Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-01-31

And the glad, wild ways
OF your schoolgirl days
Are things of the long ago;
But life and love will soon come by.
There! little girl; don't cry!
Therei little girl don't cry!
They have broken your heart, know;
And The rainbow CLEANS
OF your youthful dreams
Are things OF long ago:
But heaven holds all for which you sigh.
-Jdmes W-hitcomb Riley.
JACK HARDUP'S MYSTERIOUS VISITOR
1t was the practice of the good people
of Bumpingtonshire to fill their houses
for the annual hunt ball, and none were
more assiduous in this respect than the
Hardups, of Soakington Hall. The
Hardups were young married couple
who had lived some few years in the
neighborhoOd, and were both wealthy
and Hospitality disposed. Nothing, in
fact, pleased them better than entertain
ing a houseful of CHEEKY people. On
the particular occasion with which we
have now to deal, the Hardups were
anxious to exclipse the conviviality of
all previous gatherings. and Mrs. Hard
up had every reason to be satisfied with
her success down to the day before the
party was fixed to assemble. On that
day, however, she received the following
epistle from her cousin, Reggie Bunk
um, one of the most highly priced of her
expected guests:
"DEAR CIs: 1 can't tell you how sorry
l am to have to cry off at the last mo-
ment, but old Standish, who has come
to us as under secretary, has done me
the honor of selecting me to be his pri-
vate secretary. He wants me to get in
to harness at once, so l cant't possibly
get away, as you will understand, but l
wish you to ask my friend, Charlie Twiz-
zleton, to take my place. You have
heard me speak of him before, though
you don't know him. He is such sport
that am sure you will be delighted with
him. He is quite first-rate on the ban
| 10, and has anever-ending repertoire of
comic songs. Furthermore, is capital
conjurer, and mind you don't forget to
| make him do the three dogs in barrel.
| You'd declare there really were three if
! yssi didn't know. You must not be sur
priSed if he turns up at some time as a
tramp, or in some other outlandish char
acter. 4 line to the Bachelors Club
will find him. l shall think of your fes-
tive party when am grinding away at
estimates and such like denominations.
Love to Jack.
"Your affectionate cousin,
REGGIE BUNKUM."
81 am sorry that Reggie is not COM
ing," remarked Mrs. Hardup to her hus-
band. "But it can't be helped. 1 sup
pose, however, that we may as well ask
Mr.. Twizzleton. He sounds as if he
would be fun"
"Oh, by all means" responded the &C.
NAL Jack Hardup. "Write and tell him
We'll meet him by the $50 at Dumping
ton, if he will come, and ask him to send
a wire in the morning"
Mrs. Hardup accordingly dispatched
! note to Mr.. TwiZzletOn. The next
morning she received a telegram accept
ing her invitation, and the same after
noon, in due course, carriage was dis
patched to Bumpington Junction to
meet the expected guest.
Mr.. Twizzleton was, of course, freely
canyassed at Mrs. Hardup's tea table
that afternoon. Reggie Bunkum's ac-
count of his friends accomplishments
naturally raised lively anticipations, and
the appearance of the newcomer was
awaited with much curiosity. No one
saw him arrive, for the train was late,
and when the carriage returned from
the station the Hardups and their guests
were dressing for dinner; but after the
company had assembled in the drawing
room, Mr. TwiZZletOn was announced
and made his appearance. Amazement
fell upon all present. The new arrival
was to all appearance about 6O years OF
age. His dress was such as was worn
bY elderly gentlemen of fashion in the
davs of Mr.. Pickwick A black satin
stock enveloped his neck. He was gor-
geous in velvet waistcOat, copiously
adorned with coral buttons. From his
fob dangled heavy bunch of old-fash-
ioned seals and trinkets The oddity OF
his appearance was further enhanced by
pair of green spectacles, the object OF
which the more acute observers present
at once took to be to complete his dis
guise.
Only one explanation of the unex-
pected apparition seemed possible.
81 suppose" whispered Mrs. Hardup
to her husband, when she had welcomed
Iher guest and introduced him to the Ia
civ whom he was to take in to dinner,
-<that this is one of the disguises in
W hich Reggie warned us that his friend
m light appear.
apparently So" returned Jack; "but
| it's rather queer form to lead off with
pra ctical joke of this description. What
on earth are we to say to him!'
Fortunately dinner was at once an
nouI ced, and put an end to the mo-
mentary awkwardness which Mr.. Twiz-
zleton's little joke had caused. The
majority of the company were, like their
host, uncertain what line to take with
this practical joker, and, as a conse-
| quence, he was left during the progress
of the meal mainly to the society OF
Mrs. Carnegie, whom he had brought in
to- dinner. This lady was the well-pre-
served ar d vivacious widow of an Indi-
an Judge, and flattered herself that she
wa,l fully n match for the eccentric in.
divi dual by her side. They had not
cony ersed very long, however, before
Mr.. ,.rwizzleton fairly puzzled her.
81 hope, Mr.. Twizzleton," she remark
ed. sot VI after they weEs settled in theil
places, "that your sight is not so bad as
to prev ent your dancing this evening"
"Dan, ling, my dear madam!" replied
Mr.. Twi zleton; 81 fear my infirmity OF
l.. H. al 20, hnf