The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-07-27
WASHINGTON, ID. C.
For the National Era.
H ILL wv O 0 D
CHAP. II.
DY ALICE CAREY.

row and then smiling upon me, and speaking
Title, the door opened, and our party received
al accession.
Hstty rose, and, slipping the purse into her
nocket, 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
rassibg some compliment on the beauty Of her
appesrance that night, kissed her forehead
instead of taking the preferred hand
And. indeed, she did look pretty, in spite of
the defotmity that 80 terribly detracted from
all she would have been. Her dress, crimson
material well became her brunette complex
ion and the fashion in which it was made, to-
gether with the black cloud of ringlets about
her shoulders, concealed almost entirely the
nunch back. STILL | could not but notice how
painfully conscious the stranger made her of
Der misfortune.
As soon as she shook free her head from be-
tween his palms, she FASTENED 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-
sciCus of his presence. This salutation was
less familiar than with Hetty, and in the tone
and manner were more profound respect bent
with that undefnable meaning of tenderness,
which written words fail to convey.
GAhI brother Screwhard, am glad you are
come she said, turning indolentiy round, and
suffering the clergyman-for he was clergy
mau--tO take the hand which she did not ex.
tend; your visit is especially opportune; |
was just wishing for some one to entertain
BETTY, inasmuch as | am edifying Miss -
with story"
The clergyman said nothing could give him
IL l..k A. 1oo1 L. A..
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 cheerfulness than need
Everything by turns, and nothing long,
might have been written with reference to Mr.
Sorewhard; for he was one of those facile per-
sons who accommodate themselves to circunl-
sances with wonderful facility.
In person, he was tall and thin, with long
neck inelning forward, and gray eyes, that
looked hungry his hair, which was black, was
fallen of the crown, and elsewhere was SO thin
that you saw all his head. He wore whiskers
On either cheek, 80 long and thin as to be not
unlike those of cat ; but his smile was a min
Cling of sweetness and graciousness, and his
dress, which was scrupulously neat, was also
fashionably made, giving his ungainly person
al the advantage it could have. His boots
were extremely stylish, and SO ingeniously
worn that did not observe, until had seen
him many times, that one of them concealed
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 gaye5t of US all. | soon discov-
cred that love of fine things was predomi-
nanS in his naturs-s disposition, which / re-
member not to have seen carried TO the same
extent in any other person. He had even q
w0maaish passion for velvet, lace satin, and
in feet, 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-
Ties about the prevailing colors and styles Of
eloaks, hats, and the like, and seemed to luxu-
rate in the probable value of the sables worn
by member Of his congregation.
He sat near the table, and now balanced
silver fork on his finger, and now held a tea
cup between himself and the light, for the mere
pleasure, apparently, which genuine thing
gave him. Perhaps, however, curiosity had its
share.
He had just returned from passing month
IN the country, which, as he told US he very
much enjoyed, free, as it was, from pastoral
cares and duties. He had luxuriated on home
baked bread, and new milk fresh air, and
general relaxation, and, beside, he talked
little boastingly, thought of moonlight walks,
aud romps with the artless country girls,
whose pumpkin-pies were very nice, he said, if
Their toilets were not quite so elegant as they
might have been.
And all his accounts of rural felicities, he
concluded by saying, "that is the way Hetty
and propose living-we shall be so happy;
Miss Mary, here, bored to death in her city
palace, will envy u.s."
And upon these occasions he smoothe1 the
girls ringets, and looked down on her, half
tondly, | thought, but | could not determine
how much of the insinuating manner was as
stunned, to p;que Mary, who, to say truth, had
been so long accustomed to admiration that
she received it as her right. However, upon
Tins occasion, she seemed in no wise jealous,
not even when the young man took from his
little finger the diamond ring he WORE and
Placed 1t on the hand of Hetty-on the con-
tr.ry, she asserted, with sort Of hslfsincere
gayety that she considered it avowed be-
trothal
The laughter was interrupted by the en-
trance of Mary Halstead's housekeeper a
good and really pious old woman, who es-
teemed it great privilege to shake hands
with the man of God, as Mr.. Screwhsrd ap-
peared 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
enc about to administer the sacrament to the
dying.
"Well, sister Graves" he said, in commits
Grating way, that seemed to say he was poor,
miserable sinner, too, "what has the Lord
been doing for you?"
Mrs. Graves answered, she had great reason
to be thankful, though, all through the late
WEI weather, she had been poorly.
She then inquired-for, in her estimation her
ailments, no matter how great were small
things in comparison with his-what had been
the state of his bodily health.
Mr.. Screwhard had been "poorly," too, du-
ring the late wet weather, very poorly-f pos
able, more poorly than his friend; life was
short, and full of trouble, he said-sickness,
SORROW, pain, and death, were the common por.
ten of US all but his manner seemed to say,
that he was more weighed down by the COM
mon affections than anybody else; and here he
related to Mrs. Graves portion OF his expert
cnce in the country, where he had been, he
said, to try to regain his wasted energies, SUBJ
sisting chiefly on bread and milk, and, in fact,
by all abstemious habits, essaying to build up
the mortal man.
"We are all poor, frail critters" sighed Mrs.
Graves, "and we come to the end of our jour-
ney in little span--it seems to me but yester-
day since was giddy girl, like Hetty, here,
and wore costly ring, and thought time was
as good as eternity" Hetty hid the ring fin
ger, and tucked up the folds of the new Grim