Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1874-11-26
APiL0RIMA0E TO AvIoN0N.
sRELAT DIN AN INTERCEPTED LETTER

you look at the end Of this letter before you come
to it, VOW will never forgive yon, after M
end OF adventures, and I mean to give you
complete history Of my share in them, xs have
little leisure. and Har-oh fddlestick
havn't written to you since Christmas.
You know 1 was to graduate at Wesle, an in
May. SO did, with all the honors-spoke the
Saledictory too-such speaking was just
scared to death, but didn't let on, and seven
young gentlemen fell in love with ME, then and
there, and wrote the most ridiculous effusions
to tell me 3d. On my way home stopped day
IN Philadelphia to do some shopping and who
shonld meet way down Chestnut street but
Louie Cavendish hadn't seen her for three
years, and here She was woman, and dressed
good gracious me Nothing would do but we
Carrie Webster, dear college friend and fellow
graduate WAS with me-must go to Parkinsons g
and have some lunch and an ice. You know
boarding school girls have a weakness in the
matter OF eatng-we went, and such talk as
we there had
IL was then and there we made ZIP the party,
Lon wanted to know where we were going In the
summer, said she WAS tired OF hotels and water
ing-places, and was open to any rational propo-
siton. Isuggested the Adirondacks which she
said was not rational proposition. Carrie wanted
TO go to tho White Mountains. "Bad !" said Lou.
nv une " Bo tuere ufllehb You We u colo III the
head It's good for nothing but the hay-fever
Why can't women hit upon things that arc SEN
sible and original at once ?" "rhank you" said
"try yonr own invention, Miss Cavendish." T"
ION, l." said Lou, ~ Lad half made up my mind
to turn devotee for the occasion, and go upon
the pilgrimage to Our Lady Of Lcurdes. What
do you say ~
'rhis is good idea, snapped l 'Iet ~ 70
o.sr us"a an % e ardss but t. sSG
Il har h.,ln u,,I H..
there be but one place Are we not women ?
Let us so to Avignon " "To Avignon ?" asked.
"Of course, to hang wreath Of immortelles
upon the tomb of John Stuart Mill " "Alill,"
said Carrie, repngnantly, "the man that wrote
that nasty Logic" and that stupid book OH Po-
litical EconomyY' He never did anything for
me but give me the headache" 'He was the
foremost yndcator Of the sex he formulated
the principles OF woman's rights he found the
cause shrek and caterwaul and he left it
science. There lie lies, where he lived, where
he died, by the side of the woman he adored and
who adored him.. 1t will be n graceful and
gracious act to illuminate our principles by de-
corating his tomb" We clapped our hands, and
at once agreed to go.
We arranged the preliminaries forthwith.
Loue was to engage passage for seven single
ladies' ON the steamer of June Is. Each Of lis
was % bring friend with her to make up the
party, and Loulie engaged to furnish us with
proper chaperon of tiger. like ferocity of virtue.
travel IN company with the hirsute sex upon any
occasion.
We met in New York on the 12th. had per-
shaded Katie Wainright to so with me Carrie
brought Mamie Boyce Louie WAS accompanied
by Lille Halle, and slie had the duenna along
with hor also, one Miss Lucinda JobsoIi, a portly
maiden of fifty, with straight back, huge
double chin, prlm mouth, II red nose, specta-
cles and a false front-the most formidable dra-
Son you can conceive OF in company, but in Be-
cret jolly soul with passion for high-seasoned
dishes, Scotch ale and punch, and a contagious
laugh that shook her like an earthquake. She
loved lobster salad with passion, and hung over
btsque dec,fDisses till l was ashamed OF her |;
but her tact, Judgment pluck, and indomitsble
good humor made her model companion. But
oh lordy didn't she snore after one Of her late
suppers
The rules which We adopted for the guidance
of onr "Sor0rians SoddHiium of Aotqnon
were short, but sharp. We were to keep to-
gether until the pilgrimage was accomplished I;
we were not to venture beyond luke-wsrm flirta-
tations we were not to be fast we were not to
selves not to elope under the heaviest penalties ;
we were to see everything and to fight for one
another and our cause to the death
The steamer sailed on the 18th. went below,
and-let me draw veil over the horrors Of the
next five days. Kate Wainrght shared my
the morning Of the sixth day out occurred the
first contretemps of the pilgrimage. Lou Ca
rendish bounced into my state-room disgust and
indignation painted on her countenance. "Do
II said family" "Yes, Phiness r. Quinn, all
lrishnan, with waxed mustsche. He's sort
Of sub-edltor in New York, correspen-
dent, or something OF the sort, and
the way he has been Interviewing Miss
Wainright is shame and she don't resent it
not a bit What's thu use OF having society and
rules, il people don't keep EN-. I've cut that
Quinn dead. and I'd cut Kate-if it wasn't
against onr rules" 'suppose you cnt her ont,
dear; thatil settle, settle the difficulty" Lon gave me
mp and dressed, and went upon the scene
Katie came TO me, snd talked Quinn 30 rapidly
that had no chance to seold. 'Ive told hin,
our expedition. He is enchanted about 1t. He
used To go there every summer wrote his .Sub-
lection of Women within sight OF Blarney Gas.
tie. Amt il nice ?" "Child," said | reproypcly
but Just then gentleman came up and held
out his hand to me. Who do you think it WAS
Who but Harry Mason, the last person in the
world ! expected to see. Quinn came along
presently-he is a very presentable man. too
with good manners-a little too much Tourist
maybe and took Katie for promenede. Moth
ing would do but must walk with Harry, too
ito replace the pallor in my cheeks with sea
roses" 30 he said.
Mamie Boyce and Lille Halle are met watkins
with Captain Clute, OF the navy, going ont t.
ioiu his ship in the MediterrsneanOa conceitef
form and gold lace were Just perfect Present.,
we encountered Miss Jobson escorting Lou Cav
dish and Carrie Webster. They stared at mi
and blushed, l confess it. Lou has such wa,
of looking through you, though Of course wa
fancy free, and white as milk in point Of con
science. But You cannot help blushng II yo,
know you are suspected. can't at least.
That night, after We were through with til
lreary entertainment in the cabn-there was
Western girl with red elbows, and the way sh
tortured the piano and the passengers is horri
Bile to relate-Lou Csvendish summoned til
sodal,tunl to council Of war in her state room
She looked 30 severe and frowning that Mis-
Jobson pushed her spectscles up and declare
she WAS taken with Misunderstanding woul
revive her and enable her to talk but q littl
snack of some sort, Welsh rabbit and q bottl
OF brown stout. But Lou wouldn't permit her I
ring for the steward. II Miss Jobson wanted I
glnttonize she would have to go to her own stats
room Girls" said Lou. in monstrous voic,
..the rules are being broken already" 'Is b,
ing done, Mr.. Grant White says, iB not proper
murmured Miss Jobson in dreamy soto voic
Lou, with whitening glance at our duenna, vel
on "There Ia flirting amongst us already, IL
it is not luke warm but scAlding hot, though n
twenty. four hours old y Jobson laughed h
eomica laugh At this. Miss Lou., said sh