The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-09-08
WESTERLY, R. l., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER s. 1858.

Alice fixed her eyes on the ground,
but made no reply.
But it had mine, Alice J" cried
John, forgetting all reserve and pru-
deuce, I" ever since you were twelve
years old, l looked on you as one who
might be my future wife. Six years has
passed away, six long and happy years,
nearly seven, during which each dayIhave
loved you more and more. l waited,
and waited, putting off the day of declar-
alton until you were quite young wo-
man, and it is now too late"
Alice groaned, astounded, hurt and
panied to the last degree.
Too late," said the unusually calm
young man in tones of deep and wild
passionate feeling "and all my dreams
are fed. l hoped, if heaven blessed me
with your affection, to be united with
you on your nineteenth birth day; we
could then have made my two rooms up
stairs ours and have left your mother
yours. She would have found no change
save that in place of one child she would
have two"
oh, John! why did you not speak
before 1 never thought Il never sup
posed-I-I-"
Alice, it was not to be. So no more
of it. L must be away, not just yet; it
would startle' your dear mother, but by
and BY"
" My friend, my brother" exclaimed
Alice, as she gazed on his face, flushing
eyes and trembling lip.
q" Say no more, dear girl. You have
the prayers and good wishes of John
Morrison"
And the young man turned away and
went up to his room. An hour later
he sat down to the tea-table of Mrs.
Dempster, far calmer than poor Alice,
who scarcely had courage to look up
The talk was varied, and generally tri-
fling, Walter not being one of those who
can think sufficiently serious to converse
any other way-presently he spoke of a
grand subscription ball for the following
Thursday, in which he invited Alice, in
the name of his mother and sisters, who
would call for her in the old fashioned
carriage.
C l cannot CO." said Alice, quietly,
while despite herself, her eyes flashed
with pleasure at the idea" my mother
cannot remain alone-besides, 1 dance
very indiferently."
{" My dear Alice" said John, in a
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 all means," said Mrs.
Dempster.
Now you cannot refuse" continued
Walter, shaking Morrison's hand hearth
ly; 81, Mary and Jane, will be around
at seven. So mind, be ready"
After he had gone, there were rare
discussions 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 ball dress is a serious affair with
persons of small income. After supper
the debate was resumed, but with no sat
isfactory result, so all went to bed. About
IL o'clock next day, while Alice was
turning out all her fnery in search of
something suitable, a man entered with
a parcel for Mrs. Dempster. 1t con-
tanned beautiful ball dress sent by
Morrison, who had risen early, and gone
into town on purpose to purchase it.
Alice turned pale, and sat down, but
recovering herself, bent over the kind
present to hidet he tears. Mrs. Demp-
ster, good and proud mother, was in
ecstacies both at the dress and the donor,
and Immediately sat down to the table
to begin to cut out.
When John came home that night,
his greetings 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 elo-
quent indeed. 1t expressed gratitude,
pity, and sorrow, thousand mingled
shades of feeling which words could not
have expressed. John was rather serious
in his manner and tone, but not by word