The weekly sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1886-1887, 1886-08-19

mother says 1 may go if I get back
before school opens. Kitty has lots
OF news to tell all about Joel too.
She thinks he is perfection; says "he's
getting the place in ship-shape order,
and that he's going to run for the
Legislature next term" She and I
both know he'll get it, whatever it is,
she knows all about it, and undertakes
to explain to me, but it seems like
Greek. He is SO good, but mother
says goodness doesn't always tell in
politics." but she thinks he ought to
get it.
Kitty tells me privately that Joel
is never going to marry. going to live
single, and take care of her. She adj
mires me very much, thinks I'm very
wise, and all l say and do is right
| tell her about Bellies conduct to
Joel, and she agrees with me, that
Belle will never do as we'll, in fact,
that she couldn't.
In few days, I'm packed, good
byes have been said, and I'm being
whirled away in double-quick time.
Miss Rebecca sits with her father,
| and Miss Jessie and are on the same
seat.
At every station, l think its time to
get off, and I'm constantly asking
every time they stop to get water, if
the train has run off the track. I
know l appear green, but to tell the
truth am little afraid. We stop
all night in Petersburg, as the trip
right straight through is so fatiguing
for Mr.. Livingstone, and two hours in
Richmond where we change cars. So I
see cities for the first time. [ make
the drivers OF the carriages laugh, be-
cause l ask them who live in all the
handsome houses we pass. l think it
must be fine to own such grand homes
and live in such style, but Miss Re-
becca says [ should have seen them
some years ago, to have beheld their
greatest elegance.
They all take great pains to ex-
plain all places of interest to me as
we go along When we get to the
Springs, we have the whole floor of a
lovely little cottage all to ourselves,
as Miss Rebecca wants quiet for her
father, and we go to the hotel to eat.
The hotel is the biggest house I've
ever seen, and isn't far from our cot
tage, just little walk Lots of peo-
pie are up there, having good time.
We soon get acquainted, and a lady
named Mrs. Hunt takes Miss Jessie
and me to a ball. Miss Rebecca
won't leave her father, but wants us
to 60.
This is my first ball, and it beats all
the parties I've ever attended. The
light dazzles my eyes at first and [ feel
bewildered. The people go whirling
by me, looking like they are floating
in the air. l only wish Belle could
see.the fine dresses. [ know she'd
take it all in, and go home. and man
ufacture something like them, she's
got considerable taste
l can dance a little, but l tell
young man, whom Mrs. Hunt intro
duces to me, that I'm afraid to try.
He looks afraid too, the floor is so
slippery, SO he asks me to walk ON the
piazza with him instead. Miss Jessie
is dancing, so | ask Mrs. Hunt if |
may and She mods her head, then [
take his arm and walk out with the
first grown gentleman who ever asked
me in my life, except Joel. How
wished Belle could see me, wouldn't
she be surprised. l never was bash
full, but l didn't know what to talk
about, but somehow after we once got
started, you'd think we'd known each
other all our lives.
He is a distant cousin of Mrs.
Hunts, but never met her before, I'M
til by accident they saw each other
here She lives in Baltimore, and he
is doctor and practices in Richmond.
His name is DR.. Marcellus Fenwick.
We stay together all the evening. He
asks me lots of questions about my
self and friends. He wants to know
where we live, and why Miss Rebecca
didn't come out tonight. I tell him
very candidly how | came to be with
the Livingstones, &c.
He doesn't seem to mean to be in
quisitive, and like him very much;
he's so gentle, and So quiet in his
manner. He walks home With Us all,
Mrs. Hunt also, she stays al the hotel,
but goes over to see US safe, she SAYS.
She tells me next morning at break
fast, that she thinks I've made con
quest at my very first ball, fer her
cousin said he admired me very much,
[ was so natural
OF course l have to blush, like
goose, and then she pats me on the
cheek and asks her husband, who is
forever reading newspaper, and
who'd say yes to anything she'd ask
HIM from force of habit / know, if he
wouldn't Ike to have me for cousin.
Ali this of course, makes me Look
very conscious when our new acquaIn-
lance joins US after breakfast and pros
poses walk to the springs.