The Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1850-1852, 1852-04-22
From Arhurs Home Gssei,s.
sO( 1AL AlNs.
BIZ MRs. ALIck d. NEAL.



"a whrsper-r scpess,eih chsf friends. -Pno,.
-" whi'rcrins tongues
Can po,ses tsuth''
What is the matter with YOU to
night, Anna who's been laying a
straw in your path =
wish j: WAS only q straw, an.
swercd Mrs. Maxwell. taking up her
husbands half playful remark. But
it's worse than hat--a foreboding.'
'Surely. Anna, you would not dwell
on q silly fancy as long as you have
been musibg over that one fashion
plate e--though the Indies generally are
supposed to 6nd food for thought in
these enchanting pages. But, l hap.
pen to know that you have your cloak
and bonnet, and all that sort Of thing
well. IL you must have 1.-THE
truth is this. One Of these faces has
strong resemblance to Susie Lane,
and that recalled to me her visit this
afternoon unfortunately Mrs.
Arnot came in
How unfor rtunately ?
why, she has been wishing to
make her acquaintance ever since We
have been SO intimate
$50 much the better, should think
'Uear Harry.-'Mrs Maxwell al.
ways emphasized the adjective when
she wished to be PARTICULARLY under-
stood you don't seem to see that |
did not wish them to meet
Il hope you arc not selfish, Anna
said Mr.. Maxwell. gravcly. / thought
you were anxious Mrs. Arnot should
20 into society now that she has laid
aside her mourning. I think it would
be best for her myself.
Mrs. Maxwell was quiet for o mo-
ment, and then said
& am not bit jealous, Harry; you
know it's not my nature and real
ly can't say why it is, but l dread
something unpleasant. Perhaps am
vexed little at the eagerness with
which she offered to improve the op-
portunity. Susie, mean. Almost
before Angela was seated, she said
I am SO happy to meet you at last,
Mrs. Arnot. ! have heard SO much
of you from Mrs. Maxwell and then,
the moment it could dece,tly be said
she begged on the strength of her
intimacy with me, that Mrs. Arnot
would consider her an acquaintance.
Well. isn't that the way you ladies
proceed 2
Why, as Mrs. Arnot was compar-
atively stranger in the city, it was
right enough for Susie to make the
first advances. Angela had nothing
left but to offer her to call, or | but
to offer to 20 with her seme day.
You need not shake your head, lIar-
ry, ! am not covetins to keep Mrs.
Arnot all to myself.
The truth was, though Mrs. Max,
well did no: for moment imagine she
was trying to deceive her husband,
she did not like to confess 10 him, that
she considered Susie Lane an unsafe
acquaintance to introduce. Mr.. Max
well had not liked their own intimacy
at first, and she was afraid Of revi-
wing old plcjudices, which she had
striven so zealously to conquer. She
was fascinated by Miss Lanes good
naturcd, srrightly conversation. She
had then but few intimate acquaintan.
ces in the city, and enjoyed the chat
ty lively visits Miss Lane was lavish
Of. She felt quite lost if week
passed without one Of them. Susie
was so amusing. Told story capi-
tally, always knew who was engaged,
and who expected to be. What was
worn at the last wedding, and how it
happened that the Lawrences and
IlatheTays did not speak. A list Of
bridal presents at any reception she
attended might be relied on as accu'
rate for publication, and if an engage.
ment was broken Of, the next time
you saw Miss Lane, you had the rea
sons in full. Yet there was nothing
vulgar, or impertincnt in it, appar-
entity. Nothing but a good natured
wish to make her conversation agree
able. 'Besiles it was only natural
Susie should know everything that
was going on Mrs, Maxwell once
urged with her husband. She had
such large circle Of acquaintances,
was sought by every one, and with
her time and income at her own dis
pesal.' No one would dream Of call
Ing Miss Lane an old maid but Ger
tainly she was au passe, with very
small hands and feet, good teeth,
brish. eyes, and ever ready smile, to
keep her account in the social cur,
rent.
No one ever beard her say an ab
solaiely .llna,ured thing ii she min
icked an unfortunate peculiari,y, she
was sure to excuse the very defect q
moment after, in the blandest possible
manner aud, il after she had gone
you felt uncomfortable, and some sen
s.tive poiu. burned aud smartei, you
4 1 4. 4 Il