The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-10-02
POETRY.
A Common Mistake.
From the London Bel.ravia.l
Our CrOquet Campaign.

There was the dance and all to pay, you
know; and L IL tell you how it happened.
Smith was in my rooms. Not that there
was anything unusual IN that, for we were
s'chums' of long standng-chums in early
days, when we robbed the orchard of that
old curmudgeon Brown, in company, climb
ing the trees by turns, and giving one anoth.
er "legs up" getting the same amount of
fogging by the Doctors directions in conse
quence, and by strange coincidence evin-
cling the dissemination for sitting posture
for days afterwards-down to this very May
morning, when as Smith remarked,
We have been called together,
Oh, what can part us now!
A pathetic quotation somewhat marred in eff
feet by his drinking the bitter at draught,
while / meditated on the proceedings OF this
member OF the firm and looked sadly on the
We had chambers in the vicinity of the
temple, but were not, l may say are not
known to fame. Ii you should chance to
visit that locality, and come across couple
of fine looking, broad-chested young Eng
lishmen, with an expression suggestive OF I'M
limited capacity for ''railway business you
will know us. From the fact of having had
great-uncle chancellor, my father insisted
on there being vast amount of legal talent
in the family, and though 1 had learned to
sing "Tke anchors weighed in anticipation
of sailors life, and invariably greeted the
house-mad as the ''son of gun" in calling
for my boots, as my elder brothers tastes led
him seward, was devoted to the bar. My
only consolation under the circumstances is
the idea of going into the house, in spite of
Colonel Tomlin, and at the same time to
60 in for an instant repeal of the law of prim-
ogeni-ture.
In the peaceful seclusion of our chambers,
undsturbed by briefs, we have mutually
wondered why Smiths friends should have
thought the same thing'-have decided on
his filling the wool-sack-and it was by a
series of long and sad reflections we felt that
the friends of every Smith, Jones, or Robin
son on the roll believed him to be the man.
Smith, my chum, was spoken of vaguely as
Having money much in the same way as he
is supposed to have expectations from the
fact of his possessing an aunt, Lady Black
stone, of fabulous age, who was good enough
to visit our chambers on one occasion and
express her disgust at the shameless husses'
who protested to dust the place, and to wish,
in voice to make your hair stand on end,
that she had the busting of them.' Beyond
that circumstance, knew nothing of her in
tentions.
Neither, says Smith, gloomily, does he.
I had no more work than usual to do this
particular morning, and from the window
was lOJklLS luGO bu6 COuTU U6lOWs just e.
nOugh green to make one long for the coun-
try and the fresh morning air coming over
the uplands enough dust to give one sem
sation of hatred for the hot fag-stones.
Bodger Q. c went by with his clerk, smart
and dapper, and bag so bulky that it con-
strained Smith to shake his fist at him, a
gesture which, as Bodger happened 10 look
up at thai moment, he made as best he could
into friendly wave.
Of s,,4 hn boxy
and being of a sanguine temperament, not
knowing what post may bring forth, went
to investigate, while Smith made sarcastic
reference to the probable contents.
No attorney implored our services, no one
knew of anything to our advantage but
there was aashasty scrawl for me from my
cousin Belle Heartnley. Now I had always
had an affection for Belle; in my youthful
days carrying tafy in my pocket till it had
lost all the hue and semblance Of taffy, to
give her mark thereof. She never appreci-
ated it; it may have suggested Bob Sawyer's
apple to her. At all events, it came to the
same end, for 1 ate it myself Here is the
letter.
We want two more for croquet. Now,
Ned, dear, no pretense of business, but come
over to-day, with friend. Not to "spoon,"
remember, even with Belle.
handed it to Smith.
AL rlgut, sdiu ue, dlIer nc udu reau IL
'swhat time do we go?'' Here he seized a
@Bradshaw'' lying near. Gan hour and a
half, Now. JONES'" he continued impressive
ly (have said that belonged to the mobile
race OF Shendin''-a Jones ap Adam p edo
not, my dear boy, ruin your prospects by
such indolencep' (Smith had just breakfas :
ed.) ''Here, Tom, you can tell any one in
curing for US The shuuned my eye) that we
are engaged on railway business"
Al,
commendable gravity.
So prompt were Smiths movements that
we were at Victoria station before the time
had expired; took our ticket, and found our
selves at Stockton Brook in such bewilder-
ingly short space of time that half thought
our surroundings were part and parcel of the
visions we sometimes INDUCED in, in our
Temple chambers.
l was rich in cousins, and as I looked
around did prefer Belle? There was the
pretty brunette Marion, the blonde Eva, the
tall, graceful Ethel, the petite Nora. and
felt, on the word and honor of a single man,
a la Lillyvick, that loved them all! Smiths
feelings seemed to coincide with mine, and I
concluded he loved them all.
Belle approached; a frank. jolly grl-a girl
with whom one would wish to be on cousinly
terms, and for whom one would feel cousinIy
affection. With her-no, stop, my pen keep
in bounds.
"You are awfully welcome, Ned, Dot, (she
turned to her companion,) my cousin Ned is
not dangerous, for Ia mischievous aside) he
has been in love with me ever since can
remember"
And gracious powers what vision broke
on our eyes, Smiths and mine!
l do not think can describe her, and
Smith, to whom have applied, confesses it
out OF his power to do so. l cannot say if
she were tall or short, dark or fair; only
vouch for acreamy complexion, quantities of
rich brown hair, and all the rest eyes. Smith,
too, says eyes !; eyes of the darkest brown
velvety, sweet, trusting, with an expression
and depth. my cousins as they red echoed,
Sand depth.") There was an impression
of transparent lace and muslin, a suspicion of
violets in her presence, and 1 know no more.
Smith knows no more. But as she raised the
long sweeping eyelashes, and bowed Ito me,
pointedly; Smith says to him. felt Bellies
whisper was heartless and distasteful to her
as to me. always had dislike to women
who chaff-so unteminine, so unsustainable,
in short. Had ever loved Belle? doubted
it as l walked by Dots side toward the house,
for our meeting had taken place on the lawn.
She proceeded to give me some account of an
hour at croquet, when the men had cheated
awfully. "and," she continued pitifully, 1--WE
do want some one to take our part''
How sympathlzed with her! how my lips
curled in contempt of their opponents wiles
How felt myself croqueting the ball of the
opposite power from one end of the ground
to the other under far-distant prickly shrubs,
whence the searchers should emerge hot,
dusty, and angry! How /, in short, fell in
love in the space of twenty minutes,
Greenwich time! Smith and were cordially
welcomed, and soon after our arrival my aunt,
taking me one side, proceeded to give me a
few particulars respecting Dot, otherwise
Dora Elton.
you will see, Ned, how stand. General
Elton intrusted her to me with the under
standing that she should have no opportunity
of falling in love-see no one, in fact There
is no accounting for the absurd ideas men get
into their heads, but she will be quite an heir
ess. Still cannot absolutely shut her up, so
invite two safe men, and I know neither
you nor your friend will betray my conf
dence. l should not have allowed Fred to
bring Captain Bruce here had 1 not seen Dot
absolutely rude to him and l feel that it is a
great responsibility altogether" And nv
aunt looked like one of Fox's martyrs in mod
ern guise. AS she concluded her explana-
ton, felt that she possessed the faculty OF
saying the rudest possible things in the mild.
nat rl(0 f.