The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-02-28

Kate Jumper handed her mistress her dressing
gown. and disappeared to obey her orders.
She returned in an instant to say, that Miss
| O,Riley would wait on Mrs Armstrong in half
an hour. And, by the time the stately toilet OF
the dowsger was completed, Britannia raped for
admittance
Britannia, in an elegant morning dress of dark
blue satin, with black lace falls-Brighty always
made un grand toile,is' whsa she expected to en-
counter pride and arrogance in others-so Brigh-
ty presented herself, making her morning saluta-
ton with easy dignity.
,"You may retire, Kate. sent for you Miss
O'Rilcy,tO say, that after to-day, as your sevices
to Miss Armstrong-or, rather, to Mrs. Stuart
Gordon-will no longer be required, your further
stay at Mont Crystal can be dispensed with.
aware that you are engaged by the year, and
thm four or five months remain. Will you draw
that wrting-desk towards me ~
you will excuse me, no, Mrs. Armstrong
No part Of your service, Ell! Wen, truly,
hised you as goyerness. not 9 waiting aud
servants of all grades are great sticklers for
rank
Excuse me again, Mrs Armstrong, but the
desk is in your reach and out of mine besides, |
fancy you are stronger in the arms than myself.
However "-and Brightly, by second and better
impulse took hold of the desk, and wheeled it be-
fore the lady.
81 was about to say, Miss ORiley,o said the
lady, unlocking the desk, and taking from it a
roll of bank-notes, "that for these four or five
months am willing to pay you half-year's sala-
ry" And she rendered Britannia the money,
Brightly waved it back
"No, Mrs Armstrong cannot accept dollar
beyond the amount of my salary up to this day
| shall leave your house to morrow" And, cour-
tesying, Britannia withdrew from the room.
In truth, the prospects of Britannia were not
cheering, She would have died rather than have
accepted one dollar beyond her salary up to the
date Of her dismissal, or have remained another
day at Mont Crystal
Poor Brightly Extravagant love of dress and
jewellery kept her nearly penniless. And when
she regained her own apartment, aud counted over
her slender stock Of money, and found only the
change of her last hall-eagle, she was nearly in
despair.
Brightly was no heroine and you are not to
expect any Of the heroic virtues to be manifested
in her character or conduct; SO she walked about
the floor, communipg with herself, as follows:
"Well we'll, what am TO do? | might have
saved three or four hundred dollars if had been
economical, and worn calico dresses and horn
combs; or, being extravagant as | have been, |
might have still remained here, i'll had submitted
to Mrs Armstrong; arrogance oh, Brightly,
Brightly, sec what you have done by being vain,
eytrayagant, and ill-tempered Economy is so
cOmmendable, and meekness is so charming, and
do so thoroughly admire both Yet the mischief
of it is, can neither fret my senses by coarse
clothing, or my temper by other peoples AFRO
gance. Oh, Brightly you were cut out for a
princess, and spoiled in the making up! You are
dislocsted queen. Now where away2 shall
never, never find another In xurious home, another
really superb patron, flor Mrs. Armstrong is
thar, with all her ilness,) or another refined
pupil, in the StatAs Oh shall probably End
my self governess TO hS&s dozen double-chinned,
short-nosed girls and boys, who munich raw tur-
nips in school, and whose mother cuts out her
own cloth clothes, and cowhdes her own maids.
Oh, Britannia, britannia, see what you have done
| for yourself by your regal ans! And then you
must refuse General Stuart Gordon! Was there
ever such an egregious fool as Britannia ORR
ley?n And Brightly thought gratefully aud re-
morsefully of General Stuart Gordon.
"He is fond of me, at any rate and after all is it
not as well for girl like me to be passively loved
as actively loving }" said Brightly, smoothing her
ripglets and adjusting her dress
& Brightly ~ said the. bride the same morning,
"there is one great privilege in having home Of
ones omnD
"You have always had such home, my loven
ain being mistress of home, then -
"And such a splendid home, Louise
alt is that one may share it with their best
friendsm exclaimed the bride, throwing herself in
| Brighty's arms. "Oh, Brightly come home with
me, and be my sister, until you are married your
sefn
Brightly slightly started at the last supposition,
and looked keenly at Louise She only saw the
hitherto pale girl with her eyes bright as stars
and her lips apart and dewy with happiness and
hope. Brightly smiled in her eyes and caressed
her hair
"My love, thnnk you! But consider This
is most unreasonable request of yoursp
Why, BnghyY' exclaimed the BRIDE in as
constituent.
"Why, yes, love Think IL, You and Louis
would be the most insupportahle hosts on earth
! for the next month or two Think Of IL! month
with a newly -married bride and groom should
expire Of ennui p and, laughing, Brightly hurried
away TO escape her farther importantly.
Then, fastening back with sudden impulse,
she caressed her
"My sweet Louise, am grateful for all your
love and goodness indeed am But | cannot
accept IT, Louise! 1t is not erpediem that
shouldr
ooh, Brightly, if you would be persuaded,
should be so happyW
"You will be happy, Louise you are happy
and am so glad to witness it. There is Louis I.
Go meet hmp and Brightly, discngagng herself
from the embrace of Louise, fastened away-has-
tened away from the breakfast room, where this
conversation took place--to the saloon, in which
most of the guests who had remained all night
were assembled.
Here she encountered General Stuart-Gordon,
who, taking both her hands, and pressing them,
looked with penetrating gaze in her eyes, and
began to say
Brightly -
al permit no one but the young girls of my
acquaintance to address me so familiarity, General
Stuart Gordon y said Brightly, trying to with.
draw her hands and to repress the smile that
mould CLEAN out from under her long eyclashcs,
and hutter in the corners of her lips
% Au repo;y, young Lady p said the mature lover,
gayly, squeezing both her hands until the jewel
led rings upon them den,ed his fat hands, and,
bowling tremendously he let her pass.
General Stuart Gordon had caught glimpse
of that repressed but cleaning smile, aud It was
wonderful the effect wonderful how lightly
stepped about that heavy man how gayly smiled
and talked that grave man until several matrons
in the saloon, wishing to compliment him, said,
"The marriage of your son restores your youth,
General Stuart Gordon p
A piece Of information with which the migrate
ful General did not seem to be particularly de-
lighted an,
"This popular idea Of growing old is an illu"
sion, Mesdames p he said. Gage, is a movable
FEAST y
"a movable fast rather, General" replied the
ladies, laughing.
General Stuart-G Gordon smiled, bowed, and
passed out to seek his daughter-in-law, oil whom