Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-08-01
LOVES DISGUISE.

1
LOVES DISGUISE.
A handsome, weIl-dressed gentleman
was sitting in an easy chair in his apart
ment in a fashionable lodging-house III
the city. Writing.materials were on the
table before him; he had evidently
been engaged in writing letters; but, for
fseveral moments past, had given him
self up to profound meditation, and was
just now sOliloquizing. Let us listen.
"Hang it ALL can't imagine what
Uncle John can be thinking of In his
last letter he says he wants me to hasten
home-that an old friend of his is max
ing him visit, and is accompanied by
his ward, who is beautiful, accomplished,
and an heiress Then he hints that it
would be very agreeable to him if I
we're TO marry this heiress. PshaWl I'll
go to the antipodes irstp 70
The indignant gentleman arose hastily
from his chair, and, jamming his hat on
his head, passed out of the room, shut
ting the door with q bang. Soon he was
vending his way down the street, with
the air Of much injured individual
John Vandalism was q wealthy and
| benevolent old gentleman, whose affec-
tons were centered in his heir and only
! living relative, Rupert Vandalism, the
gentleman introduced above. The Van
! dalsien mansion was a palace-hke build
ing, nearly always filed with guests, for
/ the hospitality of the host was well
] known. At the time my story COM
mences, Mr.. Lester, an old friend of the
elder Vandalism, was visiting at the
| Vandalism mansion. He was accompa-
MED by his ward, beautiful young lady
of some. 10 years of age; and as the
lady besides being beautiful and amiable,
was heiress. to half million, my reader
will readily surmise that Mr.. Rupert
Vandalsien's injuries were more fancied
| than real.
He did not return home as li,is uncle
had requested, but took himself off to
an obscure country village, where he
employed part of the summer in hunt
| ing, fishing and making love to the
bright-eyed country damsels, who were
one and all fascinated by his gay bear
ing and address, and stylish, city-made
clothing; but finally becoming tired of
his uneventful country life he started
for the Continent, determined to travel
till his uncle would give up his "whim."
1t was in the gay CITY Of Paris he met
an English lady by the name of Mabel
Cheston-a tall, graceful lady, with
a naughty, lmperious air which was
natural to her, accustomed as she was to
homage and admiration wherever she
Glanced to be- She was in evening
dress, and the diamonds which adorned
her snowy neck and finely-moulded
arms, and flashed amid her raven cilrls,
were not more brilliant than her eyes.
Rupert sought and obtained an intro
duction to her, and then fingered near
the belle of the evening, and, when
opportunity offered, paid her the most |
devoted attention. He received marked |
encouragement from Miss Cheston, who |
was all smiles and affability when he |
was beside her, and gave him permis- |
sion to call upon her the following day. |
After returning to his hotel, this hope |
lessly smitten swain acted in most |
ridiculous manner; he paced up and
down his apartment, now thrusting his
hands into his pockets, and now wildly |
running his fingers through his curls; |
then he seated himself at writing |
table, and wrote Unable Cheston" over
and over again; and then it was mabel |
Vandalism" and little couplets written
with many a curve and flourish. at |
last he sought repose. We will not att |
tempt to relate his dreams, but probably |
Cupid and Miss Cheston played promi- |
nent parts in them.
After this Rupert Vandalism was a
constant attendant on Miss Cheston, and |
his less favored rivals retired from the |
contest one by one. at last he proposed |
to the lady, and was peremptorily re- |
fused. At first he was almost over |
whelmed with grief; but pride came to |
his aid, and he sternly asked her:
'Wil you be kind enough to inform |
me, Miss Cheston, why it is that you
have encouraged. me as you have done I? |
Was it only TO add another name to |
your list of victimsp
Nothing of the kind, I assure YOU,
Mr. Vandalism" she answered, in cold, |
measured tones. "You perhaps have not |
forgotten a letter you wrote to your |
uncle, John Vandalsien, in which YOU |
berated all misunderstanding heiresses,' |
and the one who was visiting the Van |
dalsien mansion in particular. am that |
heiress! was sitting in a window seat, |
concealed by the heavy curtains, When |
your uncle and my guardian entered the |
library, and thus became an unwilling |
listener to what followed. Your uncle
read the letter aloud, and made remarks |
about your Ling foolish boy to jump |
so hastily at conclusions You had not |
heard the name of this much-dreaded |
heiress, and when became acquainted |
with you, determined to be revenged;
have succeededp
He pleaded with her, but in vain; all |
hls protestations were received with
scornful smile; and then he said:
"Your revenge is not as complete as |
Tt hec =
fooled me to the top of your bent: but |
shall not break my heart for an un- |
scrupulous, heartless coquette such as |
you have proved yourself to be-" With
a low bow he left her.
She withdrew from the room, and |
ascended the stairs which led to her
apartment with her usual naughty grace
but when fast locked in her own cham
Der, she did a most extraordinary thing; |
threw herself on the bed and burst into |
tears.
20 HeavenP she sobbed; 'T have
driven him awayI shall never see him
sgainl o, pride is hard mistress-and
loved him so !"
Several months after the incident
above narrated, Rupert Vandalism was
strolling through the woods near his
uncle's estate, when he suddenly came
to the little country school-house, and
prompted by curiosity, peeped within.
The children had ornamented the
teachers chair with garlands of flowers
till it resembled a throne; and two of
the eldest were placing crown of wild
flowers upon the head Of their school
mistress, who already occupied the posi-
ton of honor. Rupert started with am
exclamation of amazement, as he per-
ceived that the pale young teacher was
none other than the once proud, impe-
rious Mable Cheston.
The young lady's attention was at
tracted by this ejaculation; and. perceiv-
Irr, him rI,n 60. = 1.I.1-' - - e i