Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-06-22

letters have been too cheerful, too ingenious
for that; besides, she has promised never to
fall in love without cons ulting me :; and arri-
wing at this satisfactory conclusion, cousin
Lefty, after setting up very late in expectation
of Mary's arrival, was pursuaded by Mrs. Mid
dleton to go to bed, as she was sure she must
be dreadfully wearied, as we'll as suffering
from her brulse, and there was no chance of
her daughters return until the following day.
At that moment chaise stopped at the garden
gate; and the next cousin Lefty was clasped
in the hearty embrace Of Mary Middleton.
Dear, dear cousin Lefty Z said Mary, 81
was determined to come, if had to walk all
the way from Keswick, which was likely to
do, for every place was taken-every chaise
monopolized for days to come by the crowd Of
visitors to the lakes
But how, then, did you get home, Mary,
dear!' asked her cousin.
In return chaise. saw it pass, and
bribed the postillions with all my money to
bring me to our door,
How very imprudent said Lefty. Sup
pose they had picked up another passenger by
the way!'
'Oh, they did insisted upon it. was
to pay handsomely for the chaise-so it was
all my own, to do what pleased with and
do you know, cousin Lefty, never before
guessed the delight of keeping carriage, for
it enabled me to relieve the WEAKNESS of a
long journey to poor woman, who was foot
sore, with an infant in her arms, and two little
children walking by her side. Oh, how thank
full she was and how soundly the children
slept all the while Of course. | gave her all
my pocket-money, and left papa to pay for the
chaise.'
This was an act after Letty's own heart,
and she pressed Mary's hand in sympathy,
though at the same time prudently reproving
her for her Quixotic generosity.
/ think, dear Mary, you we're very wrong
to travel alone. Suppose any of those adven-
turers about the lakes had run off with you =
Oh, but 1 never will be run off WITH said
Mary laughing.
You are not in love yet, then, Mary'
No, dear cousin Letty-no more in love
than you are, or likely to be- mean to lead
just the same happy sort of single life that you
lead.'
| should be very much disappointed if 1
thought you were in earnest. No, no, Mary;
| am resolved that you shall marry, and intend
to look out for a suitable husband for you
some excellent, agreeable person-.just such
man as | might have fallen in love with N.Y.
self in my girlish days.
very well, COUSIN said Mary. When |
see any one enjoying your particular favor, /
shall make up my mind that he's to be my
husband; but you must undertake all the
courting-Fm sure could never endure that.
What on earth can be so ridiculous as two ra-
tional beings saying to each other, | love
your Oh, horrible =
Perhaps Lefty was not altogether Of the
same opinion. She remembered when her
cousin John Middleton, used to call her his
: little wife, Seven years older than herself,
he went into the world to seek his fortune
The fondness of the child grew into the love
of the girl; how eagerly did she look for his
return And he, to surprise his dear cousin
Lefty, said nothing of what had happened, but
came home married! And so people supposed
that cousin Lefty had never been in love, and
wondered why she lavished such devotion on
John Middleton's eldest daughter.
On the following day, Lefty and Mary sal
lied forth to the neighboring town on shop
ping expedition. How well they both looked!
Mary, with her Hebe-like face, and cousin
Lefty bearing an amazing resemblance to her,
but,-ah that fatal but-fifteen years older.
Still, Mary was so carelessly dressed in her
old Dunstable bonnet and blue ribbons; while
Letty's town-made cased white silk would
have taken ten years off any woman's age,
that the result was, as they passed through
the principal street Of the little town, Lefty
excited almost as much admiration as the more
youthful beauty of Mary Middleton.
i wish, cousin, said Mary, you would
60 with me to see a poor old woman, PEN
sioner Of mine-that is, if you're not ashamed
Of being seen in so horrible part of the
town.
How did she excite your compassion.
Mary1'
Oh, poor creature, | saw her one day with
basket Of tapes and needles, in crossing the
street, knocked down by a carriage she was
much hurt, and Ihad her taken carefully home
and attended to, should like to know how
she's going on; will you come with me, Let
tyr
'Of course will, dear Mary said her cous-
in, delighted at every manifestation of kind
heariedness in her favoriies
They now went from one dirty lane into an
other, until they arrived at the miserable lodg-
ing-house Of Mary's pensioner.
How is old Peggy to-day!' asked Mary of
the woman who opened the door.
Very low, indeed, ma am; the Doctors
with her just now. He's as attentive to the
poor and as if he was paid for it,
am very glad 10 hear it, said Mary. Il
hope everything that was necessary has been
procured for herl'
Oh, dear, yes, ma'am. made your money
m f,,rther than anv hodv wonld think and the