The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-03-10

pearance, looking fresh, and smiling and happy
al am come to carry Linney home with me
to dine" he said, by way of apology to Mrs
Hubert who, perhaps, looked something of the
establishment she felt "And,p he added, turn
ing to the girl, "mother sends her compliments,
and says you must not disappoint her. T." lac
said, shave myself superintendent the cooking
of the rabbit"
Linney was faltering some excuse about the
| unexpected departure, needful preparations,
and the like, when Mr.. Hubert interposed,
with the assertion that she could go Just as
well IA not, if she chose. The horse and sleigh
saited at the door, the young man seriously
desired her TO 60 and Mrs. Hubert evidently
favored his inclinations.
| "But am not ready" urged Linney, sur.
veying her dress with trepdstion and concern,
well aware that she possessed nothing in which
she would appear to better advantage
1t is strange" said Mrs. Hubert, soliloqui-
zing, how particular girls are nowadays
That plaided flannel of Linney's | could have
worn to wedding in my day.
| Alb, and Linney oan, TOO, il cine has mind
TO-" replied George, laughing, and cycling ad-
mirngly the plsids Of green, and red and blue,
80 smoothly ironed Ia truth, it became the
chubby rustic girl wonderfully well and when
she had tied on the white friled apron, and
smoothed her chestnut curls little, nothing
was needed TO complete her toilet
The young girl felt a tremulous shrinking
when, for the first time in her lifo, she found
herself in an elegantly furnished apartment !;
but Mrs Weldon, sweet, motherly lady Of
sixty soon put her quite at ease, for I.inney
was q sunshiny and good-teTpered girl, little
disposed to quarrel with circumstances If
there were little condescenson in the cordi-
atty, a little patronage in the equality assumed
by Mrs. Welden, Linney did not stop to think
Oft, and the lady's heart was soon won entire
ly by the girls artless and Joyous manner.
If she dropped her knitting Linney picked it
up in a moment if steps were in the way she
was at her elbow-in fact, everywhere her ser
vices we're needed she seemed ~ be- and better
still nowhere else and all this from natural
impulses of kindness
4 Nowonder they were mutually pleased; each
found in the other that which she herself lack
ed--the one, freshness, and Sunshine, and hope
and the other, wisdom, experience, elegance,
and refinement
George, habitually good-natured, indolent,
careless was on that day restless almost fret
full Now he boxed the ears Of some favorite
hunter, for earessing his hand too Familiarity
and now he found fault with the fire, which
was either too hot or too cold but, truth is, he
was irritated that Linney should be monOpo-
lized, and apparently with so much Willingness
on her part by his mother. Sometimes he tried
to be amiable, and even complmented her
more than once but she neither blushed nor
looked down. but, ON the contrary, laughed
gaily, and replied in the same vein, though her
tone and manner said plainly there was nc
meaning in her words. He felt that he had nc
power over her, and consequently became vexed
with himself more and more.
SO pleased and delighted was Linney that
she remained long after dinner and the great
cold moon made the snow sparkle again a.
they drove homeward.
ooh, what beautiful home you have she
said, looking back, admiringly where the
many lights Of the great house streamed across
the snow
"Would you like to live there always ,
asked George, tightening the rem.
"0h, above all thingsl" fhe answered, in
genuously.
And the whip was brought in requsition
! and Brook suffered to 60 forward "a fast az h
would,
Chow kind of you" said Linney, patting hi
neck, when they alighted at tina door, at
! bring US home so soon"
f And she continued turning to George
al wish You were home, tooo
The young man bit his lip and resumed hi
seat in the sleigh He had hoped for an invi
tation to go in.
Mrs. Hubert opened the door, and Georg
drew in the rein 10 say
"Tell Willard, if you please that ! shall
take as good care of Linney as he would d.
himselfn
Mrs Hubert thanked him, and Lime,
thought, am glad you happened to say that
it will be 80 provoking to Willard Blu
neither understood that George remembered
the Sights formerly cast upon him, and coult
not now deny himself the pleasure of such
taunt. But if Willard had been away chop
ping wood for a month, Mr. George Weldon
would have been silent. An acute discernment
might have seen, too, that though pique had al
first drawn these young persons together, the
result would be other than they themselves ex.
pected. Already, on the part of George, there
was real liking rs triAes have indicated.
In a secluded neighborhood where neither
was likely to find much companionship, it was
perfectly natural, that having once met, they
should meet again, and that, time and crcum-
stances favoring, the gentleman should become
q wo0er, especially when he was free from
worldly ambition, and cared not whit what
others thought of the mistress of his house and
heart 40 that she pleased him IL was natural,
too that humble rustic girl should not be
wholly averse 10 the wooing, especially when
the young man was handsome, and the fortune
ample and, above ALL when she could rise 40
prominently above lover who had discarded
her.
| And the case Of Willard il common enough,
too perhaps. Finding himself suddenly and un-
expectedly above his old mate, he yet his foot
upon hcr-not for that no despised her, 80
much MS that he was blinded by the brlliancy
Of his hopes and really did not nee nor think
about her'at all
| Time taught them both the sincerity of that
young and irretricvably sighted love.
But though Willard WAS for short time
inflated with vanity, and warped from his true
nature he possessed stamina enough to enable
him in the end To assume his true manhood.
When he had drunk deeper, he saw what ho
| had lost--too late.
| When five years were gone and he returned
from college, no little loving Linney met him
with words sweetsr than any triumpbs-sbe
had been three years the wife OF George Wei
den and one the mother of the sweetest little
cherub (so his good mother told him) that ever
was seen, and was living in tho great house
close by
al wish, mother" said Willard, one morning
'you would fit up the little room that used to
be Linney's for my study" (Ho was about TO
read law
So the window was opened, and the cob
webs swept down; and this, with the addition
of chair and table 10 the furniture, was al
that wss to be done. With folded arms and
thoughtful brow, Willard superintendent the
work Whom all was completed, he unlocked
a small desk, and took from It two old and
worn letters, which would scarcely bear the
unfolding, read and re.read them, wiping his
eyes once or twice as he did 20; he then re-
folded them, and stepping on chair, took
from shelf above the window book, and was
slipping the letters under the lid, when his