The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-01-19

to their own rooms.
was not pleased with this arrange
ment, for hated the care of the room;
but did not trouble myself much about
it. 1 had too many enjcyments outside,
to allow this responsibility to worry me.
There was very pleasant and merry
company at the old seaside house that
summer, and such boat rides, and baths,
and drives, and parties as we had, would
have satisfied the most exacting pleasure
seeker. Every day seemed only more
Joyous and happy than the last. To us,
then-to me, ut least-the whole wide
world was couteMr de rose, and the
future as well as the present had all the
glory of a golden age.
Mrs. Hamilton's son, and two of his
college friends, DIR. Grayson and Prof.
Blanc, came down to the shore towards
tho last of the season. It was not long
before one of these two became to me
the 'one only for whose attentions I
cared.
" He was young man from New
England, and possessed all the best
Puritan characteristics of his race.
Thoroughly gentlemanIy in his appear
ance, manners, and dress, talented, we'll
educated, exquisite in his tastes almost
to fastidiousness, he was, withal, a per-
son OF most excellent character, and
being fine looking, besides, it is no
Wonder that was attracted tohim. He
wos several years my senior, but that
only gave additional eclat to my con-
quest; for it was very soon noticed that
among all the young ladies' at the house.
L was apparently the favorite'of the ele-
SAINT professor.
My wardrobe, as have said, was
new and fresh, and [ was not SO plain
looking as you may suppose. MY
wrinkles were dimples in those DAYS,
and my eyes were as bright as BellG's,
and did not wear glasses then. In
short, suppose was quite belle.
But dresses. however pretty and
fashlonably made, will not stay pretty,
and whole, and fresh, if not taken care
Of. More than this, beautiful face is
OF little account when set in frame Of
tossed and dowdily -done-up hair. 1t
was not many weeks before ray careless
habits told upon my appearance. Mrs.
Hamilton and the girls, or some friendly
lady who took an interest in me, would
now and then in company pin up nv
gathers, smooth out my ribbons, or pull
Off some loose braid from my dress skirt.
Finally it became the habit of the
Hamilton girls, and therefore matter
OF course, to look me all over before we
went to ride, or down to the parlors, lest
should lose some article of attire, and
call blush to their checks.
l remember that once L was very
much mortified, when the professor
handed me fearfully soiled collar that
had come off my sack, aud which I was
obliged to acknowledge was mine. Even
!, thoughtless as I was, had hesitated
about putting it on in the morning-and,
girls, always remember that when col
lar is in doubt, it is-dirty
elf L had only settled that point
properly when L stood before my glass
III the morning, I should not have been
stung with shame when Miss Grayson
exclaimed, as the professor asked for its
owner, and held it towards her:
PLEASE don't imagine would wear a
collar like that I
"Our rooms, as I said, opened on a
long piazza, Which commanded q fire
view of the sea. This piazza was conse-
quently favorite promenade.
You may imagine that my room was
not III fit condition to be seen by the
prcmenaders as they passed the long
windows, when tell you that sometimes
for two or three days did not mako my
bed. lwould just throw the counter
pane over the sheets, and make it do
''The contents of my dressing case
and trunk usually Uttered the mantel
and chairs and floor. OF course could
have dropped my curtains, but generally
my carelessless was too inveterate to re-
member even that cheap expedient.
Mrs. Hamilton once kindly spoke to
me about my habits, but I received her
counsel so ungraciously that she conclud-
ed to let me do as 1 pleased. So my
room continued in its condition of chaos
ribbons, slippers, faded bouquets,
shells, MOSES, seaweed, and garments of
oil descriptions hopelessly jumbled to-
gether.
"The rooms of the Hamilton girls
joined mine, and their habits wore very
neat and orderly. Naturally I found
their apartments much pleasanter than
my own room, and used to sit with them
most of tho time when we were not with
the other guests. The girls occasionally
came in to my den and picked up nv
dreary scatterings, and put me in order
for Sunday. But Monday morning
would find me at odds and ends again.
Somehow my things wouldn't stay fix
ed, I used to say.
"The weeks flew on golden wings
after Prof. Blanc became my daily com
panion; and when the season drew near
its close, my heart was mine no longer.
He was the one in whom found all that
was noble, and good, and great, and
my thoughts and dreams wsre all of
/ him.
AS yet there had been only the inter-
change of pleasant thoughts, and those
delightful attentions that seem to mean
80 much. Like all modest maidens, 1
dreamed, and hoped, and waited for the
wOr1a that xupnIl Ioa ha