The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-11-04
THE OLD CLOAK.

TT8y, WI. NOrtOu, cXCidiheu
lively lady to a fashionably dressed
handsome young man, who was standing
beside her at an evening party, spray,
do you intend to remain an old bachelor
ell your daysi Since your return from
Europe l have been continually expect
ing to hear of your marriage, but here
you have been, two years, and you are
still, to all appearance, in stasu quo,
as the lawyers say"
My dear Mrs. Hinton" replied the
young gentleman, with smile, l vii
be frank and tell you the real reason o.
my remaining general admirer of the
sex, instead of con6ning my attention:
to any one bright, particular star how
ever much l may be dazzled by It's bril-
liancy. am actually afraid to marry
Afraid !" echoed the lady, opening
her dark eyes to their widest extent with
astonishment &C Faint heart never
won,' you know. Are you afraid te
propose 7"
No, madam, afraid to marry. You
will laugh at me. I dare say, when tel
you my seat 10 church has a great deal
to do with my solitary state, which seems
so much to excite your SURPRISE"
Why, yes" replied Mrs. Hinton,
" one is always surprised when young
man who-without meaning to fatter
you-is certainly favorite in society,
here Mr.. Norton made her q polite
bow, and who has an independent for
tune, still refrains from choosing one Of
the many fair damsels whom he meets,
to superintend his establishment But
what influence your seat in church can
have upon the matter, am at loss to
imagine"
"You must know, then, that sit
just behind Miss LaMode, in Dr.. Right
heads church. and the sight of her
velvet cloak absolutely. frightens me
from the thought of marrying q wife who
may one day say to me, Ny dear, /
am dying for new velvet cloak; please
t. give me two or three hundred dollars,
and l will 90 to Stewards and buy one. ,
How should shudder 10 hear such a
request ?"
Really, Mr.. Norton. this is too alb
surd, for you, with your fortune, to talk
in such a manner. l shall begin to
think you a miser. Your wife might
dress as extravagantly As she chose, and
it would not injure you. And surely
you do not object to . lady's wearing .
velvet cloak Z"
81 do not object to anything that is
consistent, but / cannot help thinking
splendid velvet, such as Queen Victoria
herself might be satisfied with for cor
onation robe, sadly out of place when 1t
is we'll known that Miss LaMode's father
does not even pa his butcher or baker.
Ii were one of his poor creditors l
should be tempted to take the cloak from
the young lady, in the street, and sell
it for what it would bring"
Mrs. Hinton sat silent at this speech
Her conscience reproached her, for she
knew that she had on that day, purchas-
ed an elegant new mantle, although her
husband had requested her to be as
economical as possible in her expendi-
lures, as he found it difficult, in those
trying times, to meet all the demands
made upon his purse. She was woman
however, of generous feelings, as yet
uuhardeued by resisting good impulses,
and she secretly resolved to take back
the mantle the next day and prevail
upon the shopman to receive it, since it
was not yet paid for. All this passed
through her mind with the rapidly of
lightning, and she turned round with q
smile to address Mr.. Norton, when an
over-dressed young lady, who had been
sitting, an interested listener to the con-
versation, suddenly interposed
eff Mr.. Norton wants an economical
wife," said she, 81 would recommend
him to offer himself to Emily Harwood.
1 think she will suit him exactly, for she
has worn an old cloak all winter, with
no alteration-one which she has had
for two years at least, to my knowledge. %
Mr.. Norton looked at thespcaker, and
the unamiable expression of her coun-
tenance sunk her in his estimation for
ever, although he had hitherto regarded
her as very pretty and interesting, and
had sometimes even thought it almost
possible to love Caroline Howard we'll
enough to marry her, if he could only
hope TO cure her Of her passion for dress
which she displayed. But this remark
sealed hor fate, - far - he was con-