Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-08-17

inquired he, one eye reviving trifie from
its fishy expression.
Ne guess" exclaimed she; "how
could guess, should like to know
Who is it Mr.. Little 2"
"Ill tell you Miss Seraphino, said he.
Do, Mr.. Little ~ replied she, her SAT-
from colored face glowing like a sea coal
fire under full headway.
It's your own sweet self 2" said he
raising from his seat opposite her and
throwing himself into a strange attitude
at her feet.
LA! Mr.. Little" said she aIerting
her head partially. Don't squat down
there now! If anybody should come in!
Just think of it :"
"Ill never get up, Seraphina, until
you will say whether your hand is mine ~
exclaimed he with lovers true fervor.
"Well. do get up! You may have my
hand if you'll but get up! ~
And your hearts, that, can that be
mine, Seraphina @ he exclaimed, lifting
both hands supplicating towards her.
Yes, it's all yours - replied she hasti-
ly. Now, get up! BE quick about it
wouldn't have any one catch you in that
case for five dollarsn'
Il am happy" exclaimed Mr.. Alfred
Little, resuming his seat and venturing to
regard with certain degree of tender
ness, hitherto unknown to him, the per-
son of his betrothed Seraphina.
Il am happy said he, aloud, when
he left the house of his fair that night,
and hurried back to his bachelor quarters.
Punctually, on the very night, Mr. Al
bert Little was at the house of his Sc
raphina. As fortune-good or bad
would have it, he Offered himself to Miss
Riggs. and she, thinking it was but the
evidence of the redoubled fervor of Mr..
Alfred Little, quickly accepted his suit
and bestowed on him her hand. She
knew as yet but one Little-and he was
named in her heart nothing but Mr.. A.
Little. She cared not to :. go beyond the
record, as the lawyers say, and institute
inquiries farther. She was now morally
certain that from Rugs she should soon
become a Little, and at that point of the
investigation, her timid, feminine heart
rested satisfied. Mr.. Alfred Little had
never opened his head to her concerning
MIR. Albert Little, nor did the innocent
maiden dream that two such men existed.
She knew no one but him who was ac-
cepted by her on the ore night, and him
who was likewise accepted by her on the
night subsequent. They were both one
and the same Little to her-each of them
Mr.. \. Little.
Between her and Mr.. Alfred Little it
was one evening arranged that the we'd
ding should be celebrated on an evening
six weeks hence. When too, Mr.. Albert
Little called on the next evening as he
did, the same arrangement was likewise
entered upon in his presence and with his
consent. Alfred was entirely ignorant
that Albert ever called on his betrothed,
and Albert was likewise quite ignorant
that Alfred had been accepted by her as
her future husband. With this mutual
understanding the day fixed upon for the
marriage festivities came rapidly round.
The guests-what few were invited on
the occasion-were all assembled on the
evening of the marriage ceremony and
nothing was wanting but the presence of
the bride and groom. In another room,
however, quite another scene was enact
ing.
Mr.. Albert Little was standing up by
the side of his intended bride, when Alfred
Little entered the apartment. The latter
had never mistrusted that the former had
visited Riggs at all.
How is this ~ he exclaimed, as soon
as he entered the room, and with his own
astonished eyes saw his betrothed stand
ing by the side of his promised wife.
What are you here for?" roughly re-
piled Mr.. Albert Little.
o" Why-why, y Calculated the terror
stricken Seraphina, gazing fearfully from
the face and form of one to the other.
This is my bride" cried Alfred.
"She is mine" shouted Albert, fully as
loud.
''Say, Seraphina.'' - said Alfred s.have
you not promised to marry me"
She was about responding in decided
affirmative, when Albert broke forth
with
"And didyoun not promise to marry me-"
The poor maiden still continued look.
ing fearfully, first at the one and then at
the other.
She was quite certain that she had
plighted her yearning affections to Alfred,
and quite as certain that she had likewise
plighted them to Albert. She knew not
to which of them she had first given up
her heart; indeed, she never knew, poor
deluded soul, that she had ever given it
away to but one of them She never
knew that there was but one Little, and
he-Mr. A. Little. An Albert, or an
Alfred, she never knew!
The matter was never settled. The
ceremony was stopped just where it was,