The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-09-08

or look did he betray his peculiar state
of feelings. He sat reading to them all
that evening, while they worked at the
dress and even made pleasant and joe
.ular remarks on Alice's taste for fnery
and dancing, with such success as to re-
move from the young girls mind all re-
mains of uneasiness. She was the more
easily consoled, that John seemed to her
rather old to be her husband. Walter
was three-and-twenty, John cight-and-
twenty; Walter was handsome, John
was plain; the one was lively and gay
and 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
undisguised admiration, while her mother
was, naturally enough, in raptures, as
mothers always are when they gaze upon
their fair and charming offspring. About
half past seven the carriage came. There
were Walter and Edward, and the two
Misses Cliftons, (the mother was indis-
posed,) who were in ecstacies with
Alice. They did not stop long, for all
were young, and all were eager for the
hour when music should invite them to
join in the dance, an amusement, when
it leads not too often to late hours, both
healthful and conducive to cheerfulness
of mind.
John Morrison remained with Mrs.
Dempster despite the efforts of the Cliff
tons to take him with them. For some
time nothing was spoken of but the
beauty, and grace and elegance of Alice !;
then the conversation turned toward the
subject of her marriage with Walter, he
having distinctly announced his intention
to make a demand of her hand on the
next Saturday, if he obtained her con-
sent that night. John bit his lips, and
to change the conversation, opened a
book and began to read aloud. Mrs.
Dempster listened awhile, and then still
ness and quiet, and the silent night,
asserted its influence, and she fell asleep.
John continued reading about half an
hour, and then laid down his book and
feel into deep reverie. He was half
asleep and half awake for an hour. Sud-
denly he started up as the clock struck
four, and found Mrs. Dempster prepar-
ing tea.
"Not home yet :" said John, smiling,
/" the little dissipated girl"
L" 1t is so seldom she goes out" re-
piled Mrs. Dempster, " 1 do not expect
her home yet"
At this moment the sound of carriage
wheels was heard. There were two, not
one. They threw open the easement.
1t was daylight, and within hundred
yards they discovered the carriage and
gig side by side. Alice was sitting in
the gig driven by Walter, while some
friends filled the vacant spaces in the
other vehicle. They came up at the
door. Alice leaped out; then with a
bow and a "good morning." the party
sped away homeward. AS she entered
the room, both noticed that all Alice's
elasticity of step, all her spirits, all her
liveliness, was gone.
I" You are tired, love-" said her mo-
ther, kindly here is a nice cap of tea i
you look serious. l suppose Walter
has been proposing to you. suppose,
too, [ shall have him here on Saturday,
as he threatened, and lose my child next.
Never look SO serious. 1t is quite ma
tural, and | do not say it by way of re-
proach."
:" Mamma" said Alice, gravely, "I
have had two offers this week-one on
Monday last, and one this morning.
You look surprised, mamma, and you
my dear friend, look vexed. l should
be sorry if the conclusion of my words
should vex you"
On Monday, accidentally dlscov-
cred that John Morrison had loved me
as his future wife for six years-
John !" exclaimed the mother,
looking at them both with an air OF un-
mixed astonisment.
eyes, for six years, and | second his
love. l thought him too old, too grave a
for me, and I owned my affection for V