The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-12-25

for his fathers place in the country,
in the very height Of the summer
season.
''It's fearfully dull up there, but
life is SWEET was his touching fare
we'll, as he sprang into the cars and
was whisked off from our sympathi-
zing eyes.
1t was three weeks before I heard
of him again. Then l got note,
written in apparent agitation, and
running thus:
"CHARL1E, old boy, take the first
train for NJ. -, if you wish to see once
more in the flesh your devoted
ToM."
was at Newport; I had just re,
ceived six new pairs of pantaloons,
and such a set of shirt studs! and
was in the third degree of Irritation
with a little dark eyed South Carroll
MAN. To obey that frantic call was
to sacrifice myself and pantaloons
for who was there to appreciate them
ip NJ. -? But I did it. For the
honor of my sex in general, and my.
self in particular, l am proud to re-
peat, | did it: and the next afternoon
after receiving Toms note was lean
ing comfortably back in Mr.. Stan
nerds carriage, as we rolled along
the broad avenue Of elms, thinking
what an uncommonly good-natureG
fellow l was, and what regular up
and down, out and-out, slap-up sort
of an old gentleman TOMS father
must be, to have such correct no
tiont of carriage cushions and horses
Of course the place was the usua
thlng-hlg trees, Conservatives, riv
err view, rock work, fountain ano
house little of every known orde
of architecture since the Dark Ages
Tom met me on the steps.
'That you Charlie? You are .
trump to come; and l ought to hav'
met you with the trap and Lady Fan
ME; but actually l couldn't; I'm don
out--exhausted."
used up9 You can't mean it.
Why, what on EARTH
Tom smiled grimly.
"Come in here" And, dusty as
was, he pulled me, before l kne,
what he was about, into the DRAWN.
room.
Mercy! how I stared! The room
was full of women-all ages, al
sizes, everywhere. Doing we'll, wha
were they not doing? Crochetins
knitting, reading, playing, talking
My brain actually whirled. Tor
didn't give me time to recover m
breath, but commenced presentin
me. "Mr. Gadgrind, Miss Tomlir
son, Mrs. Tomlinson, Miss Henriett
Tomlinsou, Miss Sharp, Mrs. Mui
doch, Miss Hastings, Miss Marcy
Miss Elliott, Miss Smith, Miss Swift
| Miss"
Here I caught his arm.
"Tom, you barbarian! let me ou
Isn't there side door somewhere?
want to go to my ROOM"
zone moment" said Tom, NAL
ciously; "here comes an old friend.
i And as sure as my name is Char
lie Gadgrind, and am the owner Q
thirty-nine pairs of pantaloon!
swept in, arrayed in riding habit an
plumes, Queen Gertie.
Town that cut me up. 1 had a
ways sneaking admiration for Gel
tie, and had promised myself ampl
revenge on Tom for his monopoli,
ing habits when she came to New
port-as she always did toward til
last of the season. And now
be hanged if | didn't think she ha
more sense than to bury herse
alive in M because Tom di,
To make matters worse, l saw by tn
wicked sparkle in her black eye
that she understood my mortifc;
ton and was laughing at me; br
though I thought of my shirt stud
and tried to rally, couldn't get o,
a syllable.
Fortunately, she wasn't trouble
in that way way. ,
''Mr. Gadgrind! how delightful
We were sadly in. want Of you, ft
the balance of power is in way, u
: here, that might puzzle the mo-
despotic. Mr.. stannerd, the horse
are waiting, / believe"
Tom looked at me, as much as
say, "You see?" I looked back,
believe you" And then she towe
him off, and went up to my roor
It took me long time to decit
about my pantaloons and neckti