The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-07-23
The DAILY DISPATCH.
THE LITTLE GRAY aossIp.

soon after Cousin Cons marriase ma w.,.
invited to stay fora few weeks with the new.
ymarried couple, during the festive winter
ssason; ... 80 away we went with merry hearts.
ene ctear frosty air and pleasant prosnecf be.
IvIe US invigorating our spirits, as we ,ook ouy
places inside the good old mail coach which
passed through the town Of P. where
cousin Con resided. for there were no rsiiwava
.nen' Never was there kinder or more eeniaI
soui .o 'nan Cousin Con; and David Danyers.
ms. m. sSoo man, as she iaughingiy called him,
rs. possloie, kinder and more genial stilI.-
iney were surrounded by substantial comfnr,.
and delighted 10 see their friends ia suciabl.'
easy way, and TO make them snug and cosv'
our arrival being the signal for a succession 81
such convivialities. Very mirthful and epiov-
aoie were these evenings, for Cons presence
always shed radiant sunshine, and Dayid's
honest broad face beamed upon her with affec-
tionate pride. During the days of their court
ship at our honse, they had, perhaps, INDUCED
IN billing and cooling little too freely when
10 company with others, for sober, midtle. aged
lovers like themselves; thereby lying open to
afinadyersions from prim spinsters, ~ho won.
dered that Miss Constance and Mr.. Danvers
made themselves so ridiculous.
But now all this nonsense had sobered down.
and nothing could be detected beyond sly
glance, or a squeeze of the hand now and then;
YET we often quizzed them about bygones, and
declared that engaged pairs we're insufferable
I'VE could always find them out among hun
dred.
"I'll bet you any thing you like" cried
Cousin Con, with good-humored laugh, "that
among our guests coming this evening"" There
was to be a tea junketng,l ! ''you'll not be able
to point out the engaged couple-for there will
be only one such present-th0ugh plenty of
lads and lasses that would like TO be so happily
situated. But the couple allude to are real
turlle-doves, and yet defy you to find them
out.
Done, Cousin Conf we exclaimed; sand
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; and we already, in perspective, beheld
our glOve-b enriched with half dozen pair
of snowy French sevens.
Never had we felt more interested 10 watch
ing the arrivals and movements of strangers,
than On this evening, for our honor was con.
cerned, to detect the lovers and raise the veil.
Papas and mammas, and masters and misses,
came trooping in; old ladies, and middle aged;
old gentlemen, and middle aged-untl the
number amounted to about thirty, and Cousin
We closely scrutinized all the young folks,
and so intently but coyertly watched their pro-
ceedngs that we could have revealed several
firtatons, but nothing appeared that
could lead US to the turtle doves and their en-.
gagement. AT length, we really had hopes,
and ensconced ourselves in corner, to observe
the more cautiously tall, beautiful g1fl, whose
eyes necessarily turned toward the door of the
apartment; while each time il opened to admit
any one, she sighed and looked disappointed,
as if that one was not the one she yearned to
see. We were deep in reverie, cOnjuring up
q romance of which she was the heroine, when
a little lady, habited in gray, whose age might
average threescore, unceremoniously seated
herselfbeside us, and immediately commenced
a conversation, by asking if we were admiring
pretty Annie misunderstanding the direc.
lion of our looks. On receiving reply in
he affirmative, she continued: 'Ah she's
good, affectionate girl; great fayorise Of mine
s sweet Annie Mortimer"
"WatchiDg for her lover, no doubt" we
yentured 10 say, hoping to gain the desired in |
and thinking oI our white kid.gioves. |
She is an engaged young lady 2"
Engaged engaged" cried the little ami. |
mated ludy: "no indeed. The fates forbid
A nnie Mortimer is not engaged" The express
,ion Of the little lady's countenance at our |
almost to the ludicrous; and we with some dif. /
iculty ariiculated a serious Tejoinder, disay0w-
ing all previous knowledge, and therefore err |
Jog through ignorance. We had now time to |
examine our new acquaintance more critically. |
As we have already stated, she was habited m
gray; but not only was her aitire gray, but she
was literally gray all over; gray hairs. braided
in peculiar obsolete fashion, and quite nm
covered; gray gloves; gray shoes; aud, above
atl, gray eyes, soft, large, and peculiarly sad
in expression, yet beautiful eyes, redeeming
uie plainness. Mary Queen Of Scots. we
are told, had gray eyes; and even she, poor
ady, owned not more speaking or history tell
ing orL g than did this little unknown gossip in
gray. But our attention was diverted from the
by the entrance of another actor
,n tie stage, to whom Annie Mortimer darted
orward with an exclamation OF delight and
The new conner was slender, |
elderly gentleman, whose while hairs, pale |
ace, and benignant expires sion presented mo-
hing remarkable in their aspect, beyond |
certain air Of elegance and refinement, which |
characterized the whole outward man.
THAT is charming looking old gentleman"
'aid we TO the gray lady; us he Ann'e's
aihere"
.Her father! Oh dear, no. That gentle
nan is bachelor; but he is Annie's guardian,
and has supplied the place OF u father 10 her,
or poor Annie is an orphan"
''Oh." we exclaimed, and there was great
teal Of meaning in our oh. ior lad we not
Iead and heard of youthful wards falling IN
love with their guardians? and might not the
fair Annie's taste incline this way The ut
lie gray lady understood our thoughts, Tor
she smiled, but said nothing; and while we
were absorbed with Annie aud her supposed
antiqnated lover, she glided into the circle,
and presently we beheid Anne . guardian
with Annie leaning on his urn, exchange
lew words with her in an under tone, as she
passed them to an inner room.
.'who is that pleasing looking old gentle
man I" said we 10 our hostess; ano what 10
The name OF the lady in grny, VINO went away
just as you came upf That Is Anne MortI-
ner we know. and we know, aiso' hsf she
isn't engsged.n
Cousin Con laughed heartily a. she replied:
4l'hat nice old gentleman 10 ar. Wofihing.
ton, our poor cnraie; and poor cutafe ne 70
likely ever TO continue, 30 Sar a. We can sec.
The lady in gray We call our 'ii.tie gray gos-
SIP and darling she j. a: 70 Annie, yon
seem to know all about her. ! suppose htile
pa..s- L. 49,. n. ds.w her M 10 flle nkion's