New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-09-02

pacing the room. " impossible. did she not
| refuse me twice and have not disappointment
| and agitation Of mind brought on all my un-
happy diseases, until at last my frame has be-
| come phenomenon
9. Become fddlestick! Will you sit down
| and hear reason -
The invalid sat himself down to suffer the in
Fiction, with air of despair rather than res
ignaton, and Mrs Martha continued:
&c Kate refused you because her mother could
not bear your Eighty and fdgetty ways; never
was there such an attached daughter. Now
the old lady has been dead twelvemontb, and
yesterday, after little cross-examina ton
which put the young lady to out of regard for
your happiness, came to the conclusion, which
don't feel myself justified in explaining more
fully. There is delicacy in these little mat
ters Of the heart. I am not novice in them
You know, cousin, it was quite my own choice
| that haven't been three times widow. There
was Colonel Target, he was killed at Waterloo
poor man he was dying for me long before he
died for his country: and Professor Virgins,
who fell victim TO-
can electric machine! voltaic battery! u
human torpedo
&c Good heavens, cousin, no p exclaimed Mrs.
Martha, in great surprise at the interest Mr..
Hippsley seemed to take in the thrice-told tale
of her admirers, for the unhappy man covered
his eyes with his hand, which he had dashed
wildly against his forehead. Mr.. Wiggins died
of repetion of intellect after of the British
Association meetings. the philosophical discus
sions, and the feasts Of reason, were too much
for him. But what is the matter with you,
| Charles you don't seem so delighted as you
ought to be at the news l have brought you
| though remember have said nothing-Fm not
| authorized to say anything, and would not be-
| tray sweet girls gentle confidence for the
world. Only call at Knightsbridge; try your
fortune once more Did ever tell you how often
poor MIR. Target of the city put the question
to me? should have been rich young widow
now if l had married him. The interference of
that nasty charity commission killed him.
He was one of the directors of the Laying out
| subscription Institution good, kind mani
"My dear cousin,'' said Mr.. Hippsley, sex
cuse my strange conduct. l am aware how
many men you might have made happy had you
so chosen, and | am grateful for your attempt
to restore my peace Of mind. You are an excel
lent creaturen' and the invalid, in q moment of
forgetfulness, held out his hand to Mrs Martha
Meddler. The lady was about to take it, when
with a shudder it was withdrawn.
"Mr, Hippsley, sir! what do you mean Is
there any thing contagious in me, or do you
believe that you have some unfortunate disorder
which renders it advisable that you should not
shake hands with your friends ~
"Excuse me excuse meG' exclaimed the
wretched by pochondriac. s' 1 know my conduct
must appear inexplicable Will you be kind
enough to ring the bell, and my servant shall
see you down stairs. | am unfit for company
me mad to hear the bliss that might be mine
but one dreadful affiiction, brought on by a
combination of diseases arising from the very
cause, which now removed invites me to hap
pness.''
Mr.. Hippsley strobe cross the room, his eyes
raised to the ceiling. and arms extended; till
the palms Of his hands, coming in contact with
the door of his bedroom, it opened at the rude
assault, and he disappeared from the sight OF
the alarmed Mrs Martha Meddler. Ringing
the bell, under the comfortable impression thai
her cousin was lunatic, and wanted a ser
wants care more than she required Patrick!
attendance to the hall, the good lady made thu
best of her way out of the house. Reconstruct
ing shattered resolution, which had offer
been made, on the failure of her kind endeavor
in behalf Of others, never to interfere in matter
that did not Immediately concern her, Mrs
| Martha, in the first integrity of her resolve
had very nearly got to her own house, when al
omnibus obstructed her in etfecting n crossing
which would have taken her directly to the
street where she resided Alas, for the muta-
bility of the human designs! the omnibus was
marked Knightsbridge. If Mrs. Meddler had a
weakness it was an inordinate desire to be OF
service to her friends. In moment the kind
hearted lady made a fourteenth passenger in
the @' Accommodations, a vehicle proceeding at
the rate Of four miles an hour, including fifty
stoppages, from the Bank to Chelsea When
our traveller reached Miss Thornton's habitation
| she had come to the determination of making O
report of her visit to Mr.. Hippsley: and in
justice to her young friend, assure her of his
insanity.
The worthy maiden lady had penetrated the
secret Of the fair GATHERINGS attachment to hel
whimsical lover, and had in consequence lost ne
| time in g bringing matters to bear''-her favo.
rite phrase in such little arrangements--but as
she had acted completely without authority, she
found it difficult to explain the part she had gra-
tuitously performed.
'My dear Miss Thornton, how happy am to
see you looking so we'll - exclaimed Miss Mar.
tina, seizing the hand of her young friend with
atfectionate earnestness; 60 l have a great tria
for you and l am glad to perceive you viii
have strength to bear it-poor Mr.. Hippsley Y
&c Mr.. Hippsey, ma'am; let me beg you tt
tell me what has happened to him!' said the ag
itated girl, losing in moment that hue O
health, the appearance of which had been 81
satisfactory to her visitor.
''There? knew it, l told him SOL tolC
him that was certain you loved himH' con
tinued the busy body, so delighted at the contir
nation ,of her suspicious as to be hardly con
scious of the distress she was occasioning the OBJ
ject of them.
&c You told Mr.. Hippsley that loved him, an
by what authority, ma'am p demanded the in
dignant Catherine, the blood returning to he
cheeks. ''And what right have you to suppos
this or have you wantonly induced me to be
lieve that harm has come to an old and esteeme
friend, on purpose to draw ungenerous conclu
sions from my agitation''
Miss Thornton wept and her tormenter, VIII
was really kind hearted creature, felt propol
tionately distressed.
My dear young lady, forgive me. I did
for the BEST and l really believe the poor gen
tleman's tiightiness is all occasioned by his at
tachment to you; only hope he is not actuGW
deranged; and then if you are favorable to hi
suit, all will bewell.'' Here Mrs Martha busie
herself in soothing her friend, who, havin
found relief in tears, was easily persuaded tha
, however much mischief might have been done
it was &c all with the best intention in the world.
Miss Thornton's guardian, with whom she re
sided, was Mr.. Hippsley's physician, so her lov
er's peculiar temperament was not unknown
= her; nor was Mrs. Martha's power in colorin
, facts, a talent of which her acquaintances wer
> ignorant; thus when this Invaluable friend wa
+, hastened in her departure by the announcement
of Mr. Hippsley, Catherine was prepared to re
ceiye an eccentric, but not alarmed at the pre-
s liability of encountering maniac.
t "Don't let him come up till go into anothe
: room, | beg. | can get from there to the stail
case, can't L, my dear - said Mrs. Martha; an
c as one door closed on her hurried exit the othe
! opened OH the unhappy invalid who gives nam
to this sketch. How he had summoned sufiicier
| I4l.u =