Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-22

he sat on the edge of the ante-room table,
and laughed and talked with a group of five
young officers gathered round him.
mind, you fellows must catch the z
o'clock train or else you will be too late.
There will be eight miles to drive; will
have trap there to meet you, and you won't
be there long before the others begin to ar
rive. We are not fashionable IN our part of
the county. We shall have enough partners
for you to begin to dance by $50, and L can
promise you as pretty partners as you can
find in any ballroom in England. When
you have been quartered here bit longer
you will be ready to admit the truth of the
general opinion that in point of pretty
women, Devonshire can hold its own against
any county OF England. No, there is no
fear whatever of your coming in too great
strength. OF course, in Plymouth here, one
can overdo the thing, but when one gets be-
yond the beat Of the garrison, gentlemen are
at a premium. saw my mothers list; if it
had not been for the regiment the feminine
element would have predominated terribly.
The army and navy, India and the coloaies,
to say nothing about all-devouring London,
are the scourges of the country; the younger
sons take wings for themselves and fly, and
the spinsters are left lamenting."
81 think there is more push and go among
younger SONS than there is in the elders"
one of the young officers said.
"They have not got the same responsible
tiles Ronald laughed. 'tIt is easy to see
you are younger son, Charley; there's a
jaunty air about your forage cap and q
swagger in your walk that would tell any
observant person that you are free from all
responsibilities. and could, as the Latin
grammer says, sing before robber."
There was general laugh, for Charley
al IN
state of impecuniosity. He, himself,
joined merrily in the laugh.
81 can certainly say" he replied, "'He
who steals my purse steals trash;' but
don't think he would get even that without
a tussle. Still, what said is true, think.
1 know my eldest brother is a fearfully
stately parsonage, who, on the strength of
two years difference of age, and his heirship,
takes upon himself periodically to inhict
ponderous words of wisdom upon me. I
think lot of them are like that, but after
all, as tell him, its the younger sons who
have made England what it is. We won
her battles and furnished her colonies, and
have done pretty nearly everything that
has been done; while the elder sons have
only turned into respectable landowners and
prosy magistrates"
Every well, Charley, the sentiments do
you honor" another laughed, ''but there
the assembly is sounding. Walter, bring
me glass of sherry; your sentiments have
so impressed me, Charley, that intend to
drifk solemnly to the success of second
sons"
"You are not on duty, are You, Mervyn?''
mo; am starting in half an hour to get
home. / shall be wanted to aid in the final
preparations. Well, shall see YOU all to-
morrow night. Don't forget the 7 O'Clock
train. expect we shall keep it np till be-
tween 8 and 4. Then you can snake cigar,
and at the carriages will be ready to take
you to the station to catch the first train
back, and you will be here, in time for tub
and change before early parade
The ball at the Mervyn's was brilliant
one. The house was large, and as Mr..
Mervyn had died four years before, and
Ronald had since that time been absent on
foreign service, it was a long time since an
on large scale had been
given there 10 the county. A little to the
of many Of the young ladif
in the neighborhood, the military and nar
officers did not come in uniform. TT
were two or three girls staying in the b,
and one Of them In the course of the
ing, when she was dancing with J
said:
"we all consider you have tai
Captain Meryyn. We made sur
would all be in uniform. Of
who live near plymouth are a,
it, but in these parts the red c,
.. novelty, and We feel we
frauded."
We never 60 to balls
In uniform, except whe
naval or military balls