The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-07-20
TWO YARDS OF JACONET, OR A
HUSBAND.

- WISH" said Mary Ann, 81 had
two yards of iaconet. | want it very
much to complete this dress for the
next birthday at Richmond. l want
besides pretty large length of pea
green ribbon. | want feather-a
white feather-to my last bonnet, l
want
"Wen, my DEAR" said Louisa, her
companion, "wcll, my dear, it seems
you have never enough. Pray how
many more things do you want be-
sides?'
"Morer returned Mary Ann, "why
a hundred more, to be sure" said she
laughing; but I'll name them all in
one-l want a husband-a real down
right husband"
Indeedr' said Louisa, this is the
first time l ever heard you talk of such
an article. Can't you select one from
among your many admirers?'
ga fig for my admirers! Tn tired
I'm sick, I'm disguised with my adj
mirers. All come and make silly COM
pliments, one says, Miss -, how
pretty you look to-day; another sickens
me with his silly looks; another is so
desperately in love with me that he
can't talk; another is so desperately in
love with himself, that he talks forever
Oh! l wish | were married! | wish |
had husbands or at least two yards of
jaconet to finish the dress for the Rich
mond campaign"
Mary Ann b was a gay, young,
rafting creature who had lost her
father and part of her heart at four
teen. She was now seventeen; pos
sessed fine figure, rather embonpoint;
not tall, but very gracefully rounded
off. Her profuse auburn ringlets clust-
cred negligently round a pair of cheeks
in which the pure red and white
mingled so delicately that where the
one began or the other ended no one
could tell. Her eyes were dark blue,
but possessed a luster when lighted up
with feeling or enthusiasm which defed
anyone to distinguish them from burn
ing black. Her motions We're light,
airy and graceful Her foot and ankle
were most elegantly formed; and her
two white hands, with soft, tapering
fingers, We're as aristocratic as could
be imagined by Byron or an Ali
Pasha. Since the death of her father,
which was period of about two years
or more, she had had many admirers,
several decided offers, and not few
who had hoped, but burst not venture
upon the fatal question. She laughed
at their offers, ridiculed her admirers,
and protested she would never marry
until she had brought at least 100 to
hon. cny-aro1
up and down the James River she was
quite a toast among the young plan
ters.
In those days the White Sulphur,
Blue Sulphur and Hot Sulphur Springs
were not much frequented; but people
of fashion in lower Virginia, the plant
ers, were Just beginning to escape to
the Blue Mountains during the autumn
nal months. In one of those excur-
sions the party, of which Mary Ann
made lively member, was overtaken
one afternoon in a sudden rain-storm
at the entrance of one of the gorges of
the mountains. The party was travel
ing in an open carriage, with sort of
top resembling that Of a gig, to spread
out when a shower broke over them
with sudden violence. On the present
occasion the leather top afforded to the
ladies very inadequate shelter from
the torrent which fell down from the
dark, heavy clouds above. The first
house they approached was therefore
truly welcomed They dismounted,
went in and found several young gen
tlemen surrounding the hickory fire,
which was cracking merrily on large,
wide hearth.
A young man of rather modest, easy,
but unobtrusive manners rose at the
approach of Mary Ann and offered hel
his chair She accepted it, with 8
quiet glance at his general appearance
Nothing remarkable took place at this
interview; but few days after, when
they had reached the foot of one of the
mountains, which was appropriated as
the place of gaiety and fashion, the
young gentleman was formally intro
duced to Mary Ann as Mr.. C, from
Williamsburg, Western Virginia. In 9
very short time he became the devoted
admirer of Mary Ann, was extremely
and delicately attentive, and, OF course
gave rise to many surmises among the
match and match-breakers OF
the Springs. At the close of the sea
son he put forth his pretensions il
form. He offered himself formally tC
Mary Ann. AS usual, she spent whole
night in thinking, crying, celebrating
grieving, wondering, and next morning
sent him a fiat refusal. So this affair
which is a specimen of about thirty OF