The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-08-17

born, and try to adorn it, as best could, with
an earnest and true life.
| arose, thinking | would leave visions be-
hind me. | would plant some flowers about
the door, would not ask Charley to trim up
the little shrubbery we had; | already had
done 80 q thousand times, to no purpose
would do it myself, for in fancy it was en- easy
thing; bat, as | tried on my hood, came tho
uncomfortable thought q What if MIR. Rich
ards should gee me at the seryile work | pre-
pose 90
In vain said, again, What if he does, fool
ieh girls it any difference?" In order to
humilisto myself to the position was resolved
to take, or rather to be content with | placed
myself before the small broken locking glass
all the one we had-and, pushing away my
long heavy hair, looked On myself with unmer-
ciful scrutiny saying, Do look like a woman
TO win admiration DO lock like lady, even I!
or do | not rather appear what ana rustic,
born of a race Of rusticst" This crushing
truth came home to my convictions with an
awful reality; and with heart az heavy as
though had given up my dead for burial, |
was replacing my hood, whom the face | bad
been thinking of fronted mino in the looking
glass; and turning answered, with subdued
and respectful civiIity the lively, cheerful salu-
tations Of MIR. Richards.
Mary Haletead's story was interrupted at
this point, by the coming Of n rervant with a
card Miss Hastead glanced at it, and lazily
arose, saying, 81 suppose ] must see her" |
asked whom we were to see, as we deeoended
to the psrlor, and was informed that the caller
was Miss Mix, great heiress whom Miss
Halstead had met during some one of hor
Southern engagements.
She came dashing forward on our entrance,
and kissed her friend with q smack which
might have been heard across the street, and
held her hand and embraced hor in coquot-
tishly petting manner, which contr asted strong
ly with the cold and stately bearing of the &C.
tress
She was dressed with elaborate vulgarity,
displaying every possible veriety Of ornament
which could be hung or fastened about her
mcager and upsttractive person. Her shawl
CT csmers hair she cGrclcssly dropped on the
floor beside her, and 30 arranged other por-
tons Of her dress as to exhibit the greatest
quantity of lace and jowolry; but though she
kept her face Swallowed with veil, it was
quito obvious that she had neither youth nor
beauty Of which to be proud, however much
money she might be mistress of.
But above all, her conversation showed her
to be the sllicss aad vainest Of her Eek.
Sho had left quito an assembly at her hotel,
she said, for the number of her friends and ad-
mirers would hardly allow her to call mo-
mcnt her own, and that Gov. -, and Sena-
tor D., and that the Hon. Mr.. SO-and-so had
all said TO her, d" My dear Miss Mix, why Go
you leave us ! you are che life and light OF Us
all DO, dearest Miss Mix, return speedily"
She managed to crowd into the talk CT few
minutes all the compliments she had probably
4 L A.. \ -.
the air and manner Of one giving ROTATIONS
for the entertainment CT party IF monkeys,
if such thing may be supposed. Her walk
ing and talking and tanning, and repetiticns
Of "dear Miss Mix were evidently, in her es-
timation, done with stage effect. But as che
occupies a minor place in my story, | must not
devote space to her.
As she turned her head gracefully on one
shoulder and famed herself with the dir of
princess, carslessly holding back her ourls with
her iewelled card case, | noticed that MIR.
had been previously saying soft nothings to
Hetty, as | inferred from her blushing tinid-
itY, bent eagcrIy forward es if fearful OF losing
enc word of the fine lady, as he evidently sup
posed dear Mrs Mix to be; and though the
child continued talking, he made no reply.
Presently, with the ezcuse CT examining some
thing on the centre table he came near, and
"with greedy car devcured up her discourse"
greatly to the annoyance Of Hetty, who, after
the failure of one or two simple arts to regain
his attention, slipped, unobserved, from the
room. In those mournful eyes, and in that ab-
strsction, read the ultimate secret OF COM
mon but sad history.
AS Miss Mix left the parlor which she did
with unusual style and flourish, she dropped
one of her white kid gloVes-whethor acct
dentally, / know not but it was q blessed OPP
portunity for Mr. Screwhard and, seiziDg the
treasure, he presented it with u bow so low as
30 quite endanger his equilibrium, and, begging
of tho actress a presentation, handed the infia-
ted woman to her carriage, with the step of
one dizzy with the height on which no trod.
In his anxiety 10 regain the glove, ] noticed
something fall from his own hand, to which l
directed the attention Of my friend.
"Humph !" she exclaimed, with womanly
ouickness apprehending the truth, and taking
up the shining trifle, for it was Hetty's purse,
she held it up for a moment, and then delibe.
rately laid it on the fire. On the return OF
Mr.. Screwhard he inquired if it was probable
the diamonds worn by Mics Mix were really
genuine but Miss Halstead was 20 forbidding-
" stately, that no presently took leave, without
80 much as leaving his adieus fox Hetty.