Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-07-15
LITERARY MISCELLANY.
For the National Era.
H OlLY-W 0 0 D
OIIAP. II.
BY ALICE CAREY.


CHAP. III.
While Hetty and fingered over the tea,
thinking Of the story Mary was telling, and she
now and then smiling upon me- and speaking
little the door opened, and our party received
an accession.
Hetty rose, and, slipping the purse into her
pocket, extended her hand with all the cordi-
atty OF actual pleasure, while the bushes
broke through her cheeks, deeper and deeper
for the yisiter, turning back her face, and
passing some compliment ON the beauty Of her
appearance that night, kissed her forehead,
instead of taking the pronered hand
And indeed she did look pretty, in spite OF
tho deformity that 80 terribly detracted from
all she would have been. Her dress, a crimson
material well became her brunette complex
ion and the fashion in which it was made, to-
gether with tho black cloud Of ringlets about
her shoulders, concealed almost entirely the
hunch back Still, could not but notice how
painfully conscious the stranger made her Of
her misfortune
AS soon as she shook free her head from be-
tween his palms, she hastened to bring for
ward the easy chair and to offer tea and wine,
both Of which the guest declined, advancing at
the Same time toward Mary, who remained in
the recess of the window, apparently uncon-
sci0us Of his presence. This salutation was
less familiar than with Hetty and in the tone
and manner we're moro profound respect, blent
with that undefnable meaning Of tenderness,
which written words fail to convey
"Ah! brother Screwhard, am glad you are
Gomez she said, turning indolently round, and
suffering the clcrgyman-for he was a clergy
man---to take the hand which she did not ex-
tend; @your visit is especially opportune;
was Just wishing for some one tentertain
Hetty, inasmnch as am edifying Miss --
with story
The clergyman said nothing could give him
moro pleasure; but the look and the tone indi-
Gated that he would entertain Hetty as her sis
ter, and not that she could at all interest him.
Hetty blushed yet more deeply at the sug-
gestion of her sister, and, seating herself On
low footstool, in the corner, looked steadily into
the fire; for, though winter was not come,
there was fire. more for cheerfulnees than need.
Everything by turns, and nothing long,
might have been written with reference to Mr..
Screwhard for he was one of those facile per-
sons who accommodate themselves to oircum-
stances with wonderful facility.
In person, he was tall and thin, with long
neck, inclining forward, and gray eyes, that
looked hungry; his hair, which was black, was
fallen off the crown, and elsewhere was 80 thin
that you saw all his head. He wore whiskers
on either cheek, 30 long and thin as to be not
unlike those Of cat but his smile was min
Cling Of sweetness and graciousness, and his
dress, which was scrupulously neat, was also
fashionably made, giving his ungainly person
oil the advantage it could have. His boots
were extremely stylish, and 80 iDgeniously
worn that did not observe until had seen
him many times, that one of them concealed a
cork leg His neckcloth, white as snow, was
plainly tied, and but FOR this you would not
have suspected his profession, as he laughed
and jested, the gayest Of US all. soon discoy-
cred that q love of fine things was prcdomi-
nant in his nature-a disposition which | re-
member not TO have seen carried to the same
extent in any other person. He had even q
womanish passion for velvet, lace, satin, and,
in fact for whatever cost most money-now,
for its qualification, examining the tiny hand
kerchief of Mary, and now taking between his
thumb and finger the velvet trimming of Het-
ty's sleeve.
remarked that he made numberless inqui-
rics about the prevailing colors and styles of
cloaks, hats, and the ike, and seemed to luxu-
rate in the probable value of the sablcs worn
by member Of his congregation.
He sat near the table, and now balanced a
silver fork on his finger, and now held a tea
cup between himself and the light, for the mere
pleasure, apparently, which a genuine thing
gave him. Perhaps however, curiosity had its
share.
He had just returned from passing month
in the country, which, as he told n, he very
much enjoyed, Free as it was from pastoral
cares and duties He had luxuriatcd on home
baked bread, and new milk. fresh air, and
general relaxation, and, beside, he talked a
little boastingly thought Of moonlight walks,
and romps with the artless country girls,
whose pumpkin-pies were very nice, he said, if
their toilets werc not quite 30 elegant as they
might have been.
concluded by saying, that is the way Hetty
and | propose living--we shall DO 80 happy;
Miss Mary, here, bored to death in her city
palace, win envy usn
And upon these occasions he smoothed the
girls ringlets, and looked down on her, half
fondly, | thought, but | could not determine
how much of the insinuating manner was as
sumed, to pique Mary, who, to say truth, had
been so long accustomed TO admiration, that
she received it as her right. However, upon
this occasion, she seemed in no wise jealous,
not even when the young man took from his
little finger the diamond ring be wore, and
placed il ON the hand Of Hetty--on the con-
trary, she asserted, with sort Of hslfsincere
gsyety, that she considered it avowcd be-
tr0thal.
The laughter was interrupted by the en-
trance Of Mary Halstcads housekecpor, q
good and really pious old woman, who cs-
tecmed il a great privilege TO shake hands
with the man Of God, as Mr.. Screwhard ap-
pcared to her.
She was rheumatic, and growing hard Of
hearing and dull Of sight as persons Of sixty
years are likely TO be and when she seated
herself beside the clergyman, his recently
merry face assumed the awful expression Of
one about 10 administer the sacrament 10 the
dying
Well sister Graves,n he said, in a commits
GRAZING way, that seemed to cay he was poor,
miserable sinner, too, "what has the Lord
been doing for you?D