The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-08-10

despite herself her eyes flashed with pleas.
ure at the idea-my mother cannot re,
main alone-besides, dance very indif
ferently."
my dear Alice said John, in kind
tone, i will take care of your mamma
We will sit up for you until any hour Of
the night; go, it will do you good, you
who never 60 out"
"Yes, go by sll MEANS" added Mrs.
Dempster.
"Now You cannot refuse" continued
Walter, shaking Morrison's hand hearti-
E; Il, Mary and Jane will be round at
seven. So mind be ready"
After he had gone, there were rare dis
cussions that night. Alice had no dress
to 60 in--that had never been thought
Of Mrs. Dempster thought more of her
than Of herself, it is true, but a ball dress
is serious affair with persons of small
income. After supper the debate was
resumed, but with no satisfactory result,
so all went to bed.-About eleven o'clock
next day, while AL c. was turning out all
her ilncry IN search of something suitable,
man entered with parcel for Mrs Demp-
ster. 1t contained beautiful ball dress
sent by Morrison, who had risen early,
ana gone INTO town on purpose TO pur-
chase 1t. Alice turned pale and sat down,
but recovering herself bent over the kind
parent TO hide the tears. MIS-. Dempster.
good and proud mother, was in ecstacies
both Mt the Dress and at the donor, and
Immediately sat down to the table to be-
gin cutting out.
When John came home that night, his
greeting was indeed hearty and warm
The mother declared that he was more
than son to her, while Alice said scarce
a word. Her look, however, was eloquent
indeed. 1t expressed gratitude, pity and
sorrow, thousand mingled shades of feel
ing which words could not have expressed.
John was rather serious in his manner and
tone, but not by word or look did he be-
tray his peculiar state Of feelings. Hesa
reading to them all that evening, while they
worked at the dress; and even made pleas
ant and jocular remarks on Alice's taste
Tor finery and dancing, with such success
MS to remove from the young girls mind,
all remains of uneasiness. She was the
more easily consoled, that John seemed to
her rather old to be her husband Wal.
ter was three and twenty, John eight and
twenty Walter was handsome, John was
plain the one was lively aud gay, the
other serious. Now all this TO a girl of
eighteen, with little experience, rendered
comparison useless.
The evening Of the ball came round.
At seven Alice was already dressed, and
John Morrison looked at her with undis-
admiration, while her mother
was, naturally enough, in raptures, as
mothers always are when they gaze upon
their fair and charming offspring. About
halt-Past seven the carriage came. There
were Walter and Edward, and two Misse
Cliftons, (the mother was indisposed.s $
who were i'll ecstacies With Alice. They
did not stop long for all were young, and
all were e'ger for the hour when music
should invite them to join the dance, an
amusement when it leads not too often to
late hours, both healthful and conductive
to cheerulness Of mind.
John Morrison remained with Mrs.
Dempster despite the efforts of the Cliff.
tons 70 take him with them. For some
time nothing was spoken of but the beau
ty, and grace and elegance Of Alice; then
the conversation turned towards the sub
ject Of her marriage with Walter, he bav-
ing distinctly announced his intention %
naka n f,Yu, al Ja,,,o,J of lo.I.l ~ -
Satdrd1y, If he obtained the young girls
consent that night. John bit bis lips, and
to change the conver,aton, opened a book
and began to read aleud. Mrs. Demp.
ster listened awhile, and then stiffness and
quiet, and the silent night asserted its
influence, and she fell asleep. John con-
tinued reading about half an hour, and
then laid down his book and fell into n
deep reverie. He was half asleep and
half awake for an hour. Suddenly he
started up as the clock struck four, and
found Mrs. Dempster preparing tea.
Not home yeti" said John, smiling,
"the little dissipated girl"
"lt is so seldom she goes out" replied
Mrs: Dempster, II do not expect her home
yet"
At this moment the sound of carriage
wheels was hearl. There were two, not
one. They threw open the easement. II
was daylight, and within hundred yards
they discovered the carriage and gig side
by side. Alice wss in the gig driven by
Walter, while some friends allied the va
cant spaces in the other vehicle. They
came up at the door.--Alice leaped out
then with bow, and "good morning, ,
the party speed away homeward. As she
entered the room, both noticed that al
Alices elasticity Of step, all her spirits, al
her liyeliness, was gone.
"You are tired, love-" said her mother
kindly; here is nice cup Of tea /: yor
look serious. / suppose Master Waite
has been proposing TO you. / suppose
too, shall have him here on Saturday
as he threatened, and lose my child mex,
Never look 90 serious. Il Is quite naiu
raj, and do not say It BY way Of re
proach,"