The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1851-07-26

I
that he took any advantage of Mis-
Smiths liberality regarding the door.
Miss Smith was town-bred, dashin:
milliner, rather social, and ready to i'm
part information regarding former con
quests in town, even to her apprentices
girls, so long as they were content t
| admire and wonder at a respectful dis
tance; but amid all her condescensior
she never once allowed "our Ida" t.
forget the immeasurable distance tha
existed between a bleach-box and {
wash-tub.
She sat before her two apprentice
girls with one foot resting on the tor
of bonnet block, twisting up little
bows of ribbons, and admiring the eff
feet, like Calypso and her nymphs-
that is, supposing the goddess had ever
ccndescended to become useful without
the least shadow of necessity, as Miss
Smith affirmed was the case with her
self. Sometimes the lady would steal
a glance through her black ringlets, to
observe if the lawyer was remarking
the elegance of her position; and as
the girls seldom lifted their eyes in that
direction, it was easy to indicate the
force of her charms by exclamations
Of
"Dear me! I wonder why Mr. Gil
bert is always looking this way? What
can he find so interesting? | really
wish he would not sit SO exactly against
the door,"
Had the girls looked towards the
lawyers office at such times they would
have seen him TRANQUILITY poring over a
very new volume in paper binding,
with his back turned towards the door,
his chair balanced on two legs, and his
feet resting on the edge of table
covered with law books in sheepskin
backs, perfectly untarnished, a pair Of
boxing gloves, quantities of wrapping
paper, and pens without number. If
Mr.. Gilbert was attracted by the bold
black eyes which were so often bent
upon him, or the beauty of a neck more
than usually exposed when the weather
was warm enough for the doors to be
left open, he was enough of lawyer
to avoid the observation of witnesses to
bis delinquencies, and although Miss
Smiths evidence passed very well be-
fore her elder apprentice and dear, un-
sophisticated Ida, it was good for moth
ing in court of law, and no damages
were likely TO follow.
1tweuld have been very unpfinci-
pied thing in the young lawyer had the
deep founces and pretty cap, which
Miss Smith set for him, taken effect
for he was already engaged to another
and younger lady who had jnst returned
from boarding school in New Haven;
and the fine old homestead, which stood
l little back from the church, embow-
cred in a grove of oaks, and with an
DID, fashioned flower garden attached,
was at that very moment tumultuous
with the noise of workmen who were
it for the reception of bride
lawyer Gilbert's bride.
Once or twice Mr.. Gilbert did actu-
lily lift his eyes from the paper-bound
volume, when his position admitted of
he effort without too much trouble, and
ooked earnestly into the rnilliner's
'oom, but as Miss Smith leaned her
head forward and caught side glance
through the interstice thus made be-
weeu two of her longest curls, she
aw that his eyes were fixed not on her,
,ut on the dropping lids and dark lashes
# Ida, the washerwoman's daughter.
He might well gaze on the innocent
picture of that young girl, as she sat on
! low stool bending over her work, with |
Ter dark hair twisted in a single mas
i've braid around her finely moulded |
lead, her tiny foot creeping out from |
he folks of her calico dress, and her |
mall hand futtering about the rose
,olored silk she was sewing, like bird
with flower; and the mil
iner might indeed experience an un-
comfortable sensation as she turned her
eyes on the unconscious pos
essor of so much loyeliness-especially
S lawyer Gilbert never turned a page
hat afternoon without stealing look |
t the gentle girl from over the top of
is volume.
The next morning Ida was banished
D a front window, directly out of range
nth the door. The prettiest prospect
lay before it, and the poor
irl was delighted with the change
red to the fields as she had been, it
yas so pleasant to look up from her
York now and then and rest her aching
yes with glance at the green trees
nd the cool blue sky beyond. She
7as very grateful for the change in her
osition, and thanked the milliner so
weetly again and again, that the lady
eally began to applaud herself for
aving done kind action-a sensation
rhich, from its extreme novelty, must
ave been veryIagreeable. s
Directly before Lida's window was
ampled green sward, divided by the
ighway as it curved up from the val
". Opposite to it stood huge willow
ee, with a profusion of delicate foliage
rooping over its heavy branches to the
round. Behind this tree was two
ory house, white as snow-drift, and
lrrounded by close thickets; large
ortico was over the front door, and
round one of its slender pillars single
vine had twisted itself :