Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-08-01
A Romance of the Pier.


at Narragan sett Pier; had just LEI
the boat which had conveyed he
away from the gayety and dissipa
ton of Newport, and was safely Ell
scOnced in one of the hotels tina
lined the beach. Not n picturesque
row, perhaps, yet within whose wall
are found much pleasure and grea
deal of delightful company.
Yes, Charlotte PonsOnby hat
bade adieu to her Newport queen
ship for o time, and armed with {
vas. array OF trunks had come tt
take the pier by storm. 1t was
whispered in the hotel that the heir
ess had arrived, and gossipy heads
were put together, saying, "Now
we shall see some gorgeous dressing
and, of course, you've heard of the
diamonds"
So my heroine's first appearance
below stairs was an hour ofimmense
excitement to every one. She had
arrived in the afternoon boat and
gone straight to her apartments,
and that evening had taken tea in
her room. Admitted to this sanctu.
ary ,one solitary and blissful female,
by name Virginie Hartright, had
seen the goddess in a peignoir, be-
witchingly becoming, with its wat
teau and blue bows; aud she com.
municated the fact to her compan-
ions bellows stairs, adding that "the
lace trimmings were like cobwebs /;
and that Charly's hair was longer
than ever, as it hung down over the
enhancing peignoir in a glorious
golden mass"
Virginie was a heroine that night,
and an eager crowd gathered around
her to listen to all she had to say.
The next morning Charlotte Pom
sonby appeared at breakfast. Her
toilet was simplicity itself,and some
persons were disappointed.
"Only cheap muslin, you know,
and not an ornament of any kind
except a silver dagger run through
her braids, and yet she looked very
distinguished. But if that's the
way they dress over in Newport,
why, then, we in Narrangansett are
ahead of them"
Not unaware of the regards turn
ed towards her, Miss Ponsonby,
seated by the side of her aunt and
chaperone, Mrs. Dater, calmly ate
her breakfast, calmly regarded the
people with her quiet, violet eyes,
and yet her regard was constantly
on the alert in reality for one face,
for one form-the face and form of
Ernest Blakeslie, whose sad, intel
lectual countenance, and slouching
though not ungraceful gait were
we'll known to her. A girl of strong
common sense and infinite daring
was Charlotte Ponsonby the last
one you would have thought to care
for man like Blakeslie, and yet,
incongruous as love is, she was at
least interested in him.
All F.! there he is, carelessly slouch-
ing in, his white flannel coat infin-
itely becoming to him, a fan in his
hand, which he waves indolently to
and fro. Color burns on Miss Pom
sonby's face. He stops to speak to
friends here and there at the differ
pnt tables. The girls smile sweetly
upon him. The mammas are cor
dial, for though he is a penniless
young fellow, and as such not con-
sidered exactly person to be en-.
he yet is fav orite with
every one,so bright a smile lights up
his face when he speaks, and he is
so full of quiet drollery.
On, on he comes; he is near,-
'By Jovev' he says, below his
breath. "You herew And in mo-
nent he has taken the vacant chair
7 Miss p onsonby's side.
eyes, we are here," replies Mrs.
Oater. "Tired to death of New
bort, you know, and ready for the
more subdued gayety of Narragan.
sett."
"You haven't the Narragansett
blues, l hope ~
"No, indeed" replied Charly.-
'We are quite delighted with the
)lace."
"Well, Pm glad of that" he said.
'All strangers have the blues at
irst. You are an exception" He
'egards her strangly, searchingly,
With eager, hungry eyes. "How
'Ould you leave Newport 7" he asks.
You who are its queenF' A quick
lush passes over her face. She