Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-08-04

| suherc Of action, while | might have peen
| striving to educate myself-neglgent OF what
| might do, because could not 90 more. II !
have the fine capacities for which have given
myself credit, why dol not use them The
result of these reflections was, that l myself
was the most worthless drone OF oil, and that
| had no right TO live burden to my father
useless to the world. would appoint myself
round of duties, and | would go through them
hereafter with martyr determination. !
would take up the Inheritance TO which was
born and try to adorn ii, rs 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 SO q Thousand times, to no purpose;
would do il myself, for in fancy it was an easy
thing but, as tried on my hood came the
uncomfortable thought, What if Mr. Rich
ards should zee me at the servile work pre-
posean
In vain said, again, What if he does, fool
ish girls it any diference?" In order to
humiliste myself to the position was resolved
to take, or rather to be content with, placed
myself before the small broken looking glass
all the one we had-and, pushing away my
long, heavy hair, looked on myself with unmer-
oiful scrutiny, saying, Do look like woman
to win admiration? do lock like lady, even
or do not rather appear what 4 am--a rustic,
born Of q racc of rusticsav This crushing
truth came home to my convictions with an
awful reality and with heart as heavy as
though had given up my dead for burial, !
was replacing my hood, when the face ! had
been thinking of fronted mine in the looking
glass: and turning, answered, with subdned
and respectful civility, the lively cheerful said
tations of Mr.. Richards.
Mary Halstead's story was interrupted at
this point, by the coming of q servant with a
card. Miss Halstead glanced at it, and lazily
arose, saying, !. ] suppose must SEQ her"
asked whom we were to see, as we descended
to the parlor, and was informed that the caller
was Miss Mix, great heiress whom Miss
Halstead had MET during some one OF her
Southern engagements
She came dashing forward on our entrance,
and kissed her friend with smack which
might have been heard across the street. and
held her hand and embraced her in ccquet-
tishly petting manner, which contrasted strong
" with the cold and stately bearing OF the ac-
tre66.
She was dressed with elaborate vulgarity,
displaying every possible variety OF ornament
which could be hung or fastened about her
Of camel's hair she carelessly dropped on the
floor beside her, and SO arranged other por-
tons Of her dress as to exhibit the greatest
quantity Of lace and jewelry but though she
kent her face Swallowed with veil, it was
quite 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 silliest and vainest of her sex.
She had left quite an assembly at her hotel
aha said. for the number of her friends and ad-
mirers would hardly allow her to call a mo-
ment her own, and that Gov. --, and Sena-
tor D., and that the Hon. Mr. So and-so had
all said to her, My dear Miss Mix, why do
you leave u.s. you are the life and light Of US
all; do, dearest Miss Mix, return speedily"
She managed to crowd into the talk of few
minutes all the compliments she had probably
received in the course of her life, and all with
the air and manner of one giving recitatioDs
for the entertainment Of party Of monkeys
if such thing may be supposed Her walk
inc. and talking and tanning, and repetitions
of adear Miss Mix" were evidently, in her es-
timstion done with stage effect. But as she
occupies 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 air of a
princess, carelessly holding back her curls with
her iewelled card case, noticed that Mr..
Screwhard who sat in distant corner, and
had been previously saying soft nothngs to
Hetty, as inferred from her blushing timid-
ity, BENT eagerly forward, as if fearful Of losing
one word of the fine lady, as he evidently sup
posed dear Miss Mix to be; and though the
child continued talking, he made no reply.
Presently, with the excuse CT examining some
thing on the centre table, he came near, and
awith greedy ear devoured 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 abb
straction, | read the ultimate secret Of O COM
mon but sad history.
As Miss Mix left the parior which she did
with unusual style and flourish, che dropped
one Of her white kid gloves-whether acct
dentally, know not but il was blessed OPP
portunity for Mr. Screwhard and scizing the
treasure, be presented it with bow so low as
toquite endanger his equilibrium, and, begging
Of the actress q presentation, handed the infis-
ted woman to her carriage, with tho step OF
one dizzy with the height on which he trod
In his anxiety to regain the glove noticed
something fall from his own hand, to which
directed the attention Of my friend
"Humph ~ she exclaimed, with womanly
qoicknees apprehending the truth, and taking
up the shining triAe, for it was Hetty's purse,
she held il up for moment and then delibe-
ratcIy laid il 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 30 forbidding-
ly stately, that he presently took leave, without
90 much as leaving bis adieus for Hetty.