Delaware gazette and American watchman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1837, 1832-10-26
MISE EEL.gW =:
From the Ladies' Book.
PRIZE TALE.
MFRS. WASHINGTON POTTS.

Bromley Cheston. an officer in the United States
navy, had just returned from three years. cruise
in the Mediterranean. His ship came into New
York and after he had spent week with sis.
ter that was married in Boston, he could not re.
sist his inclination to pay visit to his maternal
aunt, who had resided since her widowbO0d at one
of the small towns on the banks of the Delaware.
The husband Of Mrs. MarsJen had not lived
long enough TO make his fortune, and il was his
last injunction that she should retire with her
daughter to the country, or at least to country
town. He feared that il she remained IN Phladel-
phia she would have too many temptations TO ex
erclse her taste for unnecessary expense; and that
N consequence, the very moderate income, which
was all he was able to leave her, would soon be
found insufficient to supply her with comforts
We will now venture to say that duty to his
aunt Mars,en was the young lieutenant's only
incentive TO his visit she had beautiful Laugh.
ter abuut eighteen, for whom since her earliest
childhOo,l, Bromley Chest0n had felt something .
little more vivid than the usual degree of regard
that buys think Sufficient for their cousins. His
n hs VENT Ra he ssy rdsyd sha aS sns
were in the habits of daily intercourse. After.
| wards, on returning from sea, he always as soon
| as he set his font on American ground began Il
devise means Of seeing his pretty cousin, however
short the time and however great the distance,
And il was IN meditation on Albina's beauty and
-prishtliness that he had often.s while sailing OH
the midnight tIeep," beguied the long hours 81
the watch, and thus rendered moe tolerable thai
drrariest part Of seaman's duty.
On arriving AZ the village, Lieutenant Chestan
immediately established his quarters at tbs hotel
| fearing that to bccume an inmate of his aunt's
house might cause her some Inconvenience
Though he had performed the whole journey in q
steamboat, he could not refrain from changing his
wasic0at. brushing his coat sleeves, brushing hi'
T. u =
cravat. Though he hat, Z" never tnltlhis love-" i
canno, be said that crncealinent had preyed NJ
his dama>k check" the only change in that da
max having been effected BY the sun and wind o
| the ocean.
Mrs. Maj stlen lived in a small modest lookn 2
white house, with green door and green yeneti
an shutters. In early summer the putch was can
opied and perfuned with hunes suckle, and tn
windows with roses. In front was flower garden
Iedolent of sweetness and beauty; behind was
well-stored poager, and furnishing little orchard
The windows were amply shaded by the light ant
graceful foliage OF some beautiful locust-trees.
| "What lovely spot" exclaimed Cheston-
and nnocence-modesty- neutrality-suspicious.
i --peace-smple ACKNOWLEDGMENT enjoy
ments--and various other delightful ideas chuse'
each other rapidly through his mind.
4 When he knocked at the door, it was opened b.
black girl named Drusa, who had been hrough
was SO great that she could scarcely find it in he
heart TO tell him that ''the ladies were both ou
or at least partly out" Chcston, however, NOR
than suspected that they were wholly at home, fc
he saw his aunt peeping over the bannisters, an
had glimpse of his cousin fitting into the bacl
parlour and besides, the whole domicile was evl
IDENTITY in some great commotion, strongly resembl
ing that horror of all men, housekeeping. Tit
carpets had been removed, and the hall was flle'
with the parlour.chars half of them being turned
bottom upwards on the others, with looking-glasse
and pictures leaning against them; and he knew
4 that, on such occasions, the ladies Of family il
middle life are never among the missing.
$50 and give Lieutenant Cheston's compliment
to your ladies' said he, "and let them know tina
he is waiting to see them"
Mrs. Marsden now ran down stairs in wrappe
and morning cap, and gave her nephew very COT
4 dial reception. " Our house is just now in sue
confusion" said she, " that have place to in
vite you to sit down in except the back porch."-
And there they accordingly took their seats.
"Do not suppose" continued Mrs. Marsden
srthat we are cleaning house but we are going t
have party tonight, and therefore you are mos
fortunate in your arrival, for think can proms