Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-09-12
THE MOCK MARRIAGE.
BY MRS. ANN 8. STEPHENS.
/To.J,xI,l

(Concluded)
How melancholy poor Ida had been all the
previous day; how many strange conjectures
had passed through her brain, regarding the re-
markable absence Of MIR. Gilbert. They haunt.
ed her all night, and, in the morning when she
came along the foot path through the fields,
tears stood in her eyes more than halt the way.
She had cast many sad, earnest gaze through
the shop window. before she saw Gilbert and
Miss Warner coming through the opposite por-
tico. The sight made the heart struggle with
throb of pain in Lidas bosom, and mist
came over her eyes till they could scarcely dis.
cern the needle with which she seemed occu
pied They were coming toward the shop,
and the sound Of footsteps in the entry made
the young girl tremble on her seat.
Come" said Miss Warner, addressing the
mliner, "put on your bonnet We are going
up to the house, and we want your opiiiou."
Miss Smith ran for her bonnet and for the
first time in her life the young lady addressed
the apprentice.
"Get your sun bonnet" she said, "you can
90 with US
The blood rushed over Lida's face, and she
would have refused; but Miss Warner whis.
pered word to her lover, aud he pressed Ida
to 90 with such respectful earnestuess that she
arose, tied on her little straw bonnet, aud was
ready to attend them long before Miss Smith
made her appearance.
The homestead WAS a large and superior
old mansion for Il country village. lis materi-
al was heavy, and touched with the brown tnge
of age; the trees around it were majestic, aud
its shrubbery Iuxurant; its turnitrre was that
of another century, old fashioned aud massive,
but Gilbert had iIterspersed it with chairs and
tables of lighter and more recent model; aud
the gloom which low ceilings give to an apart
ment, was relieved by tall mirrors aud modern
windows which were cut from ceiling to floor.
Altogether, it was the dwelling which a do
mestic and studions person would have prefer
red above all others.
Lida had never seen anything half so splen-
did before, but there was heavy feeling at her
heart which mere novelty could not dispe. She
followed her conductors up the b:oad stairs,
heard them admire the Dallusters Of dark ma
hogany, aud walked through the chambers like
one in a dream. She was pale, bewildered,
and sick ut heart, almost for the first time i'll
her life
There was one room on the first floor, which
Gilbert had fitted up exclusively Tor his bride.
1t had but one bay window, which opened up
on the most verdaut nook of the old fashioned
garden, and this window required no drapery,
for an immense white rose tree was trained
along the easement till profusion Of thick
Green leaves and snowy blossoms dropped like
q eurtain over the upper part and, when the
sash was open, storm Of fragrant euves fell
like snow flakes all over the rich old easy chair
and moss like carpet, which decorated the
room. On curious little table, with legs car
vedand twisted together like knot oil serpents,
Law a guitar, with an azure ribbon attached, and
vet unused; a superb old bookcase, crowded
with newly bound volumes, stood opposite the
bav window, and little French work table,
perfectly new, occupied corner close BY.
Miss Warner fung herself Oh seat, and ia
king up the guitar, began to trtie with the
strings, and as she turned with AL unpleasant
smile towards Lida-..
"How would you like this room for. your
own :" she said.
"Me9" laid Ida, family, 81 have never
dreamed Of living in such place as this.
"But you can live here if you like" replied
the milliner.
| any mother was we'll off once, and she
would not let me live out for anything" said
the apprentice for she could only inlas sine that
Miss Warner wished to engage her for help"
when she should take possession of the home.
| stead; "besides ! am not strong enough for
very hard work.