Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-06-22
BATH, THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE o. 1854

Just at this moment, Cousin Letty.' whis-
pered The sweet voice Of Mary, as she knocked
for admilIance.
Heaven help me 7 CALCULATED Lefty, as,
unable to frame any excuse for refusal, she
summoned up courage to open the door for her
young and unconscious rival.
: Dear Cousin Lefty said Mary, have so
much TO tell you that you will be glad 10 hear
Mr.. Lesle-but you look sad, cousin what
is the matters'
Nothing but fatigue said Lefty, forcing
smile. think, Mary, can guess what YOU
have to communicate. Mr.. Leslie has declared
his love for you, has he nott'
All, he told me you knew all, said Mary,
and were his friend but would not listen to
him until had your sanction, dearest Lefty
And do you love him, Mary!'
: Nolo | can tell you the truth, Lefty and
Mary threw her arms round her in her old
child-like and caressing way though
would not for the world have confessed il
while fanced he entertained preference for
you and think could have worn the will
low gracefully for the sake Of seeing you mar
ried, dear Lefty and though you have often
told me that ! was the keeper Of your heart,
yet, TO tell the truth, sometimes felt jealous
lest Mr. Leslie should steal il away from me. ;
No, no. Mary, be assured he seeks no
heart but yours
Oh, yes he has quite convinced papa Of
that Pride checked the tear that started to
Letty's eye. Then you approve, dear
Leiy!'
Certainly, love; you know always said
| should approve Of your husband
No, no. said Mary, correcting her; 1
always said that whoever you were very fond
Of, would marry; and know you have the
highest opinion of Mr.. Leslie; and so you
ought, for he says you are the kindest creature
in the world. Do you think shall be happy
Lety!'
am sure you will be happy, Mary and
kissing her affectionately, Lefty descended
with her TO the drawing-roUm. But if any
one deserved happiness, it was Lefty, for The
admirable manner in which she mastered her
own feelings, and entered 50 cordially into the
plans Of the young people. Who could have
imagined that apparently tranquil heart to have
been the scene of So much tumuItl
All arrangements were made that evening.
1t was decided that the marriage was 10 take
place at the eud Of the following month ; and
e A-s. .;4.;s .5I, - r'I5 fFffFr ani i'SsT
tance would compel Mr. Middleton 10 be III
London, he resolved that his wife aud daugh-
Ter should accompany him, and the ceremony
be performed there. Accordingly, it was re-
corded in the Morning Post, and copied into
all the Cumberland newspapers, that on the
Goth of October, 1885, at ST. Jamess church,
Edward Leslie, Esq, was married to Mary,
daughter Of &c. On the day of their return
TO Cumberland, as the carriage stopped at the
surgeon door, clean, neat-looking old wo-
man, carrying basket of small l-wares, dropped
a courtesy to Mrs. Leslie
God bless yon madame. and make your
new home happy one.'
am glad to see you recovered and look
ing 50 well, Peggy said Mary; while Ed
ward, pressing his wifes hand, whispered:
Mary, depend upon il, Cupid was dis
guised as old Peggy when we met by her bed
sde'
Cousin Lefty, with her usual generosity,
insisted on presenting Mary with wedding
portion Of FIVE hundred pounds; and as Mr..
Middleton gave his daughter the same sum,
the report went that the surgeon was rich
man. Money makes money his practice
waxed rapidly, realizing handsome fortune.
Cousin Lefty devoted herself 10 Mary's
children, and those Of her cousin, John Mid
dIeton but amongst old friends and new
friends, she loved to drop in to purchase innu-
merable pairs Of stockings Of Jonathan Ste-
vens, Huosier,' but chiefly for the purpose Of
kind gossip with the comely Qnakeress, who
often talked over the incidents Of their adven-
ture by the Carlisle coach, generally concu-
ding with the remark:
Truly, though friend Leslie hath doubtless
done well, thou shoud'st have been The bride
that would have chosen for him.
But the gentle Quakeress, like most human
disposers Of events, was wrong for although
Edward Leslie and his wife enjoyed as much
happiness as is generally alloied 10 mortals,
yet it fell far short of the holy tranquility
which sel(-denial impaired to the future years
Of Cousin Lefty.