Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-11-01
From the Utica Herald
YES, OR NO.
BY EDGAR.

BY EDGAR.
Terrible weather-quite an old
fashioned Christmas-th snow falling
fast, in fakes as large as dimes, and an
icy, penetrating wind sweeping across
the country, with fierce determination
to have it's own way. Everybody said
it was the coolest winter ever known;
but that is the annual saying.
At the Films, the seat of country
gentleman, in one of the Northern
States, large party had assembled to
spend the Christmas holidays. Mr..
Fowler, the owner of the Elms, was a
man of both taste and hberality, and
enjoyed nothing better than to gather
his friends around him. He was a wild
over, with one child-Lucilla, spark
ling, sprightly girl of nineteen or
twenty.
The party consisted Of several friends
and neighbors of Mr.. Fowler, and their
wives and daughters. There was, of
course, proportionate assembly of
young men, and among them certain
Captain Wiifred Herbert, great adj
mirer Of Lucilla's without, as yet, hav-
ing actually declared himself. 1t need
perceive that he was devotedly attached
to the young lady, while she on her
part was not Indifferent to him.
But just let me tell you word about
Lucilla: She was one of those dear, be-
witching creatures that will make you
think that you are very nice sort of a
fellow, and that you are just the kind of
man that she always admired; then,
without any perceptible effort, will
cause you to suppose that you
are a great laundering thing that
astonishes himself by his own
conceit in suppospg that he, for mo-
ment, could compare himself with her;
but underneath all this, there was a
woman's nature that could be loving,
and even sincere. Now her father, who,
strange to say, could not read young
ladies like book, seeing only a coquet
in his charming daughter, was much
pleased by the preference paid her by
the handsome young officer, who came
of an excellent family. and in addition
to his profession, had an ample private
fortune, and, in his parental solicitude,
was DESTROYS Of seeing her happily set
tied with some deserving and eligible
young man. Mr.. Fowler himself was
verging on seventy years, having mar
led late In life.
1t was about midday and the scene
in the grounds of the Elms was ami
mated and striking. They were Of great
extent, and in summer most beautiful
" laid out. Now. however, their
beauties were yelled beneath a waste OF
snow. The immense elms, yews, and
cedars which skirted the lawn SO ex-
tensive as almost to resemble the open
space In park, were weighed down by
Enthusiastically shaped conglomeration OF
snow, and the lawn itself, was a vast
sheet of white, reminding one as much
of Siberia, and its sable and mink hunt.
ers, than of an American landscape,
anda party OF American ladies and gen
tlemen.
The guests Of Mr.. Fowler-some
thirty in number-seemed to be en-
joying themselves amazingly. Some
of the young men had, for
the amusement Of the ladies, con
trived to make huge figure of snow,
and they and their fair companions
were now engaged in pelting the giant
with snow-balIs. Others had rugged
out, Russian fashion, some pretty little
sleighs, which, drawn by three ponies
adorned by small silver bells, and each
capable of containing two persons, at
forded an opportunity for flirting moi
to be lost by young people showed uI
in country house. Most Of the young
ladies were clothed in fur suits from
head to foot, while the gentlemen, in
fur caps and Jackets, contributed theil
share to a very picturesque tableau
The tlnkling of the sleigh bells, and
the merry shouts of the party engaged
in pelting the snow giant, formed q
most pleasing accompaniment to the
hilarity of the scene.
Miss Fowler who had been sleighing
ia turn with half the young men of the
party, while Captain Herbert stood
apart, gnawing bis tawney naoustache,
and cycling her with concealed vexa-
ton. had left the merry throng for one
moment to confer with her father on
some matter of domestic economy.
Very pretty and piquant looked
Lucilla Fowler, muffled in suit of rich
sables, her black eyes twinkling like
those of a squirrel and her nose dis
playing Just the faintest suspicion of
red in the frosty air. She laughed,
chatted, mimicked, for she was n
admirable mimic,) and-must it be
oWned-hlrted outrageously.
You will have to take care what you
are about Lucilla, pei" whispered Mr..
Fowler to his daughter, warningly, s. or
Herbert will cry off,"
lie has never been son' yet, papa, )"
returned she, tossing her head indig-
nantly. HE mas never asked me, and
If he did, I should say No."
Oh, pooh pooh /! y said the old
gentleman, good hunoredly. "Tell
that to some one else, Lucilla; invent go
down with me-"
And he turned away from his daueh-
ter and began talking to some brother