The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-04
A SUMMER EPISODE.
The Alleged Englishman and a
Bad Sell, AS 1t We're.

1--WE are actually going to have new ar
rival tomorrow; u man, and an English
man into the bargainp a.a
-Four pairs of eyes were quickly raised
from novels and crewel work, and four
faces looked with incredulous wonder at
the bearer of such unwonted tidings.
"Its fact, assure you," she went
on, astounding though it may seem.
Mr.. Miller told Uncle John himself that
he had Just received a letter from a
friend in New York, asking him to secure
a room for Mr.. Somebody or other
pve forgotten the name-an Englishman,
who has only been few months in this
country" ....
"And what do you suppose brings him
up here?" asked one OF the party, won
deringly.
"Our lucky star must have guided
him, l fancy" cried another, jumping up
and upsetting her lapfull of wools on the
floor. "It's about the best news Pve
heard since / came"
"But what is one among 50 manyY'
said Minnie Neal rather dolefully. eve
will have to cut him up into bits and
divide him around, or else hire him out
by the hour like pony phaeton."
And, indeed, these seemed the only
available ways of solving the problem.
Here we were, five girls stranded ON a
desert spot on the Hudson; full of lovely
walks and romantic hooks and corners,
as was Robinson Crusoe's island, l have
no doubt, and very nearly as destitute of
men. True, every Saturday night there
would come an influx of those desirable
articles, and on Sunday they would be
actually seen dying around loosS' as
Lilly expressed it, "without any one to
pick them up''; but on Monday morning
the tide invariably turned citywards
again, and for the next five days we were
left to wander around, amelancholy little
squad of unprotected and ungallanted
females
We were not, by any means, the only
unmarried women in the house, while, as
for men, if we except Mr.. Miller, who
was sixty at least, and Dick Terry, who
could not have been much over sixteen,
the list resolves itself into my brother
Charley, of no possible use SO far as !
was concerned, and lame gent leman of
melancholy aspect, who had been there
over three weeks and had never been
heard by one of us to utter syllable.
Under these circumstances Lily's news
was, indeed, exhilarating. True, the new.
conner was, as Minnie had observed, only
one and we were five; but still, thought
each. of us sagely to ourself, one is
enough if he fancies me, and then this
Englishman was going to stay. There
would be no horrid business to call him
to the city just when his company was
most needed.
The next day came. Many were our
speculations as to the distinguished
guests arrival. The 4 o'clock train was
to have the honor of bringing him down,
and five girls, seated on the porch with
their fancy work in their laps, glanced
with undisguised interest at the
coach as it drew up and emptied its bur
den at the door. First stoutish lady
with three small children and a nurse
there was nothing at all remarkable
about that group; then two of the board
ers; married women, who had gone to
New York for days shopping,
climbed wearily down; then solitary
man-it was-it must be-the Eng
lishman, jumped lightly to the ground
and, shouldering little valise, walked
straight into the house without bestow
ing single look around. As he disap
pe4red we each drew long breath anc
wondered whether or not we were disap
pointed. The stranger seemed rathe
good-looking, was tall and well-built, ane
dressed like gentleman. More than tina
our hasty glance had failed to show us
and we longed for the supper table to Civ
US a good look. Charley was lounging il
our midst, irritatingly indifferent, and
fancy none too we'll pleased to have for
eigner encroaching on his special pre-
serve.
"Mr. Weston" said Lilly, persuasivel
to him, "you know we depend efitirel
) on you to make this Englishman's ac
} quaintance .and introduce him to th
, party"
+ "Of course we do" continued, Fan
} please try to find out little about him.
"Do you mean by that" said Charley
9 "that am to ask him what his incom
, is, and whether there is title in tn
2 familyw
/, "Of course not" I answered sharply
A "there is not the least chance of anythin
4 of that sort"-though in my heart
thought there might be, and so / am sur
did the others. "Remember we don
) even know what his name is, and yo
can discover that anyhow, and whethe
| heis only visiting in this country or g
: ing to stay"
"And whether he has wife or want
one," said Charley, languidly; "all righ
, ladies, you may trust in me for the pa
, ticulars;" and drawing notebook out q
: his pocket and carefully sharpening
pencil, he declared himself ready t
cross!question dozen Englishmen in ou
, behalf, and sauntered off to fulfill hi
mission. ...... 49,.
: That evening the two we're seen smol
/ ing together under the trees like Sth
oldest and best friends, and an hour afte
: my brother, of whom was beg ginning
t feel Quite proud. brought up his captiy
: and introduced HIM to the group. n
| TT4A..I NoI.o,. L. 1.ol ,tnn !