The Republican journal., 1875-03-18
Beauty at Billiards.

For three days she sat opposite me at
the table at the pleasantest White Noun
tain resort (of course | give no hint as to
which that is-tastes ditfer), and l grad
ually became enthralled. Her beauty was
dazzling, and her name was Tarlingford.
For the first of these items | was indebted
to nay own intelligence; for the second to
the hotel register, which also informed
me that she was from New York.
|, too, had come from New York; a
coincidence too startling to be calmly
overlooked
Our acquaintance begun oddly. One
morning at breakfast | was musing over
hard boiled egg, and wondering if
could perforate her affections with any
thing like the success which followed my
fork as it penetrated the shell before me,
when | felt tlmid touch upon my toe.
thrilling me from end to end, like tele-
graph wire when the insulation is perfect.
l looked up and detected a pink flush
making its way brow-ward on the lovely
countenance across the table.
81 beg your pardon" said I. with much
concern.
''It was my fault, sir; excuse me- said
she, permitting the pink flush to deepen
rosily.
"Shall l pass you the buttered toast ?''
I said.
Mullins, if you please" said she, and
so sweetly that | was blinded to an alb
sence Of sugar in my second cup of coffee.
was confused at this incident Many
men would have concealed their Dispute
tude by an affectation of appetite, or by
bullying the waiter, OF by an abrupt de-
parture from the scene. L did neither.
felt had right to be confused, and
glored in it.
Very soon Miss Tarlingford withdrew,
and | experienced an aching void within,
which chops and tritters had no power to
replenish.
opened a chambermaid's heart with a
halt dollar, and the treasures of her knowl-
edge were revealed to me. The beauty
and her party were to remain tor fort
night. Among her companions there
were no males, except a youthful ire
sponsibility. Erulten1su'
Later in the morning | heard the tink-
ling of the piano-torte Music has sooth-
ing charms for me, though | have not a
Miss Tarlingford trifling with the keys
lnose keys Which looi- 1.aotl.e- ,>so,,s,
chains of human sympathy. She rose,
and gave out demonstrations of impend-
ing disappearance. ! interrupted.
Pray continue. | am tamished for
music, and came especially to listen"
''lt is hardly worth while"
''How can you say so? 1t is | who
know best what | need"
81 will play for you them
And she did This was wonderful
Usually, a long ard painful struggle pre-
casions. Repeated refusals, declarations
of incapacity, partial consent vouched and
then warwardly withdrawn, poutings,
head tossings, finally reluctantly yielding,
form the fashionable order OF proceeding
The charm Of it all is, that the original
intention is the same as the ultimate ac-
ton Whence, then, this folly? Having
been many times wretchedly bored by this
sort OF thing, l was now corresponding
gladdened by the contrast.
Miss Tarlingford played well and said
Pretty well," she answered, "but not
so well as could wish"
| Shock number two. 1t is customary in
good society for tolerable performers to
/ disavow all praise (secretly yearning fol
| more) and to assail with invectives theil
| own artistic accomplishments. Here was
young lady who played well and had
the hardihood to acknowledge it. This
| rather took away my breath, and q
| vacuum began to come under my waist
| coat.
| For three blissful days Miss TarlingforG
and l were seldom separated. Her sister,
| pale, sedate maiden. of amiable appear
| ance, and her brother, a small, rude boy
, OF intrusive habits and unguarded speech,
consented to undergo for the sake o1
conventional necessity. To the mother Of
the Tarlingfords additional respect seemed
due and was accorded.
The blissful days of sunshine. meadowy
rambles, forest explorations, the majestic
tranquilities of nature, spiced with the
sauce of Irritation, OF something stronger
Sometimes we took the morning happi-
ness on foot, sometimes we took our mid
day ecstacy served up on horseback,
sometimes our evening rapture in an
open wagon at two-forty.
The purile Tarlingford, interfering at
first, was summarily crushed. Aspiring
to equestrian distinctions, he wrought
upon maternal anxiety, was stifled, and
with injunctions that we should hover
protectingly near him, he was sent forth
with thorn in our side. In half an hour
he was accidentally remembered, and was
found to be nowhere within view; so we
pursued our way well pleased. He had
dropped quietly oft, at the first canter into
miry slough, and had returned sobbing,
covered with modification and mud, to
the arms of his parents. Keen question
ing at dinner was the result
"Why did you so neglect him ?" de-
manded fond mamma, adding reproach-
fully "the chiid's life might have been
sacrificed"
Mother, we looked for him and he was
gone Why didn't he cry out?"
$50 did," shouted the youth Of open
speech; "but you two had your heads to-
gether, laughing and talking like anything,
and couldn't hear. | suppose" with a
juvenile sneer)
80 fie, Walter Now think you were
so frightened you could not speak"
Il shall know better than to entrust
him to your care again. said indignant
mamma, as one who withdrew blessed
privilege.
"Don't say that, mother; it would be
punishment too severe" said the mis-
chievous little pale sister, in tones of pity
and her face brimming with mirth.
Every one laughed and peace was re-
stored
On the third evening misery came to
me in an envelope, post marked New
York
MY DEAR PoLvINs-I shall be with you the
night after you receive this Engage room
for me. Have you seen anything of a Miss
Tarlingford where you are staying? You
accomplished, but retiring. ! am willing to
tell YOU, but it must go no further, that we are
betrothed. Yours in hurry.
FRANK LILLIvAN.
My heart was as the mercury of ther-