The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-05-19
WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, MAY 49, 1853

She never once associated the swoon Of the
bride with the meeting with her former lover.
IL il true she had dreaded this meeting,
for the sake of Mark whom she feared still
cherished an affection for India; but she had
no such fears for her. She could not have
| imagned-the simple integrity OF her heart
shielded her from imagning-that India could
have given her hand to one man, while cher
ishine thenceforth guilty preference for an.
other. Of course, she had heard and read OF
ladies who desecrated marriage by making a
| legal sale of themselves for money, rank, or
| convenience: but then such were ladies of 80
cetv ladies of the great world-not high
haarted women. not women Of noble sentt-
,,eots like her friend India, who if she were
6ckle was at least truthful even in her tickle
ness No: the thought Of India, while the
wife of another, still loving Mark, and fainting
at his sudden appearance never entered the
girls mind. She heard and entirely believed
| Indas own explanation of her swoon-" the
j closeness of the room and so, undisturbed
by the suspicion of that suffering near her,
which, had che known it, would have greatly
troubled her peace, Rosalie yielded up her
soul to serene Joy. That night in her prayers
she returned earnest thanks for the happiness
| 8cCOTueu utT. one souBut ucI phiAoW III shc
fulness of content Mark loved her beyond
this, she did not care to ask or hope any earth
ly good Mark loved her this was happiness
enough for one long season Mark loved her!
the thought enveloped her soul in a benign
sense of perfect protection, safety and COM
fort. Mark loved her the thought was per-
feet peace. Wrapped in it, she sweetly fell
asleep.
| She awoke in the morning, with vague
impression of great happiness sleeping in her
heart. Suddenly, with a shock of electric JOY
she remembered what it was-Mark loved her !
| Again, in her morning worship, she offered up
feryent thanksgiving for this priceless boon of
| love; and after she had made her simple
morning toilet, she left her ROOM and went
down stairs Her selfassumed domestic duties
| claimed attention but still the light of her
| inward Joy frightened all her countenance.
Colonel Ashley, always an early riser, was
| in the hall when she descended. He met her,
smiling She was smiling too
well, my bonny girl" he said, "spite of
| late hours our mountain breezes are beginning
| to make the roses bloom on your cheeks. You
look very pretty this morning !"
@Well," said Resale chow long am to
keep the keys, or when am to deliver them
up to Madame Pepouse2 ~
! "Ah! don't know How should /? You
must settle that between you. In a few days,
suppose. Ask your pretty little mamma she
| is likely to know such points of domestic Ell
| quette. Madam does not look very much like
the material of which Virginia housewives are
composed, must say fear, little girl, that
you will still have to carry the keys"
"Now, you know, uncle if am to have all
the duties of housekeeper, without the digni-
ties of mistress, intend to demand a salary for
my services. Do you heart"
"And you shall have it, my dear-ten kisses
a day. Will that suit you?"
ROsale laughed, and left him.
1t was yet early in the morning, and she
went to see after 7" breakfast. Her first visit
| was to her dairy, to have the new milk strain
| ed, and the old milk skinned, and the cream
| and butter iced and brought out for breakfast
Then she sent two little negro girls into the
| garden, to gather raspberries--a necessary
| luxury in its season on country breakfast
table. Then che went into the cellar, to select
the fresh fish and game and oysters, that had
been kept in ice. Then went to the pantry, to
| give out coffee, tea, chocolate, sugar &c. Then
| to the plate and china closet, to parade the
best Scvres breakfast service and the family
plate, in honor of the occasion Her next
| visit was to the breakfast ROOM to see that the
table was well arranged. al wonder, after
all, if India iciN like to spend two hours of the
early morning in this manner. instead of loun-
ging them away over her own elegant toilet
| said Rosalie to herself as she passed into the
room. Finding oil in order here, the busy
little housewife passed next into that pleasant
room near the kitchen and the pantry and
fronting upon the garden, and devoted to the
picking of vegetables and fruit and such little
| half horticultural half culinary pursuits Here
she found her two little black landmarks,
with their baskets of raspberries, waiting for
her. She praised their diligence and took the
raspberries and was engaged in putting them
in cut-glass dishes, and powdering them with
sugar, when she felt light hand laid upon
her shoulder, and, CHANGING around, she saw
Mark Sutherland standing behind her, smiling
upon her. A sudden bright blush suffused her
beautiful countenance; but she exclaimed, sau-
city
'Not even the grace of Paul Pry, to say,
hope don't intrude'"
"You know you gave me the freedom of this
room long ago little housekeeper"
"a privilege which men like you seem in
clined to abuse" answered Resale, glancing
at her Bingham gown, coarse apron, and turn
ed up sleeves.
Beautiful in that also, Rosalie What q
charming little peasant you make"
al think so too" said Rose ingenuously
and then, blushing and laughing she suddenly
corrected herself, saying "Oh did not mean
that meant | like this dress and this occupa-
ton, and think they suit me perhaps IS well
as any othcr.o
"Shall help you with this also, Rosslie?n
said Mark, taking up sugar-duster.
"Oh no. thank you have nearly done. If
you want employment you may 60 into the
garden and select bouquet Of the sweetest half
blown white rose buds and helotrope that you
can find, as morning offering to our bride"
"And for you, posy of heartsease," he an
swered meaningly, pressing her fingers as he
went
Rosalie finished her fruit ornamenting the
edges of the dishes with fresh green leaves and
sent them to the table Then she went and
changed her dress for breakfast; and when
Mark returned from the garden, he found her
standing in the hall waiting for him.
She was looking very lovely, in her fresh
white muslin morning dress, without any Or
nament, but her own soft brown ringets, and
the bright blush and smile lighted by happi-
ness.
al Here they are, sweetheart" he said, gal
ly and fondly, showing the flowers.
Gan elegant bouquet for the BRIDE" she ex-
claimed admiringly.
"And sweet little posy for you, he said,
placing the heartsease on her bosom.
~ est propos NEST &c pass"
at is ft'
"Om! CONNIE ii faut, Monsieur
st is faultlessp
"Do you mean to say you won't talk French
with me, Mark"
II mean only to show you, as long as you
speak it to me, that there is not a word or
phrase in that fashionable and hackneyed
language, that has not shorter, stronger, and