Ellsworth American., 1874-07-30
Merely for Amusement.


A bright winters day was shining ov-
er New York. The air was cold, spark
ling, and exhilaratng. The SKY was
OF that intense blue seen only in Amer
lea and Italy. There was scarcely a
breath Of wind, and the leafless
branches Of the trees on the sidewalks
and the Battery stood uD motionless,
Ice lncrusted, and glittering with dia-
monds under the noondav sun.
The great steamship St Laurcnt,
eastward bound, and 10 sal. n a few
hours for Earope, lay at her wsart, with
the steam already whizzlng from her
waste pipes, ana her screw now and
then revolving with single su,len
throb. that sent .he waters whirling apd
| 49, - -. fnans &C., -
le,weli-pres :yeds -7-...,e.aa.., =. an :. :.
'tIe age, pcrsl.s,.s .u.s.y-eisnt, and de-
cidedly handsome, stood on her deck,
with hands plunged into the pockets
of his overccat, and 4 cigar} between
his lips. surveying the busy scene.
Business of Importance, connected
with the firm OF which his deceased
father had long been a member, and in
whose transactions he was still much
interested, called Julian Fenton
aboard but he yielded TO the necessity
of a winter voyage with anything but
good grace.
Nobody on board to talk to- he
said to himself discontentedly. Not
New Yorker that is anybody, to be
seen. A Mexican family, and a Span
ish ditto. both smelling very much of
oil and garlic; Madame Coupebourse.
the fashionable dressmaker and half
a dozen men that never heard of be-
fore-it is enough to make one swear
And l have been obliged to give up So
much TO take this trip. There is the
Hearlston's grand dinner, and the Clay
doole's ball, and Miss Delancy's Ger
man-Kate Delaney. All"
Seemingly this last was a pleasant
remembrance, for he lapsed into a fit
Of smiling meditation, pulling his mus
tache abstractedly rs he di1 so. Mean
while the hustle on the wharf and at
the gang plank increased. Porters
we're hurryiag on board with trunks
and parcels, and the friends of the de-
parting travellers were saying good-by
and fastening on shore f; the newspaper
and magazine vendors were making q
last effort to dispose Of their wares !;
and orange women were offering, in
frenzied way, unlimited fruit for NOM
inal sums.
Ia the midst of all this, an elegant
private carriage, with the inevitable
steamer chair and roll of rugs that
mark practiced voyager, drove hur-
riedly up to the foot of the plank.
"Ah this looks promising" ejaculat-
ed Julian Fenton, going to the side of
the vessel, and fiingipg away his cigar
in his suddenly aroused interest.
Only two persons descended from the
carriage, one, tall and stylish looking
man, and the other lady. The feat
ures of the latter could not be seen,
as heavy veil of thickly worked black
lace was drawn closely over her face.
But her slender, elastic figure, in its
close fitting, fur bordered Polonaise,
was a model of grace and symmetry,
and the foot and ankle which she dis
played, in mounting the gang plank,
were so perfect that Fenton uttered
another ejaculation, this time one of
surprise and admiration.
Mr.. Fenton lost no time following
this dainty vision to the cabin, where
he found her surrounded by friends,
who were uttering their last messages
and adieux in q chorus Of confused
and eager voices. She had meanwhile
thrown back her veil, and revealed a
very lovely face. with large, soft, gray
eyes, though the latter were now some
what disfgured and swollen with weep
ing. 1t was q refined, high bred, in.
teilectual looking face, with delicately
cut and mobile features, a face that at
first impressed Julian Fenton with the
idea that he had seen it somewhere or
other before, but which, on more pro-
longed examination, he decided to be
wholly unknown to her.
At this moment, the gentleman who
had accompanied the fair traveller or
board, looked round, caught sight of Mr.
Fenton, and, after q whispered colo
guy of some moments with bis compan.
ion. disengaged himself from the group
and came toward Julian, who was lean
ing against the doorway.
k"Mr. Fenton, I believed" he said
raising his bat - he spoke.