The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-09-08

THE OLD COAT AND GLOVES.
BY ALICE CAREY.
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| We soon espied them, sitting on NOISY
log, with the grape-vines trailing from the old
| trees about Them and the shadows of the
young leaves at their feet. Minnie was listen.
| ing more pleased than had ever known her
| to be with music till then. Notwithstanding
this, she 80 changed her position on our APP
proach, as to make room for MIR. Haight be-
| side her | sat at q little distance on broken
limb and though Mr.. Haight and Minnie
profcssed the greatest admiration for the sing
ing which was indeed very sweet and win
ming they exchanged words more than once,
thus betrayiug the little interest they felt.
| Seeing the Doctor no sighted, excited my in
terest more than it had previously been and
for the first time observed him closely
There was nothing in his appearance at all
| remarkable; he seemed precisely what he was,
a shy student partially in love, for noticed
that the color went and came rapidly in his
cheek whenever q low-vOioed conversation
took place between his young friend and Min
ME. | noticed now, too, that the Doctors coat
was more than threadbarc, and that the gloves
which had fallen to the ground, would have
been thought past wearing by most persons.
| At sunset they returned to the city, and
and Minnie and |, partly in sport and partly
at their solicitation, rode with them past the
| first dollhouse half mile, perhaps from ours
Mr. Haight held the reins, and DIR. Nichols
put his hand first in one pocket and then in
another, and at last was obliged to say he
had not q sixpence about him.
"He has forgotten his pocket book" said
Mr.. Haight by way of apology to us, so ma
king the matter worse, at the same time hand
ing small bill to the toll.msn.
DIR. Nichols said nothing, but looked as
though he had not n sixpence in the world,
and, in truth, suppose he had not many
On the next hill the carriage was stopped,
for us 10 return My adieus were soon made,
but the young Doctor fingered over the part
ing--saying, with a pathos which he did not
intend" You, Minnie, will be married before
| shall see you again"
She shook her head, and drew her hand
hastily from his, laughing Az if nothing we're
moro likely
A sigh mingled with bis goodbye, and, as
often as looked back, saw that no was look
ing too.
The day was going out gloriously. called
| Minnies attention TO il more than once but
though she said it was beautiful, think she
did not sec il at all, for all the time she walked
with downcast eyes and slow steps, masing &C.
rionsly.
At length asked her what she thought
about.
"Dr. NichoIss old gloves and coat, and six
pence that was all ~ and she added "he
must be wretchedly poor; don't you think 30 :"
] said he was perhaps not 10 poor as he
seemed but that, after all, | suspected she
knew more about 1t than ].
This drew from her the confession that she
she know him to be poor, and that further
more he had thss day prcfessed to love her,
and offered himself in marriage, or, rather,
proposed an engagement, and that the mar
rage should be deferred three years, during
which time he hoped to prove his worthiness
OF her, and TO earn the means Of providing for
her ~ she deserved
said TO her that il he could make such q
resolve at such time, he would probably exc.
cute Il for that few young persoss would have
the energy 10 leave one they loved 10 the change
and chance of time, and work and wait |
had liked him more and more al day; and
said perhaps more in his praise than should
But three years is long time" answered
Minnie; 81 would not wait for an angel so
long,
"And there are no three years in the way
Of Mr.. Haighys wishes" said
She replied that she didn't know but that
her hand and heart were both free. didn't