Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-03-17

before he had time To open the door,
May threw her handkerchief over The
volume in her hand, and hastily hiding
the others under the cushions Of the sofa
net him with her biahdest smiles, sppar.
emily delighted with .he proposition; she
assured him she would be ready in a mo-
'nent, left the room, glad to escape with
her treasure undiscovered. Well know
K ing that with most ladies' Ceiling ready
was not the work al a moment, STANLEY
wanrd patiently for Ten minutes, then
paced the room for the next ten with Il
step that grew quicker as the minutes
flew by without Mary, but when another
half hour ELAPSED, he determined To 90 to
her room, and ascertain The cause oi the
delay. The door stood partly open, aud
he could observe her unperctiy-d. She
was resting her elbow on the marble
slab of her dressing g'ass--her hair re-
leased from It's confinement for the pur-
pose OF arranging, fell in bright waves
4 over her shoulders; enc small white hand
supported n, book IN which she seemed
wholly absorbed, while with the other she
slowly turned ihe leaves, her delicate
/ lips were slightly parted, and The chan
\ ges oi feeling called forth by imag mary
llJ"ys and sorrnws Huted over her beaul-
iul features like lights and shadows over
summer sky.
/ For moment, Stanley cnzed with The
|. feelings oi mlser on her surprising
lovellness--yet even as he gazed, dim
ness came over the fine gold She had
evidently forgotten that he was waiting
for her, and he felt vexed that his wishes
were secondary to vain and triilIng
novel This feeling passed away, and
he could have wept to see that young
and lovely being thus yielding TO "A spe-
cies oi lnioNlcaiion so fatally injurious to
her calm, domestic affections
"PeIhaps," thought he, 81 have FL
her too much alone she has been used
10 more society, and feels the want of il.
] will devote more time Ia her in future
and endeavor To win her from her unsat-
'sactory pursuits, 10 the rational exist
ence for which she il so well qualified "
Entering the room, he passed bis arm
gently round her, and, kissing her cheek
! said
"WclI, Mary, thought you were GO
\ ing To ride with me?"
/ Mary redeemed with confusion.
$50 am, Stanley but lhis book is
sn fascinating, that you must blame dear,
delightful Buiwer for The delay"
"lndeed, Mary, am already so jeal-
Gus %! the whole tribe OF novels,s, that
| shall soon quarrel with them outright
" hat would you think if | were to shut
the door IN their faces Z"
81 should think, and say, too, that yon
were very unreasonable" replied the
spo,!t beauty. "What would you have
me do:-Sit mopinQ from morning till
night! You are always out, and there
Is no society "a, least, none that | care
| for"
"Mary," said Stanley, and he spoke
more s,ernly than she had ever heard him,
ian intelligent, welI-educated female,
can ucver be at loss for employment
lIav, 80 not library of the best booksi
and you know do not wholly inlerdici
novels 1t is ony Intemperance in their
use TO which object You draw, paint,
are an adept in ornamental needle work :;
YOU are fond oi music; and more than all,
AS | told you this morning, there are
household duties which the mistress of a
family should never devolve upon others
Besides, you have poor neighbours whom
YOU might assis; in various ways"
ooh dear what scImon !" interrupt
ed Mary. 81 am quite ready will il
please your membership To ride or shall
| stay at home, put on striped short
gown, such as ! suppose your Yankee
ancestors wore, jingle great bunch Of
keys at my grdIe, and see that the house
maids do their woik properly"
"Yot are lacetious on grave sub eci,
replied Stanley. at is not my wish that
you should degenerate into a mere house
wife, but believe, with Mrs. Hale, that
"the art Of conducting her own house
with order, prudence, and, az far as pos
sble, with elegance, every woman should
understand | would have my wife a
high-minded, intellectual woman nor do
| consider such character AT all incom-
paible with perfect knowledge Of
housekeeping. You know, Mary, do
not object to your spending much time in
reading, but do impIore you not to waste
your precious hours in filling your mind
with the worse than useless information
10 be gained from the generality ofnovcls.
Mary united her bonnet, and, tossing
il carelessly on the table, said
"weIl, Mr.. Stanley Lennard, you
ought TO have known me better before
you married me. Your lecture has occu.
pied so much time, that it is too warm to
ride; some other day, when you have
less To saw, ] shall be at your service"
A pang shot through the heart OF Stan
ley. He made no reply, and was about
to leave the house, when the "small SER
want" opened the door, and said there
was n woman below who related a tale
Of great distress, and solicited relief.
IL am sure she tells the truth ina am"
she added, "for never saw so miserable
an object"
"Nonsense," said Mary "she is no
doubt an irnposier. ] saw enough of
them III Philadelphia and cannot he i'm
posed upon. Tell her have nothing
Tor her. "
ttC