The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1851-09-18
WESTERLY, R. l., SEPTEMBER l8, 1851

possible that one can be so thoughtless.
met her father and mother some distance
on their way to church as came along.''
Just then Anna came hurrying down
stairs. 1t lacked four minutes, to church
time and the walk was one of full ten
minutes.
81 am sorry to have kept you waiting,'
said Anna. But really I had no idea it
was so late. hardly notice the flight Of
time"
owe shall be late," was Atoms only
reply to this.
81 know we will. But we must walk
fast. O! I have left my handkerchief.' -
She glided up stairs, and did not come
down again for two or three minutes
They seemed as long period as ten min
utes to the mind Of Alton.
When the young couple entered the
church, the minister was reading portion
of tho service. All was silence-deep and
profound attention Their coming in evil
dently disturbed the congregation. This
was felt acutely by Alton, who never en-
joyed public worship so little in his life.
After all was over, he returned with
Anna to her home. But he said little on
the way. He could not His mind was
too much disturbed. His abstraction of
manner was so marked that even Anna
could not help noticing it. She never re-
membered to have seen him so dull. AT
the door of her fathers house he bowed
formally and retired.
"How could you do 50, Anna ?" asked
her mother, as soon as she entered the
house.
"Do what, mother 20
"Come so late to church, after all
said to you this morning. And, worse
than all, to keep Mr.. Alton waiting for you
until after the service commenced. II
was plain that he was greatly annoyed"
"I did not see that he was," Anna re-
turned with slight expression of surprise,
But she now remembered that he said We
ry little while either going or coming. 1t
might be that her mothers suggestion was
too near the truth Anna was not happy
during the rest of the day.
cit is no use Disgusting the fact" said
Alton to himself, as he walked slowly
homeward. "She will not suit me. l
should be worried out of my life by her
want of punctuality. Three times has she
subjected me to annoyance and mortifca-
ton. How wouldit be if l were subjected
to such things every day of my liie' 1t
would kill me outright! No-no-Anna
Minor you are sweet, fascinating
creature. l love you more than | dare
confess to myself But 1 cannot make you
my wife. No, that would be risking too
much"
Thus reason urged. But feeling was
not so easily subdued. 1t pleaded long
for the charming girl-but it pleaded in
vain. Alton was young man of decided
character. He never permitted himself to
take step that his judgment clearly con-
demned.
81 havn't seen you with Anna Minor,
lately" said a friend to him few months
afterwards.
NO"
"How is that 7"
"Why do you ask the question :"
"You used to be very particular in
your attentions in that quarter"
"Perhaps l was, but l am not now"
"She's lovely girl"
"Yes."
"Just the one for YOU"
"No."
"I think she is"
"While l, the party most interested,
think otherwise"
"What is your objection -
"She comes to late to church."
"Whati"
"She is not punctual."
"You are jcsting."
"No;' don't you remember the pic
mic 7"
eyes and how you and she were late,
both in going and returning"
Gall her fault. l don't want a wife