest of the party. There was a silence
for moment, and then she said,
"Come and see the monkey"
Perhaps the reason for her undue
partiality for the monkey was that he
lived in house, suitable as to size, at
the end of long avenue, which house
by fortunate coincidence, and lucky
contrivance of art and nature, WAS not
visible from any window OF the villa.
After moment spent in laying in a
stock of nuts for Dolly we started
cautiously and rapidly on our little
excursion.
1--WE must not be long said Mag
gle, ''for tea will be ready directly"
1T may be the last time shall ever
see the monkey l said pathetically.
Capt. Johnstone was telling US you
expect to be recalled soon, but hope
it is only false report. We should
miss you all-really!"
Il don't suppose you'd care" said |,
shaking the basket of nuts SO ener-
getically that two Or three hoped out
on TO the gravel path and necessitated
our both STOPPING to pick them up. If
two faces did get close together for a
second what matter. There was only
Dolly, the monkey, looking on, and he
could not tell tales-luckily
Il don't suppose you'd care" said
repeating the question.
She did not reply; she did far bet
ter. raised those darkly- y-fringed lids
and gazed full at me. Was there a
tear trembling on the lash: 1 caught
her round the waist, and drawing her
INTERESTINGLY toward me, began, "My
darling!" In another moment l should
haye poured my love tale into her ear,
when rustling in the neighboring
bushes and laugh startled me, and
had hardly time to release Marguerite
when from behind the monkey-house
appeared Johnstone and la belle
ingenue.
Maggie, who had fled from my grasp,
ike startled fawn, had instantly re-
gained her composure, and began to
feed poor, neglected Dolly.
Al that moment, baked as was, |
hated Eunice, Johnstone, the monkey,
everything but Marguerite, whom !
loved with . passion which astonished
myself.
81 came for the keys" said Eunice
with pert smile.
Margaret made one effort to renew
our tete-a-tete by dispatching her sister
to the house with the keys in great
hopes that Capt. Johnstone would
escort her on her return journey, but
Johnstone stuck to us perseverinaly