The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-05-25
A YOUNG LADY'S LETTER.

spans the Thames at Panghead, as one
looks down stream, is the large red brick
house to the left; the comfortable inn,
and the boat-shed to the right; the pole
in the middle of the river to which are
fastened various craft; the swans; the
little boy fishing from the bank; and,
what is always to be heard are the
sounds of ripping running water, OF oars
moving in rowlocks, of voices talking in
the distance, of rocks cawing pleasantly
in the fields out yonder by the lock.
What is not always to be seen on
Panghead, or indeed on any other bridge,
Is the very charming young girl that was
leaning over the bridge parapet on q
lovely afternoon in October last. That
she was remarkably pretty was to be
seen at glance. That she was frlvol-
ously twiddling piece of nOte-paper
into the shape Of paper boat, Was to be
remarked at the second glance. Any
man or woman-man perhaps especially
who took one glance at this fascinat-
ing young lady, being, as 1t were, COM
PEELED to take another. What must be
told of her, however, since, from the
modesty of her dress and manner, no
body could possibly infer it, is that she
was as wealthy as she was pretty. and,
moreover, an orphan, and. being OF full
age, her own mistress.
The very desirable young lady was,
the while she twiddled her piece OF note
paper, ostensibly engaged in admirlng
the beauties of nature and enjoying the
sweet freshness of the breeze. In reality,
however, she was rather more occupied
in endeavoring in the most modest and
one might almost say shyest manner in
the world, to attract the attention OF a
very handsome young man who stood
with his hands in his pockets and q
moody face at the door OF the boat-house,
looking every way but hers.
He certainly did not see her, but he
was nevertheless thinking of her, and as
the thoughts of both gentleman and lady
at this moment have long been known to
their friends, there is no reason why they
should not be set down here. This is
what the young lady was thinking: ,
81 am sure Baker must have read this.
r She looked so pert when she brought it
out to me. And why indeed did she
trouble herself to bring it out at all!
1t is as if she wanted to say, This is not
the sort Of document to leave about ones
room.' And it certainly is not. l think
being SO much in love with Mr.. Lescar
makes me stupid. Because, one can't
hide this sort of thing from ones self.
am in love with him, and I am sure he
thinks about as much of me as he does
OF his boots; less perhaps. Money can't
buy everything. 1t won't buy Mr.. Les
car, that's very certain. / wonder now
if he were to suddenly look up and shou
to me like boatman with his hand to thu
side of his mouth: "Hi! Hullo! Mis-
Phoebe Munniss, l haven't penny anc
YOU are conveniently rich; bu
FL try to like you if you wisl
i'll wonder if I should smile and &c
red and be futtered. and say: Yes, i
YOU please, Mr.. Lescar, I do wish it.
Sometimes I fancy l can't be really il
love, because am able to eat my meal
as usual, and can reason about it al
in this iocose way to myself. And ye
it is certain that the mere sight of hi
hat lying on the hall table this morning
made my heart beat like no other ha
ever did. Dear me! there he stand
looking as cross as two sticks, and quit
absorbed in that foolish old hen cluckinl
at her chickens. Decidedly men ar
more disinterested than women. A
woman would not stand there lookin.
~ at an old hen while an unmarried gen
tleman with ever so much hatefu
money was standing staring down a
her from bridge. She would know
directly, and be all alive and graciou:
and meeting him half way. do 50 wis
we're poor and very lovely, and the
perhaps, n I" ETC., etc.
The gentleman was thinking that
ne had a million year, ne would lay
and himslf-at Miss Munniss's fee
In default of million, if he could onl
paint a famous picture-or write boo
that would set the whole world wonde'
ing-or better still, if he could save he
from drowning-not in this bit OF rive
but in the sea, from shipwreck, swim
ming about with her for forty-eight houl
perhaps, and being cast on desert islan'
and having all sorts of opportunities
defending her from savages and vii
beasts. 4 At this point in b
reflections the young man laughed rigl
out, as we'll he might! and came mental
back from his wild adventures with Mi
Muniss to his short holiday, which can
to an end on the day after next, and to
certain red spot which had come at tt
end of his nose, just where anybody
. say Miss Munniss-would be sure
notice it. At that moment Miss Munni
goaded to desperation by tie apathy
this most aggrayating young ma
coughed, unnecessarily perhaps, b,
successfully, for Mr.. Lescar Immediate
looked up, and his face became radiar
"Howd' you do9" cried he.
"Howd'y you do9" cried she, and nodde
we'll pleased.
Mr.. Lescar called OUT something-b
Miss Munniss could not make out what
and most anxious not to lose one of Il
words of wisdom that fell from the Ii