Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-15


Ihey stop. She. to detain him. SAYS:
How well you do Duudreary! 1t is better
than the theater"
Il beg your pardon. I fail to catch your
meaning again. What is it, may ask?''
II on are too deep for me. my lord but you
are the best character in the room by all odds"
You surprise me. but thanks!'
The lancers. the Guards waltz, galop, and
all tho maskers unmask before ice cream and
the Virginia reel Clara reveals u pretty pink
face. with irregular features, white teeth. ha-
eel eyes. dimpes and brown hair. She has n
line bead, fine form, and Is eighteen. But
she seems aghast. Dundreary does not remove
his whiskers and ogler, but stands intact. Is it
a mistake?
"Look here, old fellow. what's the matter?
! guess we're out. But who is that chap" asks
Freddy.
They say he arrived In the Portland stage.
and came IN without. registering; that it's his
natural style and we'ro a set of gables; that's
all" answers Jack.
Clara Mapes is by the farthost window. nib
bling a country ice and slipping lemonade. The
interesting stranger approaches her with
plate of country cake. Hesitatingly, without
word, he offers il to her.
II am glad,'' Gays Clara, 'that you give
me the opportunity of telling you how sorry
and ashamed l am at the stupid blunder made
just now IN thinking you in Disguise"
Awe, pray don't allude to il. Very natural,
I'm sure. You daunce like syIph, really"
"You fatter me. l dance only $3.50. 1t is
you who dance well; yes, indeed What
lovely moon l adore moonlight, don't your
See how it sparkles on the mist"
Intensely. / assure you. Its my weakness;
a positive folly. My friends cali me moon
struck"
"How very absurdl'
The music strikes up airy measure. the
dancers spring to their places. the sexes in sop
arates rows, partners face partners, :he head
couple start off at a jump! and the Virginia
reel is begun. What bounce it is and now
grim care avaunts In the thick of it all!
During the dance an elderly gentleman in a
white waistcoat with white hair, white whiskers,
white CATERS. white cravat, although by no
means venerable in appearance. but rather fast
and fashionable of aspect as il broker in
Wall street and a clubman in 5th Avenue, an
old dude, IN fact, frisks into the room and ap-
plauGs the dancers who bow and smile to hiu)
by first kissing his hand CALAMITY to the ladies
and next waving his handkerchief to the gen-
tlcmen. After this performance he again ap-
plauds as If at the opera. Clara runs out of
the line to greet him and kisses him with
warmth, returning instantly to her position in
the line. Meanwhile the notable stranger I'M
seats himself from the window sill. where he
has been stoically observing the 'daunce." and
coming to the revercnt broker, salutes him
with:
MY worthy friend, 1 hope you are quite weIlr'
"Bless my SOUL Reardon, You here?''
Awe, yes. Ran down for a trip TO the states
Disappointed till tonight Portland poor
place-people dull. Here in clover. Daunced
with that handsome girl Thought was mas
querading. Good joker
''She? Why. that's my daughter. How long
are you going to stay?''
'tAs long as it's agreeable"
There, the reels over Clara, my dear let
me introduce you to nv friend. Mr. Percy Rear
don of Quebec-member of the Canadian par
lament. Know each otherI' And the silly old
SOU, purse proud and society struck. but sound
at core, chuckles to himself like a bubbling
bottle of champagne at the rare and fortunate
orderings of an suspicious fate.
The scene ends. 1t is now next morning
Breakfast in n country hotel in the summer
season is not exhilarating. Ham and eggs.
tough steak burnt chops, doughty bread and
biscuit, bad tea and worse coffee are the usual
staples of repulsion. And the heat, noise and
smell of cooked food! But at Conway in those
fine old times we had fresh mountain trout and
young barn-yard chickens every day. not to
speak of excellent milk, butter and hot rolls
The place had not yet been kid-gIoved and
private-carriaged into Observation-Disclosures. 1t
was wholesome and wild. 1t is 8 am. The
weather is sultry. with dog day haze hanging
over the hills and yelling the valleys like sill
very smoke.
There is hum in the air and locusts rattle
In the leaves. picnic is on foot. couple
of uncovered wagons, four-horse open BUSES,
spacious and sprlngy. are at the door, drivers
whip in hand Lashed on behind are baskets
OF sardines, sandwiches and champagne.
Merry young folks climb the wagons and take
seats according to aftnities. 1t is a CHEEKY
sight. Amid huzzas they start, steeds scamper-
ing, children cheering on the porch and lawn,
ladies' laughing and the living loads of Youths
and maidens aglow with excitement. Whittier
shall they go? TO Jockey Cap Chocorua,
White Horse Ledge or Echo lake? Or maybe
to Mount Kearsarge? Let it be the Lodges be-
yond the crystal Saco. Whip, snap and away!
The villagers smile at the fun the visitors
gather in groups on lawn and piazzas, infected
by the passing breeze of hilarity for tho mo-
ment. the ours bark and tumble together, the
cows look lazily on and the birds chitter in the
leaves as the meadow is reached at a run, the
river is forded. Echo lake is skirted and the
twin lodges tower a thousand feet in perpen-
dicuiar walls of Crayest granite over the emer-
aid intervalc Whoa! Out slide, spring. trip
the picnic party with no end of hubbub.
Shawls, baskets, bottles are tossed about in
reckless spirit; girls giSgle. boys bubble over,
splnsters sigh and mammas admonish 1t is
good hours climb to the summit of the White
Horse Ledge. Up we go on the of side. which
has an inclination though steep, with Diana's
Baths at our feet.
Rocks are scaled, bushes are torn and trod.
den through, trees are chung to, bending twigs
are uprooted by the handful hands are
scratched, knees are bumped, faces flush with
sport chests heave. the breath goes hard and
strong with exercise, not emotion (healthy
diversion from city, theater and drama), and
all Is life and riot, the riot OF youth. mirth,
spirits and hope. among that Goodly company
Society IS out IN the woods aglow with gym
nastics spurred by emulation, both beau and
belle at their best. the glowing fragrance of
the summer season pertaining the scene, per-
yadlng space and charming the senses into a
dreamy lethargy sweet as Titania's. The sum-
NIT Is gained, and such view Saco mere
sinuons thread OF glass! Conway q village of
egg shells belowi Mountains looming like
thunder clouds a,ar score of settlements
and scattered farms, here clustering there
outlying, specks of white, brown and red on a
background OF green. A feeling OF sudden
elation seizes the mind, similar to that attend
ing balloon voyage. If not in heaven we are
half way there.
Delby Reardon and Clara Mapes are gazing
In rapture over all this beauty The former is
stoical and the latter little hysterical Rear
don has on one arm q shawl and basket, on the
other arm Clara i'm the shade of Il pink para
sol, she half inclined to laugh and cry at once.
Never has she had so glorious a climb before
Her whole being is alert with life. She bursts
forth joyously:
''How jolly! What a beautiful picture! 1
have never seen anything like this! It's en-
chanting! Why, I've been with papa in the
Alps aud PyreEees, but never before have be-
held any thing SO bewItching. It's divine don't
you think sou
Awe! I've never been abroad But I've seen
Niagara and think ii finer. More water, you
know"
But just see that azure sky and those
feecy clouds like down. And how velyety are
the meadows fringed by those soft black pines.
And the riyer-it winds and glistens as il it
molten silver And 200 Mt WasbipytoD