The daily gazette., 1875-12-18
WILMINGTON. DEL. SATURDAY. DECEMBER 1S, 1875
A '' STORY"

| 1t WAS the afternoon of a bright
crisp day, with the clear blue sky OF
late Autumn, rather than the dreary
gray of November, aud the great city
wore holiday look, and elegant car
riages rolled luxuriously along the
smoothe avenues, and the few pedes.
trians all, lettering pleasantly, as il
life had nothing for them but enjoy
ment, At least, this was the view
from Mr.. Sidney Van Dusen's plate
glass windows, and as it appeared to
Miss Clara Van Dusen. the beautiful
and accomplished only daughter of the
| house,
| The young lady herself had Just
descended to the parlors, having ac-
complished n most elegant and salts.
factory toilet preparatory to the late
dinner at which a select company
would be present by social invitation.
The Van Dusen family being abroad,
1t could not be exactly family affair.
Miss Bertha Van Dusen, Clara cousin
and intimate friend, was stopping with
her while her friends were abroad, and
the two girls were inseparable. In a
few moments after Clara entered the
parlor, Bertha joined her there.
"How sweet you look in blue
| How sweet vou look in pink
Then there was more mutual admi-
ration and flutteripg of silken skirts,
when a servant entered with a card:
" Alfred Haywood lngersoll, L. S.
A."
"Col. Ingersoll. Oh, Bertha. and he
has come to propose" " whispered Clara
in real distress, land | expect Harry
here any moment. What shall | do?
Send word down that am engaged {.
Literally true; amt it,"
Why, see him, of course, if only TO
break his heart by refusal. Think how
detected he will look when lie knows
that he can never inherit the Van Dusen
estates
"Iou seem to think no one can love
me for myself, " pouted Clara.
"Oh, yes, dear; Harry WesteIvelt
does, am sure. But has not Colonel
Ingersoll made love to all the eligible
young ladies with rich papas, and yet
| he is so ConceitCd he cannot be snubbed
short OF a declaration and refusal. If
you could only make him believe you
were poor, he would not trouble you
long with his love-making.
show the gentleman up" said
! Clara TO the servant who had waited
respectfully mute, during the brief and
whispered colloquy OF his young mis-
tress and her friend.
n moment later Colonel Ingersoll
elegantly attired in full uniform, his
small proportions stretched on the tip
toe of lover-llke expectation. and his
shrcwd, worldly.looking face, beamins
with surface smiles, was ushered into
the presence of Miss Van Dusen. He
found her alone; standing as if she
expected him, in the centre of the lux.
urlous room, eXquisitely dressed in
pink silk, with lace rutfles and over
dress; her dark hair tied back In long,
loose curls and fastened with a coral
comb, while coral clasped the dimpled
whiteness of her throat and wrists,
The bright coal fire in the open crate
sutfused the late daylight with a ROSY
color, and to Colonel lngersoll's daz-
zled eyes it seemed as if his divinity
| tloated to him on pillows of pink, he
advanced to her with both hands out
stretched in Il loyerlike ecstaty of
admiration.
II was almost afraid of intruding on
| q IahlAIy ICuulOus uc Sdlu, AIler the
prelimlnaries of greeting were over,
but | felt that must see you to-day
and learn"
Isn't the day beautiful?" interrupt
ed Clara, ruthlessy, shewas sitting N
the same sofa now, and his attitude
was horribly loyer.like, and Harry
might come any minute.
Not half so beautiful--began the
colonel.
"Shall move the screen little?'
asked Clara solicituously, for the col
onelS face was very red, aud it might
be on fire.
But she could not go on forever in
terrupting, and the colonel was des-
perate.
my dear Miss Van Dusen," he
began tirmly,"I may be prcsumptuous
but your kind reception OF my atten-
tions has led me to believe that you
may at some future time make me SO
happy-so blessed ~
| stop, please" murmured the auda-
cious Clara. You call me Miss Van
Dusen. All! now | wish | dared to
tell you sad story; you are SO good,
so kind, that
| hdN l, on! may tncn call VOu
Clara murmured the cnraptured
lover to whom the delay was becoming
somewhat exasperating.
Wait, Colonel lngersoll, until tell
you a story. You have often been
pleased to compliment me on my skill
as an improvisatore, but this is a story
of real life. Let me ask you a cues
tion, who does the world say | am"
"Who? Why, Miss Van Dusen,
Clara, may | call you by that sweet
name, the lovely and beloved daughter
of Sydney Van Dusen."
80 the world says, now listen: |
was born abroad"
80 have been Informed" ;" said the
Colonel whose curiosity was slightly
aroused.
My father and mother lived nearly
fourteen years in Europe. 1t was du.
ring their residence in England-in
London-that this story am going to
tell yoa happened. May l tell this,
just as if it were story, a romance?"
Yes, yes! but why tell it at all.
xub cor, ~ hara Il ~