Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-03-17
VOL. VII.


two domicils were the old bachelors favorite
resting places, and he resorted from one to the
other with infinite satisfaction. Many miles
OF hill and dale, rivers and woodland, divided
the hostile houses, and Miss Pamela Gordon
had not seen Mrs. Scrope face to face since the
wldowhood of the latter but unspoken ami
mostly existed between the ladies; and Mrs
Scrope called Miss Pamela "a masculine spins
tern while Miss Pamela denominated Mrs.
Scrope 'screw' Mr.. Whitehead heard
what each said of the other, laughed in his
sleeve, and enjoyed the good things at both
houses. Perhaps, unconfessed bv himself
the childless and lonely man found an attrac-
ton at Miss Pamela's pleasant home, which
he vainly sought for elsewhere; for Miss Pa
mea had young neice residing with her,
whose laughing dark eyes brought memories
to the old mans heart he vainly essayed to
dispel; and Elspeth Gordon became to Mr..
Whitehead sort of loadstone, whose attrac-
tion it was not possible TO resist. Yet who
played such pranks with the cross olG mser as
little Ellie! Who cajoled him out of silver
crown SO easily for the purposes of charity L
Who said and did such impudent, and vet
such tender and charming things as Ellie Cor
don, the orphan nece of the strong-mnded
Miss Pamela.
Miss Pamela Gordon was the half sister of
Elspeth's father, who had married the only
sister of Mr.. Scrope to that gentleman's last
ing and inexorable dispeasure. Captain Cor
don died soon after his iII-fated marriage, leav-
ing his broken-hearted wife ard infant daugh-
ter ll-provided for. Mrs. Gordon, at length,
IN deep distress, appealed TO her brother s
widow for assistance, but Mrs. Scrope turned
deaf ear TO her request she had Samuel to
take care of, and Francis TO educate and pro-
vide for. The dying woman then turned to
wards her sister-in-law, Miss Pamela, as a last
resource, for help in her extremity Miss Pa
mela was considered person not TO be i'm
posed upon, and by means soft-hearted.-
She lived on handsome life-annuity, fact
which she took care TO render public; 'as it
""S oN''Ci IolhS SHoulu dll KNOW, Sne SalO,
that she had nothing to bequeath in her will, ,
and lived up to her income = Miss Pamela
and her half brother had never been very good
friends; they had squabbled and differed on
every possible and impossible topic; moreover
Miss Pamela had strongly set her face against
his alliance with Mary Scrope, and she was in
the secret Of Mr.. Whitehead s devotion TO that
lady, who, however, preferred the insinuating
captain. Notwithstanding all these bygone
"reminiscences, when poor Mrs. Gordon meekly
entreated small sum to extr:cate her from
pressing difficulty, the good spinster, burying
all past in oblivion, sat herself earnestly 10 the
task of comforting and supporting the widow
and the fatherless; and at length received Ell
lie as her own child. into her own home, when
Mrs. Gordon sunk TO rest in the grave. Mr..
Whitehead, in conversation with Miss Pamela,
had recently begun to hint very strongly about
the valuable qualities Of Mr. Samuel, and the
good-for-nothing character of his halfbrother-
proceeding which always set Miss Pamela
in blaze of Indignation, while her appeals to
Ellie brought corresponding color into that
young lady's cheeks.
| wonder what that old miser has taken in
his head now!' thought Miss Pamela, on
one occasion of the kind, as she watched his
retreating figure; he looks wonderfully bent
and wilhered of late he cannot last much
longer. | hope he'll leave legacy to poor
Ellie, for her mothers sake. All, he was very
fond of Mary Scrope. Who ever would be-
lieVe such being as he appears now, could
ever have played the fool, and raved when she
married poor Ned Ellie is very like her
mother, full of life and animation. Bless her,
she's dear good girl; | don't know what
should do without her. She's clever-spirited
puss, too, and after my own heart
Some months subsequent to this period, Mrs
Scrope and her young son sat slipping their
breakfast coffee, and munching hot rolls, Sam s
head being swadtled in flannel for the rheuma-
tism; when the former, after pause, pursued
the tenor of their conversation, by saying, in
half-hesitatng tones After all, Sam, my
dear, it's as nice letter as one could expect
from Miss Pamela Gordon; she has always
been considered a most extraordinary person,
famous for doing out of-the-way things, and
not sticking at trihes. confess, don't quite
understand the calm, sweet tenor of her polite
epistle ; and feel almost as if | stood on the
brink of some powder magazine with lighted
candle in my hand. But that must be all my
extreme nervousness; because you see, Sam,
there is nothing to occasion misgiving, and all
is fair and above ground. We have asked
your cousin Elspeth here, as in duty bound
she is coming, as matter of course, and as a
matter of course, you will receive her. Let
me see'-counting with her fngers-'Elspeth
Gordon is just twenty year younger than
you, Sam, my dear, and some five months; and
Mary Scrope that was, has been dead about
twelve years. Mary was handsome, spirited
girl
Old Whitehead must have been very fond
OF her 10 make such will, broke in Sam with
his mouth full and his face very red. I'm
sure, mother, I'D much rather remain single
than be marred-that would; know wife
Will only bother me, and shall be taking these
eternal colds dancing after her-girls are SO
-tiresome =
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