Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-08-05
A Brief History.
The MAN q Leisure and the Pretty Girl.

A man Of leisure called on Monday on
Miss Emma r oberts, blooming girl of
seventeen. Emma was clear r-starching.
Talk about trials of men! What have they
to annoy them in comparison to the mysteries
of clear. starching?-a how seldom clear!
Emma was going on in the full tide OF sue
cess, indulging in the buoyant thoughts of
her age; there was q soft light about her
eve as she drew out the edge of collar,
and clapped it with her little hand, as if
she felt the impulse Of young hopes.
ssi am sure Henry Bertram looked at this
collar last Sunday; wonder if he liked it?''
said she, and gentle sigh rustled the folds
of mourning on her bosom. just then the
door bell sounded, and the man Of leisure
walked into the sitting room, whore Emma,
with nice establishment of smoothing
irons, had ensconced herself for the morn
ing.
aYou won't mind friends looking in
on you," said Mr.. Inklin, with an at-home
air.
Emma blushed, loosenei the strings of
her apron, and gave glance q. her starch.
cd fingers, and saying, "Take q seat, sir,"
suspended her work with the grace OF nat
ural politeness.
In the meantime the starch grew cold, and
the irons were overheated. Emma was not
loquacious, and the dead pauses were not
few or far between. Emma, rendered des-
perate, renewed her operations, but with
diminished ardor; clapping was feeble as
the applause to an unpopular orator; she
burnt her fingers, her face flushed, and by
the timo the man of leisure had sat out his
hour, o bay hue, and an indelible smutoh
distigured Henry Bertram's COLLAR.
II lnd ND m
Harry Bertram. It was not the influence
of coouetry, 5ut Emma rallied her powers,
and talked more to Mr.. Inklin than she did
to Harry, a modest youth, thrown soms-
what into the shade by the veteran visitor,
who outstayed him. Harry, who was not
man of leisure, could not call for several
days; when he did, Mr.. Inklin had dropped
in before him. Emma sewsd industriously
and her lashes concealed her eyes. Her
cheeks were beautifully flushed, but for
whom? Mr.. Inklin toyed with her work
box, without seeming to know he was
touching what Harry thought shrine.
Harry looked little fierce, and bade her
good night abruptly. Emma raised her
soft eyes with look that ought to have de-
tanned reasonable man, but he was pre-
possessed, and the kini glance was lost:
Emma wished Mr.. Inklin OF the bottom OF
the sea; but still there he sat, looking priv
ileged because he was man OF leisure.
The fastening of the windows reminded
him that he must 60, Cor he did not limit
his evening call to an hour. Emma went to
her bed room. She was just ready to cry.
but glance at her mirror showed such
bright and handsome cheeks that she stop
ped her tears, and she fell into a passion.
She tied up her cap into a hard knot, and
she broke the string in pet.
"Henry Bertram is fool" said she, "to
let that stick Of man keep him from me,
and sitting down on q low stool, she trotted
her foot and heaved some deep sighs.
The man Of leisure "just called in twice
| a week for three months. Report was busy
Harry's pride was aroused. He offered
himself to another pretty girl and was ac
cepted. Emma's bright cheeks faded, hel
step grew slow, and her voice was no longer
to be heard in its gay carol from stair tt
stair. She was never laxative, but now
she was sad. Mr.. Inklin continued to "dror
in;" his heart was little love-touched, bu
there was "time enough" One evening h'
came in with look Of "news.'
| 81 have brought you piece OF Harry
bertram's wedding cake," said Mr.. Inklir
| to Emma.
Emma turned pale, then red, then burs
into tears. But the man of leisure was
unconcerned. Emma looked very pretty al
she struggled with her feelings, while the
tears died away; and Mr.. Inklin offered hel
his heart and hand.
81 would sooner lie down in my grav,
than marry you," said Emma, in voice q
loud that Mr.. Inklin started; and rushing t.
her apartment, the china rang in the closet
as she slammed the door. Poor Emma GOV
cred up her heart and smiled again, but sh
never married, nor even destroyed LITTLE
flower that Harry Bertram gave her when
was right for her to love and hope. Th'
man Of leisure bore her refusal with philos
ophy, and continued to 'drop iu."