The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-12-19
Perhaps because they were

mortl0catiOn 1crhaps Dccause tney Were
used 10 it,
And now the ladies rose; the elder to
seek their dressing rooms, and confer with
their maids while the younger ones were
hustled of to the school room.
At about three o'clock that afternoon
the whole party Stumbled on the bCluti-
full lawn level H. n billiard table, rrc"n rs
an emerald. To consult about the placing
aul Arrangement of the different sets.
Aud certainly prptticr scene was mover
shouo upon 10y summer sun, even in merry
ENGLAND, where there are SO many of the
KIND. Tho house, Il modern antique, hulu
10y the present Squirc's father, To replace
ono on a lower site, was hnppy mixture
of the pictnrcsqueuess OF n former age nnd
the convenience OF the present II stood
oui bold ami striking, with its terraces
aud Hover gardens, from a background oil
fine trees, and commanded magnificent
view Of The surrounding country the
glorious sweep of PARK stretching far ana
wide, tll it melted INTO the general land
s,apc dotted with hamlcts and village
spires, and cuhvonCd 10y occasional
glinps"s of winding river
Nor were tho living forms unworthy OF
such accessories. the handsome girls ana
stately unirons, III light summer drcss,s,
walked hlthCr and ththCr, or formed INTO
gay groups, round the crOquet hoops;
while the pretty children, in their dainty
costumes of lace and muslin, lifted Ike
butter flies among them. As the guests be-
gan to arrive, they did not dotract from
the general effect There wcre-wnch, IT
must he owned, is rare in our dear coun-
try-very few hidCOus toilets with COM
binations of color painful TO the eye; for
II must he admitted by the most deter
mined Angloinaniac that EughshwOincu
seldom have an eye for either form or
color, in connection with their own per-
sons. As long as n drcsSs Is striking and
snowy, and as they fondly hope, fashions
able, no matter how incongruous il may
lie, or how unsultcd to the appearance OF
the wcarer they are satisiied,and go about
perfectly happy, alter having made them
selves look rs ugly Us nature, which made
most OF them 80 fair, wall permit them
to he.
Aud now the company dispersed and
the games began. Some played; some,
uuskilful or indifferent, sauntcrcd about,
engaged IN sweet. or sometimes IN rather
bitter converse; and all those groups of
lovely ladics, but slightly shaded 10y the
darker garments OF the unlOvclN sex,
fitted about. aud chatted, aud played, and
drank tea out OF the most delicate pOrcc-
lam cups. Tie sun shono brightly, aud
laughter pcaled around. An uuinltiatcd
spectator might have supposed that there
were spots IN the universe like glinpses OF
Il brighter sphere and have been tempted
to forget for a moment that sordid misery,
with all its convomitants, abounded In the
world.
But am not going 10 be philosophical,
but tell my story, which is true one The
enjoyment was AT its height, when II SER
want came out to announce 20 Mrs. Leigh
ton that Mr.. smith had arrived. and was
waiting i'll the drawing room. Sureiy
never did that undistinguishod pa
tronNmic cause such sensation.
"Oh let HIM come out here at
once " Mamma, go and fetch him.
Which set Is lie To play int' "Oh! in
ours; we haven't single man. NO, III
ours. Caroline IL playing two balls.
But only suppose he can play, or does
not like CiOquct, suggested juvenile. less
interested in the matter than those older
The idea was secuted, and III the midst of
the confusion of voices, Mrs. Leighton
came through one of the open windows
followed by II tail and certainly singulariy
| handsome young man. lie was we'll
though rather showils' dressed; wore jew
cry, but not too much; and a certain
air of assurance and sclf-posscssion sat not
ungraCeiully on one III the position he Oc-
cupled, 81 rotr-" not quito unconsciouslv
Of sultan vino had but TO throw the hand
kerchiet, and make the. loveliest mad Ia:
| own.
Ho was presented formally to all the In.
dies OF the family, further introduction
beng deemed unnecessary. And certainly
none of the other ladies considered them
selves particularly aggrieycd by being
omitted III the ceremony Mr. smith
was too Insignificant an individual to cause
any excitement among those not prepared
by announcement in the bills for the dc
noucmeut of the drama
But among the home party, how many
hearts beat high with hope and eXpecla.
uOn: AT least u dozen, counting the three
/ motheis aud the two poor cousins, who
~ bearing the name of Leighton, might be
supposed 10 have the privilege OF entering
for the PRIZE.
There is no doubt that the good mlcn Of
the nero made some difference IN the feel
ings of the younger ladies; but rs for thC
| elder ones, the parent birds, do verify be-
lls lf hon as "a
was ~ hp"dsomo n Apollo. lac had proved
a. ue1y Us e. ciOps, ii would hav" been a..
the same. They looked, with fur-seciug
eyes, beyond the present hour, with its
pleasures and fllrtatiOus; through "a long
perspective Of coming years, rcplete with
wealth aud COmiOIt-COuntry houses and
town houses, garages and servants, pleas
ant society, easlly-pald bills, families we'll
provided for and consequent good temper
aud peace. Aud who shall say they were
not wise in their generation: ], having
long passed the age OF love naking, am
very much inclined to think they were,
or, at all events, 10 think there Is much Ia
be sand ON both sides Of the question: but
hesitate 10 put forward - unpopular IA
opinion.
Among the competitors, | should be very
much inclined to bet upon the twin.
Ihey had the great advantage OF PLAYING
INTO each others hands; for such Is the
lOrcc OF nature, these two otherwise
worldly girls loved each other Win AN
affection tuHi was quite touching IN its
Strength. Iney wcic ms one soul in two
uodlc-. The pleasure % one Wits the haI-
pnicss OF tAc olucI. a tear in Tie dark
eyes OF Flo was Immediately mirroreu in
tuosc Of Fred, and a Sigh from one bosom
found an echo in that OF the othcr In
short, they Wcre.a human duet sung
sweetly in tune, and n such there was III
terc,t about tncm winch might otherwise
have been wanting.
They wished, on the present occasion,
thai one ot them should succeed, bat thcy
really dld not care wluch; aud Flo would
have assisted Fred with the wealthy suitor,
a, willingly ~ Fred would haye helped her
sister 10 the PRIZE. A lover WA, looked
upon rs quite secondary 10 sfstcr ana,
with the lutd Ol marriage always came tue
thought, "Ol course no one could scll-
rate Us. Ii one WAS 10 be- a bride The
other must be a perpetual bridesmaid.
Mabel licathcot,, with her golden hair
WAS certainly more beautiful; and many
thought the second Miss Leighton II pref
tier glil while the grace and vIvaciiy o'
the elder sister gained her hosts o. =
mIrcrs and follower, wherever - NO.
liui still / would bet upon o. - went
the reasons above stated -ne tMlAs loi
OF course the po'
out Of the r. cou,luf were enllrclN
10 play ..nnug' lhey III" he'h s'hl