The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-08-08
SELECTED TALES.
from tho Warcrly Magazine.
J" NOT AT HOME"
DY r. A. AcKERMAN.

DY r. A. ACRERMAN.
All alone in the cosy little sitting-room
she had occupied since morning, sat the
admired belle of dozen bathrooms, Miss
Sophia st. James. Had her admirers at
that moment beheld her, il is to be feared
that many of them would have disowncd
che appellation. A faded shawl, which
ilD-concealed the rents Of soi'ed dress,
enveloped her figure; from her lea pro-
Jected an innumerable quantity of filthy
curl papers, many of which, getting loose
fromstheir fastenings, gave her much the
appearance of horned animal, and her
lace was wan and smutty from the lack
of its usual paint. She was buried in
the embrace of hugo rocking chair,
which was wheeled close to the window,
for the purpose of catching the last few
beams Of daylight upon the pages Of u
romance she held in her hands The
furniture of the room was in as much
disorder as the young lady herself; the
fire in the graie, ali unheeded, had burnt
out; the twilight of December day
threw its shadows deeper and deeper
upon thelpa before her; but still heed
less of even the loud call Of the tea bell,
Miss Sophia read on. At length, when
darkness had rendered almost every oh.
jeet invisible, nearly upseiting herself
through the lazy desire of Keeping her
seat, she reached over her chair and
pulled the bell. In moment her little
servaut maid appeared at the door.
Bring up some Goals, Bridget, and
mend the fire." drawled the young lady
--"and il any one calls tonight, want
ing to see me, say I'm not at home,"-
unless" she added, after a short pause,
sunless it might be aunt Sally; and il
you tell her that, she'll be sure to come
in and wait up here, until come, if that
were twelve o'clock tonight, confound
her" r5T71 r-
can what is il I'll be afiher tellin'
her, ma'ain 2" quoth the maid, meeky.
"Oh so sick that cannot be disturb
ed; dead, anything, l don't care what, so
long as you keep her out of this room.
j wouldn't have her come in here and
find mo in such plight, for worlds But
l don't think it's likely you'll be bothered
with her, for she was here yesterday, and
saw was all right; it isn't likely she'll
come this evening"
Bridget looked at her mistress for
moment with q sort OF Mortified wonder,
aud thea went about her mission Of mend
ing the fire. In due time, having per-
formed this operation, and lighted lamp,
she closed the curtains, wheeled the rock
ing chair up to the CRATE, and left Sophy
once more to the luxury of her novel.
ugh how the wind howls!n ex-
claimed our heroine, dropping herself into
the comfortable scat. . III have this
evening to o,myself, any way / must and
will see the end OF this delightful story
it any one comes through this storm TO
pay me visit, they must want to see
me a wonderful deal more than / do any
one that know of justnow = and, open
ing her book, she was soon lost in utter
forgetfuIness Of the outer world.
A quarter of an hour had scarcely
passed, when, there came a ring at the
door bell, loud and terrible, as il the per-
son outside were determined 10 be adj
mitted, come what would Of Il. Bridaets
clumsy shoes came quickly, slip,-slap,
along the hall; the door was opened,
and who should stand confronting the
poor girl, but the ruthless, oul.searchng
black eyes Of Aunt Sally. Here was
catastrophe thar Bridget had not expect
ed; she had comforted hefself with the
reflection Of her mistress, that the good
lady would not conc Bridget was a
Conscientious girl, very young, and not
vet accustomed TO offer with affsonteyy