Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-11-02

With the Misses Manly he was an es-
pecial favorite, principally from his rea-
diness to escort them to or from church,
and his sincere efforts to oblige them,
which extended even to Juggling their lap
dogs, and carrying their parasols for
them.
His face rarely wore a sad expression,
and his smile was as sunny as his whis-
kers. Notwithstanding the many peculi-
arities of the man, he was everywhere
well received. and never failed to win a
smile of welcome wherever he presented
himself. In fact, that circle is rarely
found which refuses man entrance to it
when he carries a California talisman in
his hand: society is ever ready to over
look faults which are CLOSED over with
gold-leaf, and none laugh at the cut OF
pants when the pockets are full of the
jingling dimes. But reUenOns nos mou-
tons.
4 wonder" said Matilda, eff Miss
Forrest has recovered from her accident
get. She has been very i'll for the past
two days.
81 guess she was more scared than
hurt, was the rejoinder. +" Girls nova
days find such affairs very agreeable. es-
pecially when there's young man in the
case
Miss Martha had great horror of the
other sex-Mr. Ackerman excepted-and
like most unmarried ladies who have ar
rived at such gears Of discretion as to know
better than to take upon themselves the
yoke of matrimony, she embraced every
opportunity to express her utter contempt
for them;
But if Miss Forrest is no better, we
will delay the picnic until her recovery?"
interrogated Matilda.
"We'll do no such thing" was the tart
reply. "If she's sick we can do without
her.
And Martha drew herself up with dig
nifty, and settled her lap'dog more COM
fortably on its cozy bed.
Matilda saw that her sister was not in
a very '.plia5le humor,' as she expressed
it, so rising, she placed her little pet in a
cozy corner of the sofa, put on the neat
est little hat imaginable, and wrapped her
slight figure in her rich shawl. Having
thus arranged herself, she hustled about
the room for some time, in hopes that
her sister would inquire where she was
going; but that lady preserved most
provoking silence-so the amiable spin
ster sailed forth, without the pleasure of
being questioned as to her destination.
A few minutes walk brought her 10 the
door of Miss Tattleton's mansion, and as
she entered and seated herself to await
the entrance OF that lady, she glanced
around upon the profusion of costly fur
niture. and up at the polished ceilings,
and her eyes finally rested upon the por-
trait of Charles Ta!tleton. a little sigh,
deep enough to be sincere. burst from The
good little lady's lips. Miss Manly could
not have sighed for the luxurles which
surrounded her, for she possessed an
equal amount. She could not have sigh
ed for the superior taste there displayed,
for in this respect Miss Theressa's rooms
were sadly deficient She could not have
sighed for a home, for in that she was
already blest. No one of these causes
brought the sigh from Miss Manly's lips;
but as her eye rested on the portrait
against the wall, she did sigh for has
band.
Smile not, gentle reader. Miss Manly
is not the first one who has passed the
best of their days in waiting to select Il
perfect partner, find that the autumn of
life is upon them and they aIe alone. In
her youth she had labored under the i'm
preston that every suitor sought her for
her wealth, and she had refused one af-
ter another till all had deserted her, and
now how gladly would she have thrown
the best portion of that wealth to the
winds, could she thus have secured to
herself one faithful, loving heart; one be-
ing to brighten her way; one voice whose
love-toneS might cheer her dropping spl-
rits She felt she had in some way mar
red her own destiny; and she longed for
something betterto love than her grabbed
sister and fl "a bilten poodle. She didnot
take her eyes off the picture /; 1t seemed
TO have a peculiar charm for her. She
thought how happy she would have been,
with some such kindly face TO bend over
her in sickness, and To Share her joys and
sorrows. Her thoughts went still further
on, and she thought OF the time whea
She should lie down upon her luxurious
couch for the las, time. with no one to
soothe her parting spirit, no one to claim
or receive last caress, no one to wipe
the dea h-damps from heI brow, or drop
a tear on her lonely grave. Something
bright welled from the spinster's eye and
dimmed the lusture of her spec,aeles as
these thoughts rose in her mind, and just
at that moment Miss Tattleton entered TO
welcome her visitor.
Both ladies' met with a most cordial
embrace, and kiss which echoed all
around the room and seemed to die away
Just behind the portrait On the wall.
- Have YOU heard the news ?" InquI-
red Miss Tattleton, eager to communicate
the principal gems of gossip.
what news 90 asked Miss Manly.
breathlessly.
why. Lena Forrest and Robert Grant
-. - -. L.. On, The rnnnnfaIn