The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1877-01-26
CHATTER II.

CHATTER H.
William Hampton, Charlie Carroll
and Robert Randolpbs were three
Mirsissippians who had sought the ia
nous mineral springs Of Crab Orch
ard, for recreation during the summer
season. All were sous Of wealthy
planters, and, yet, chance could
scarcely have assembled together three
persons more widely dissimilar in ed
ucation, natural disposition, or future
aims in life. Carroll had travelled a
great deal, and had associated but
slightly with the other two.
Hampton was Enthusiastically plain
in appearance, and narrow minded,
unused to the pleasant free masonry
of the beau moade; accustomed to the
prosy management Of dollars and
cents, and not calculated to make an
agreeable impression on first acquaint-
ance.
But his irreproachable moral quail
ties and high appreciation of woman,
caused him to long for the compani IN
ship of one 50 far superior to his own
,ramped nature, that his case seemed
hopeless. He had the good taste to
discern true refinement and culture,
but not the innate power to respond
to it in kind.
Carroll was a finished man Of socie-
iy, handsome and polished, little
reckless Just now, under a serious dis
appointment, and seeking diversion
amid a gay coterie as unworthy of his
chivalrous attentions as Of the appro
val Of Madame Grundy.
Randolph was just eighteen, his
widowed mothers only darling, and
retaining still his bright, fresh nature
nnsullied save by few slang phrases
and surface blots. Hampton's cotton
plantation adjoined Mrs. Randolph's
and she had invited him to accompa-
nv her son on their summer tour in
order to keep him out of mischief, so
she said, and so they started. Hamp-
ton regarding his office Of mentor as a
merely nominal one.
Mrs. Randolph was immensely veal
thy, but never by any chance smiled,
if she could avoid it, and from her
generally doleful expression Of coun-
tenance, gave one the idea that she
was never so happy as when misera.
bic. She had mania for cotton EN-
broidery, and patiently plsdded her
hours away over sheets, pillow-cases,
and every thing that would bear close
stitching.
There we're four rows of cottages
besides the main building, at the
Springs, and across the wide street a
shady grove was the place chosen for
Bachelor Row, where the sporting
gentlemen of the hotel. might WOO
tickle fortune undisturbed by feminine
eyes, or pursue other questionable nv
Ocations.
Billiards, ten-pins, drives, walks to
the various springs, and dancing, en-
gagged the numerous visitors. croquet
not having been introduced ut that
day of somewhat limited diversions.
The Champagne Party SO scorn:ul.
ly alluded to by Hampton, consisted
of ladies and gentlemen of ample
means who skinned along the surface
of genieel society, ignoring conven'
tionalities, and relying upon the chaste
ice-and-snow record Of some f. +. V.
ancestor for immunity from criticis IN
at the hands Of the common herd.
A serious mistake, this. There i.
no code however arbitrary, that car
coax glazing improperly into the sem
blance of decorum, and the common
herd looked, saw and condemned.
+
At the long supper table our young
gentlemen. the one furtively. the Other
rather noisiiy, looked constantly at the
door, with the hope of seeing the faiI
stranger enter, but she did not appear.
After cscorting his mother to Calico
Row and leaving her with group Of
friends, young Randolph fastened to
consult the register for at least some
olua IN tho nhiaoi of his eurinsitv