Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-09-05

content 10 admire and wonder ut respectful
distance; but amid all her condesccnsions she
never once allowed "our Ida" to forget the
immcasurabe distance that existed between a
bleach box and wash tub. Sometimes the
lady would quietly steal glance through her
black ringlets 10 observe if the lawyer was re-
marking the elegance of her position, and as
the girls seldom lifted their eyes in that direc-
ton, it was easy to indicate the force Of her
charms by exclamatons of, Dear me! i won.
der why Mr.. Gilbert is always looking this
way! What can he find so interestingly re-
ally wish he would not sit so exactly against
the door,
Had the girls looked toward the lawyers
office at such times, they would have seen him
TRANQUILITY poring overa very new volume in
paper binding, with his back turned toward
the door, his chair balanced on two legs, and
his feet resting on the edge of a table, covered
with law books in sheep.skin backs, perfectly
untarnished, pair Of boxing gloves, flute, a
quantity of wrapping paper, and pens without
number.
Itwould have been very unprincipled thing
in the young lawyer, had the deep founces
and pretty cap, which Miss Smith set for him,
taken cfect-for he was already engaged to
younger lady who had just returned from a
boarding school in New Haven and the fine
old homestead which stood little back from
the church, embowered in grove of oaks, and
with an old fashioned flower garden attached,
was at that very moment tumultuous with the
noise OF workmen who were preparing it for
the reception of bride-lawyer Gilbert's
BRIDE
Once or twice Mr.. Gilbert did actually lift
his eyes from the paper bound volume, and
looked earnestly into the milliners room, but
as Miss Smith leaned her head, and cast a side
glance through the intcrstice thus made be-
tween two OF her longest curls she saw that his
eyes were fxednot OH her, but on the dropping
lids and dark lashes of Ida, the washer.wo.
mans daughter. lie might well gaze upon the
innocent picture Of that young girl, rs she sat
on low stool, bending over her work with her
dark hair twisted in single massive braid
around her finely monded head, a tiny foot
creeping out from the folds of her calico dress,
and her small hand Auttering about the rose
colored silk she was sewing. likea birdcoquet-
ting with flower. And the milliner might,
indeed, experience an uncomfortable sensation,
as she turned her kirdling eyes OH the uneon-
scious possessor OF SO mu, h lovcliness-espe-
cialIy rs lawyer Gilbert never turned page
that afternoon without stealing q look at the
gentle gill from over the top OF his volume.
The next morning Lid;,, was banistcd to a
front window, direrty out Of range with the
door. The preticst prospect imaginable lay
before it, and the poor girl was delighted with
the change Bred 10 the fields as she had
been, it was so pleasant to look up from her
work now and then, and rest her aching eyes
with glance at tilc green trees, aud the cool
blue sky beyond. She was very grateful for
the change in her position; and thanked the
m;lner SO swec;Iy again aud again, that the
lady really began to applaud herself for having
done kind acton-a sensation which, from
its extreme novelty, must have been extremely
agreeable.
Directly before Lida's window was close
ly tramplrd green sward divided by the high
WAY rs it curved r1 from the valley Behind
this was one story house, white us a snow
drift, and surrounded by thickcts; large por-
tico was over the front door, and around one
of its slender pillars Il single honey sucklc vine
had twisted itself like a wreath. The house
was so near that Ida could almost count the
crimson blossoms from her seat by the window,
and when the young girl would come into the
porico with Il book, which she never read, or
an embroidery frame whibh she never used,
Ida wonld ply her needle with great diligence,
and blush to he so earnestly regarded by the
most accomplished and naughty girl in our vii
lagc. She knew this young lady was the in
tended bride OF Mr.. Gilbert, but never dreamed
that it was his presence near the window, with
his flute, that drew Miss Warmers attention to
the building. Poor Ida, in the innocence OF
her heart, she was beginning TO think that the
boarding school graduate had taken fancy
to her. aud was desirous of an acquaintance.
In order to interest lawyer Gilbert, Miss
Smith had already exhausted all positive means
of attack. She had sent to his room for a vol
ume of Byron she doaed on his poetry, it
was so soft, and would be obliged if Mr.. Gil
bert would favor her by the loan of Childe
Harold or his Comedies.
Mr.. Gilbert returned answer that his copy
of Byron was sent to Miss Warren, across the
way.
Miss Smiths compliments again. "Would
Mr.. Gilbert oblige her by playing that lovely
air once more, Miss Smith was so delighted
with it,.
Mr. Gilbert unscrewed his flute, laid it on
the table, and then returned his most respect
fu compliments to Miss Smith; but the ptiy-
sician had forbidden him TO practice more than
fifteen minutes at time, under any clrcum-
stances.