Page:A hairdresser's experience in high life.djvu/145

Rh Although the match was broken off on account of family difficulties, I can testify that the love was not broken off. This occurred in the fall of the year. The following winter Miss F.'s mother took her to New Orleans, where she reigned belle, but still appeared to cherish a fondness for her former lover. In the spring Mr. D. went East through the influence of his family. When he arrived there, some of his friends set to work to make the match between him and this beautiful blonde, when it was well known he loved the beautiful brunette. In a month or so he was engaged, and in two or three months he was married.

Mr. D.'s family and the family of Miss F. stopped at the same hotel; in fact the rooms were so closely connected, they could both see and hear all the preparations for his approaching marriage. I knew all the particulars of the affair, though Miss F. was not aware of it. I could not but admire the manner in which she acted, as I knew very well the quarrel was not between the two, but between their mothers. 'Twas in the summer I was with Miss F. In the fall Mr. D. and the beautiful blonde were married. In the winter they went to New Orleans, where Mr. D., his bride, and Miss F's family happened again to be in the same hotel. My services were not confined to either family, but while in New Orleans I worked for the families of all the planters of Louisiana and Mississippi. While attending on the bride, I often spoke of the amiability of Miss F., when Mr. D. would always join in, and declare Miss F. was perfectly beautiful, gentle and amiable—which seemed in no way to displease his bride, as she was at that time not only beautiful but lovely herself. She had