The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-09-10
THE LITTLE GRAY GOSSIP.

The LITTLE GhAH GOSSlP.
Soon after Cousin Cons marriage, we were
invited to stay for few weeks with the newly
married couple, during the festive winter sea-
son. So away we went with merry hearts, the
clear frosty air and pleasant prospect before
us inVigOrating our spirits, as we took our
places inside the good old mail coach, which
passed through the town of P, where Cousin
Con resided-for there were no railroads then.
Never was there a kinder or more genial soul
than Cousin Con; and David Danvers, the
goodman, as she laughingly called him, was, if
possible, kinder and more genial still. They
were surrounded by substantial comforts, and
delighted to see their friends in q sociable,
easy way, and to make them snug and cosy
our arrival being the signal for succession Of
such COnvivialites.
Very mirthful and enjoyable were those eve
nlngs; Tor Cons presence always shed radiant
sunshine, and David honest broad face BEAM
ed upon her with affectionate pride. During
the days of their courtship at our house, they
had perhaps INDUCED in billing and cooiug
little too freely when in company with others,
for sober, middle aged lovers like themselves,
thereby lying open to animadversions from
prlm splnsters, who wondered that Miss Con-
stance and Mr.. Danvers made themselves so
ridiculous. But now all this nonsense had So
bered down, and nothing could be detected
beyond sly glance or a squeeze of the hand
now and then; yet we often quizzed them about
by-goncs, and declared that engaged pairs were
msutferable-we could always find them out
among a hundred.
III bet you any thing yov like" cried
Cousin Con, with good humored laugh, 'that
among our guests coming this evening" (there
was to be tea-Junketing,) you'll not be able
to point out the engaged couple-for there will
be only one such present-thOugh plenty of |
lads and lasses that would like to be so happi- |
ly situated. But the couple | allude to are
real turtle doves, and yet l defy you to find
them out"
&C Done, Cousin Con!" we exclaimed; ''and
what shall we wager?''
"Gloves. gloves to be sure!'' cried David.
Ladies always wager gloves; though | can
tell you, my Con is on the safe side now - and
David rubbed his hands, delighted with the
Joke; aud we already in perspective beheld our
glovC-b box enriched with half a dozen pair Of
snowy French sevens.
Never had we felt more interested in watch
ing the arrivals and movements of strangers
than on this evening, for our honor was con-
CCrned, to detect the lovers, and raise the veil.
Papas and mamas, and masters and misses
came trooping in; old ladies, and middle-aged;
old gentlemen, and middle aged--until the
number amounted to about thirty, and Cousin
Con 5 drawing rooms were comfortably filled.
We closely scrutiniZed all the young folks, and
so intently but covertly watched their proceed
ings, that we could have revealed several in-
nocent flirtatiOns but nothing appeared that
could lead us to the turtle doves and their en-
gagement. Atlength we really had hopes, and
esCOncGd ourselves IN a corner, to observe the
more cautiously tall beautiful girl, whose
eyes incessantly turned towards the door Of
the apartment; while each time it opened ia
admit any one, she sighed and looked disap-
pointed, as that one was not the one she yearI-
ed to see. We were deep in a reverie, con-
Junng up a romance of which she was the
heroine, when a little lady, habited in gray,
whose age might be three score unCeremoni-
ously seated herself beside US, and Immediate
ly commenced conversation by asking if we
were admlrng pretty Annie MortimGr-fol-
lowing the direction Of our looks. On receiv-
ing reply in the affirmative, she continued:
'Ah, she good, affGChOnate girl; great
fayorite of mine is sweet Annie Mortimer"
Watching for her lover, no doubt?' we
venturcd to say hoping to gain the desired
information, and thinking Of our white kid
gloves. "She Is an engaged young lady2'
Engaged! engaged cried the little ami
mated lady: emo indeed. The fates forbid!
Annie Mortimer is not engaged" The ex
preston Of the little ladys Countenance al
our bare suppositiOn of 50 natural a fact
amounted almost to the ludicrOus. and VT
with some difficulty articulated a serious re.
Joinder, disavowing all previous knowledge
and thereby erring through ignorance. w
had now time to examine our new acquain,
tance more critically. As we have already
stated, she was habited in gray; but not only
was her attire gray, but she was literally gray
all over; gray hair, braided in a peculiar obso
lete fashion, and quite uncovered; gray gloves
gray shoes; and above all, gray eyes, soft
large, and peculiarly sad in expression, ye
beautiful eyes, redeeming the gray, monoto
from ukgClu+a Mo
Mary Queen of Scots, we are told, had gra
eyes; and even she, poor lady, owned not NOR
speaking or history telling orbs than did thi
little unknown gossip in gray. But our at
tentiOn was diverted from the contemplate
BY the entrance of another actor on the stage
TO whom Annie Mortimer darted forwar
with an exclamation of delight and welcome
The new conner was slender, elderly gentle
man, whose white hairs, pale face, and benig
nant expression, presented nothing remarka
Bile in their aspect, beyond a certain air O
elegance and refinement which characterize
the whole outward man.
That is charming looking old gentle
man said we TO the gray lady; ''is he An
ME S father?'
Her father 0, dear no. That gentle
man is a bachelor; but he is Annie's guar
dian, and has supplied the place of fathe
to her Tor poor Annie is an orphan
ON: we exclaimed, and there was a grea
deal OF meaning in our OH for had we no
read and heard Of youthful wards falling il
love with their guardians? and might not the
fair Annie taste incline this wayYS The littlt
gray lady understood our thoughts for sh,
smiled, but said nothing: and while we wer,
absorbed with Annie and her supposed anti
quated lover, she glded into the circle, ant
presently we beheld Annies guardian wifi
Annie leaning on his arm, exchange a few
words with her in an undertone, as she passe,
them to an inner room.
Who is that pleasing looking old gentle
mann said We to our hostess; 7'and what
the name Of the lady in gray, who went AVA
Just as you came up2 That is Annie Mort