The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1876-05-11
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the town q Nouou-Foigaie, ard from 81
hpptaranocs are likely 10 remain hcrc fol
ule rest Of our lives, pursuing what
strangers would suppose was the cain
and even tenor Of coiorless life.
oar income. though small, admits o.
our keeping two domestics aud whet
We pay visits, which Is al rare intervals
We jointly subscribe and charter clos,
carflage, which enables us to make oul
calls With something ike dignity. Not
tha, my two elder sisters are lacking il
that respect, for they never, either sleep.
ing or waking, | believe, forget tha, our
late father descended from an ancient and
honorable family, aud that the name o.
Howard, which we bear, Is derived from
a source which, even though Il does not
acknowledge us, Is ours justly; and on
the tree which testides TO our pedigree
our relationship is clearly set forth Oar
late mother coud also boast Of gentle
blood, so that on both sides of the house
our connections were undeuiable.
In addilionlto these advantages, nature
had not been unkind TO us-indeed, in
or younger days we bad had our own
share of sdmiration, aud the three Misses
Howard had on many occasions been
pronounced the best looking girls at the
numerous balls which, chaperoned by our
mother, we used regularly to attend.
Our admirers were not few, and we were
always engaged for every dance when
ever we went; but there, TO all appear
ance, il ended, for after more seasons
than care TO record none OF ne were
married Palmer girls by far, even pen.
niess ones, in due time made their ap-
pesrance, had season OF gayety, and
then announced their engagements which
\ duly ended in marriage, and they would
return in all the dignity Of matronhood
TO remind us In more ways than one of
| the wide gulf that separated our unap-
propriated selves from them and their
"position" as married women. At first
il was not CALLING, but by and by | began
to feel it keenly, and TO long-as every
woman does sooner or later-for ties Of
my own; but my longings were not to be
gratified for the hateful reason that no
ordinary man was supposed to be good
enough to mate with "Howard," tho
one degenerate descendant dared to wish
it could be otherwise.
BY degrees it became known that we
were hard to please, and though it was
true enough of Margaret and Louisa,
still felt so differently from them on the
subject that it was rather hard to be in
cluded. But was Howard" aud had
to pay for my privilege.
Margaret was seven years my senior
aud Louisa five, consequently | was &C.
customed to being considered quite a
child until had attained the ripe age of
twenty-five, when an event happened,
which, but for my precious pedigree,
might have changed the color of my
/ WllVlt IAlHAOults
We had received invitations to ball
given by certain lady Aylmer, who all
ways made a point of asking us to her
entertainments and though | was be-
ginning to be very weary of gayeties, to
decline was out of the question; so, after
some deliberation as to our attire, ETC.,
an acceptance was sent; and when the
evening arrived, we, accompanied by our
mother, crushed ourselves into hired
| carriage and set ou. - ''''V' ~'u'''
We were received as usual mos.
daily; aud after few dances were over
became conscious of the presence of A
gentleman who seemed to regard me with
some interest. lie was very nice look
ing man, about thirty, rather fair, and
with a monstache slightly inclining to
red. lie was not tall; neither was be
very short; his figure was good, and he
bad soldier-like appearance about him
which rather admired.
AS usual, | was well supplied with
partners, but when Lady Aylmer ap-
preached with the individual have inst
described, aud introduced him to me, ri
was glad ! still had spare dance left
for which he at once engaged me.
| did not catch the name when Lady
Aylmer brought him up, and when my
eldest sister inquired who my new ac-
quaintance was, could enly say he was
a Captain Somebody; | fanced Bruce
was the name.
A good name, remarked Margaret; | |
dare say he is a relative OF Lord Bruce.
But | was doomed to undeceiye her
shortly, for on addressing him as Captain
Bruce be smiled and told me that was not
bis name-the name being Bebb
Bebb, thougbt-what a funny name
However it did not prevent my thinking
him very pleasant, and being secretly
glad when he told me he was quartered
at North-Folgate for some months to
come.
To be brief Captain Bebb, whose name
bad now trauspired 10 our family, after
several meetings, began 10 pay me mark
ed attention; bu, although IN my inmost
heart liked him, still | was wei aware
that for Howard" to ally herself with I
a Bebb would be regarded as an impossi.
bilily IN our family.
lie came TO call-endeayored 70 ingra.
tate himself with my mother and sisters
-sen, me b0quets, books, music, and 10
fact did all be could to show biz prefer
ence, which Ia my heart or hearts fain
would have shown was mutual. Bot bow
rnnld II Nv sIslarE aIarrnnd hs. M ....,