Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-07-25

paper binding, with his back turned towards the
door his chair balanced OH two legs, and his
feet resting on the edge Of L table covered
with law books in shccp-skin backs, perfectly
untarnshcd, a pair Of boxing gloves, flute,
quantities OF wrapping paper, and pens W thout
number.
If Mr. Gilbert really was attracted by the
bold black eyes which were so often bent upon
hlnl, or the beauty of n neck more than usually
exposed when The weather was warm enough
for the doors to be left open, he was enough of
a lawyer to avoid the obs rvatIon of witnesses
to his delinquenccs; and though Miss Smiths
evidence passed very well before her elder APP
prcnt ce, and dear, unsophisiicatcd Ida, it was
good for nothing in a court Of law, and no dam
ages were likely to follow.
1t would have been a very unprincipled thing
in the young lawyer, had the deep ilunnCcs and
pretty cap which Miss SMITH set for him, taken
ciiect-ior he was already engaged to Younger
lady, who had Just returned from a bolrling
school in Now Haven: and the fine old home
stead which stood IL lit @ back from the church,
embowercd in a grove of olks. and with an Old
fashioned flower garden attachcl was at thqt
very mOmcn tumutuors with the noise oi'work-
men who were preparing it for the reception Of
bridc-awyer Gllber'S bride.
li, n,.,s ro,,, ,l,, ,,,,,or ,,,,1 ,.'l,,,,o Ln,,
lns ,tasit;an ,da,;,.nd ,r ,l,n niY,r, ,,lor, toa
much trouble, and looked earnestly into the
millncrs room, but as Miss Smith leaned her
head, and cast side glance through the in
,crstico thus made between two of her loncest
curls she saw that his eyes were fixed not on
her. but on the dropping lids and dark lashcs
of Ida, the washCrwomans daughter.
lie nirht well r,ze on the innocent picture
of that yolnr cirl. as she sat on a low stool.
bending over her work with her dark hair twls-
ted in a SINGLE m1ssjyr braid around her finely
moulded head. her tiny foot crcepnr ont from
the fol Is Of her calico dress. and her small hand
tlu,terinr about the rose colored silk she was
sewing. like bird coque:ting with Il fowcr.-
And the mil!lner lnirht. indeed. experience an
uncomfortable sensation as she turned her
kinlliur eyes on the unconscious posSassor of
so much lovcline,s especially as lawyer Gil
bert never turned plre that afternoon, with
ont stealing a look at the gentle girl, over the
top Of his volume.
The next morning, Ida was banishcd to Il
front window, directly out of range with the
door. The prcttlcSt prospect lmnTlnabc lay
before IT, and the poor gir. was delighted with
the change. Bred to the fields as she had been,
it was 50 pleasant 10 look up from her work
now ana then ana rest nor aCnlng eyes WIN Il
glance at the green trees, and the cool blue
SKY beyond. She was very grateful for the
chlnrc in her position, and thanked the milli-
ncr 50 "cctly, again and again, that the lady
really began TO applaud herself for having done
a kind actlon--a sensation which, from its cX-
trene novelty, must have been extremely agree
able.
ID rccty before Lda's window was closely
tramplcd grcensward divided by the highway
as it curved up from the valley. OPPOSITE
stood a huge willow tree, with prouslan OF
delicate t,llage drooring oyers heavy branches
10 the ground. Behind this tree was two
story house, white as 4 snow drift, aud sur
rounded by those lhicEels large porlico was
over the front door, and around onr of its sler-
der pillars a single hol e2sucile vine had twisted
itself like IA wreath. The house was so neal
that Ida could almost count the crimson
blossoms from Ler seat by the window, and
when the young girl would come into the poi-
'ico with Il book, which she never read. or al
embroidery frame which She never used, Ida
would ply her needle with Great diligence and
blush TO be 50 earnestly regarded by ,hr most
accomplished and hnughtv grl in our VILLAGE