The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-02-07

her, and putting his arms around her waist to
draw her upon his lap.
She gently withdrew herself saying
"Brutus, | am IN earnest! | am not a coquette,
practicing upon your affection. | am In earnest
therefore respect me, Brutusn
"Prude-peacock-ro ck--iciceln
None of the four, Brutus, but simply serious
! tell you that my adopted father says that an
invincible obstacle TO our union exists. That
being the case, Brutus you should consider me
one set apart-a nun-and respect my isolation"
CO lnvincible obstacle!' | wonder If you are
my sister, Can't be-both my parents being
dead twenty years May be you are leper, or
subject of hydrophobia Say, are you sound in
mind and body, Zoe?"
Zoe laughed.
"How do know sleep sound and eat
hearty, and have good memory aud good
power of calculation for the rest, never should
know | had body, if did not sometimes see it
in the glass and | should be unconscious of a
mind if did not sometimes overlook it,"
perhaps you are too high for me-may be
George Thirds daughter or too low for me-
may be Kate Jumpers child Zoe, have you any
idea of what this 'invincible obstacle is?"
mot the slightest"
"Zoe there is no OJstaclei Isay it, Zoe. The
devil! Don't make me swear. What obstacle
can exist if | choose to look it out of existence -
Before Zoe had time to reply the college door
opened, and the old schoolmaster entered.
How do you do, Brutus2 What no one here
but you ~ inquired the old man, rs he sank into
the chair Brutus FASTENED to hand him.
"Where is Miss Lon--where is Miss ORR
ley7"
"Miss ORiley is particularly engaged at home,
as | understand and my sister is breaking IN a
colt to-day, and begs you will excuse her attend
ance that latter clause is lie, by the way"
! II oraH prnfn IN r.
| sent an excuse in her life"
Excuse her-excuse her. exclaimed the old
man, in sharp and rasping tone; excuse her !!
yes I'll eIcuse her 0ttnd0nce, but not the payment
of her fees Her lesson will be charged all the
same as though she had receivedit"
Had shell fallen and exploded in their midst
the establishment, the CONSERVATION OF zoe could
not have been greater. At the first words OF his
last reply, she had pricked up her ears incredu-
lousy; she heard his conclusion with dumb
founded amazement Her old father-her simple,
child-like, old father-grown mercenary Her
liberal father grown misery Hergenerous father
grown exactiDg.
q Yes. YOU may look at men continued the old
man dogeedly drawing his chair to the fire, you
may look ut me, Zoe. Brutus get your lesson
You have nothing to do with gazing at my daugh-
ter You may look at me, Zoe, but am deter
mined to turn over a new leaf am. | am deter
determined to have mOney, mOney, mornv! And
that reminds me, Brutus, that it is time for you
to pay your second month, if you are going to
pay il in advance"
Zoe lONsed at the old u,aS, AVID then at the sur
prised and perplexed face of Brutus, and pressed
ttosn email nands Iege>n~a, Sino, perhaps, rs
have an excuse for leaving the hateful lessons,
now that the presence Of the old man imposed
restraint upon his conversation with Zoe, Brutus
- q. 4 A,I
ayes, forgot this is the first Of the month
Suffer me to return home, and | will bring my
own and my sisters tuition fees for February"
ayes, | suffer you; 60, CO." said the old man.
holding open the door for him to pass
"No, Brutus, no don't CO." exclaimed Zoe
springng past her father, and catching his hand
Father is III; he does not know what he is
talking Of Don't you see he is i'll? ?"
"Sit down, Zoe" growled the old man.
"a will return soon, dear Zoe" said Brutus
hurryng from The door.
ooh. father!n said Zoe, dropping into chair
" for you TO serve Brntus so.n
But the sight of the old man startled her He
had sunk into chair, pale and exhausted, and
tears were coursng down his withered cheeks.
Alarmed for him now, Zoe started up and ran to
him
what is it, father dear father, what is it ~
Oh, Zoe my child, my baby-my poor baby
if the Lord in his mercy, would take him to him
self tonight
& What is the matter dearest father? ~ ex-
claimed Zoe pale with a vague terror.
d" Alas, Zoe, how much money have we got ~
Enough to last two weeks yet, father-six
dollars
"Six dollars! My Lord, what is six dollars,
Zoe?n
"Sir ~
GLOW much viii this new carpet sell for?"
"Dear father | am sure do not know. 1t cost
almost nothing and do not know how much the
work is WORTH
"Wemust sell it, Zoe; we must sell every thing
that we can we must get money And" broke
forth the old man, with savage energy, "my
pupils! they shall pay me- | nil have money !"