Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-06-13
HISS lIEaIsRsnII2I'S LOVERS.

3s}s Miss Lirripip had a pretty face and
FIVE thousand d year, not to speak tex
.pectatiors. Pretty faces are common
enough, even in these days of agricul-
tural depression and stagnant trade;
but q girl with five thousand a year is q
rarity; and q girl will. Ave thousand q
j, year and pretty face into the bargain
is a positive phenomenon, and, as such,
cannot fail TO be greatly admired by a
number of more or less eligible young
tnen with taste for beauty of the most
substantial kind. Even middle-aged
bachelors awake from their habitual in
differences when, ON being introduced
to q lovely damsel of two and twenty
they arc con scious that the possessor OF
q considerable fortune stands before
them; for although money is the root of
all evil, it is root which most people
very willingly undertake the risk OF cul-
tivating.
Since Lydia Lirripip was thus beauti-
full and thus rich, it is not surprising
chat she had not only adnairers--men
who dared to wish uncertain things
but lovers, too--men who had the pre-.
sumption to hope. It is true that Lydia
encouraged none OF them, for she was
quite satisfied to live at home with her
father, Gen. Llirrlpip. in 5ruton street,
Grosvonor square, and to ride in Rot
ten Row IN the morning, and to drive
in the park in the afternoon. But for
tunstoly young men do not require en-
corragement; nay, in certain affairs the
less encouragement they receive the
greater their persistency becomes: and
considering that healthy constituted
young women seldom, if ever, give any
encouragement to young men. the per
sistency Of these latter in .he face Of
alarming difficulties is {. matter on which
all of US may heartily congratulate our
selves. Indeed, hut for the. presistency
who knows whether the world would
go round?
It WAS the height of the London sea-
son, and Lydia LirrAplp went with her
father one evening TO q great halt at the
Countess OF Carnaly's. Everybody was
there o'ervDouy, that is of rank and
fashion--and ere she had been in the
brightly lighted rooms for five minutes
Lydia was engaged for all the dances
OIL the program. Now, to most OF her
partners she was only engaged for a
single valse or polka, but for old ao
qlaintnnca sake. Or for some other rea
son, she allowed two gentlemen to take
two dances each It was NO doubt very
indiscrect of her to DO 80. But in ono
case at least it YVES nlso very gOod-na-
tured Of her, for she permitted old Sir
Pertillax Popiniay, who, as every one
knew, was fur too stiff and gouty to
move about properly, to put down his
name for the only two sets Of lanciers.
Sir Pertitax was ehnsively grateful and
smiled his sweetest upon her as he re-
turned her program, and Lydia, instead
ofregretting her kindness, felt thorough
1y rewarded by seeing that she was Civ
ing pleasuret to the gray haired baroneU.
who, thirty years before, had been a
noted dandy, and who now struck
her as haing simply proay old fellow,
whom faw sirls would be likely to dance
with. Lydia's other favored partners
were Mr.. Horace F'resEr-a Young
artist who had that year toI the first
time exhibited at the royal aualamy--
and Mr.. Merton MlrleE, q nan who
had TO professor and no occupation,
and who, if lac had o private income,
derived it from q, source not generally
known even to his friends.
III this world many strange coinci-
dences happen. Two che1oists have
been known to make exactly the same,
discovery on the same day; and two
astronomers have claimed To catch
sight Of new comet at almost the same
moment. Itisuct, therefore, Incredible
that, while dancing these six dances
with her three favored partners, Lydia
casually mentioned to each CT them
thatupon the following evening her faith
or was going to take the chair vt the
annual meeting Of the Society for
the encouragement Of Cold Water Bath
ing on the Continent: that she
was not going, but would he alone at
home, that she wished that girls were
able like men to amuse themselves: and
that she enyied her partners their clubs,
their thenters, ond their sociable smok-
ing concerts. Nor is it Incredible that,
haying heard this, Sir Pertinax Popin-
jay, Mr. Horace Frease and Mr.. Mer-
ton MUrlev ell made UP their minds to
call upon Miss Lirripip upon she follow
ing evening, and to make to her certain
avowals, which, although they had long
meditated them, they now felt impelled
to make as soon as possible, and with
out any unnecessary delay. What
, these avowals were may be guessed, but
why the same gentlemen all determined
at The same time to make them is a
question which cannot be explained, al
/ though the fact that Lydia that evening
looked even prettier than usual may
have been one Of the causes Of the eS-
traordinary coincidence.
+ lydia little dreamed, when in the
small hours of the morning she dropped
, off to sleep, Of what was hanging over
! her. Sir Pertinax had made no sign !;
Mr.. Murley had not been more atten-
tive than for some time had been his
wont; and Mr.. Freake had been actually
more dull and uninteresting than Miss
Lirripip had ever seen him. She there
fore slept soundly, and was undisturbed
by fears Of the coming evening and its
visitors. ~. - .gss ...t. -, -.
8 The following day was wet. The
general who had live1 Tor many years
! in India, and had a liver which eaused
him to be somewhat irascible, shut him.
d self up in his library, and savagely studi-
K "a the Statistics of ld-water bathing ).