The Georgetown news., 1855-12-27

something was left behind when they went
out,) directly opposite my chair, on the
other side OF the CRATE. And then she would
unconsciously y rest in unrest on the outer
edge OF char, like one ready to fit from
a forbidden perch. And then she learned
to sit few moments, gracefully and at
ease, as if there were no harm in it. And
then
One night the nurse asked, peeping in at
the door, please, Miss Amity. mayn't l
put the children to bed before YOU come up?
| should like to 60 out, if you please, miss. y
"Oh, yes-no matter-Ill 90 now" But
the nurse went, aud Miss Amity did not
make haste to follow. And so, by nice de-
grees, the nurse was taught to come to the
parlor and take away the children herself,
and Miss Amity waited till her own hour
for retiring-except when the door-beIl
rang, when she disappeared before the caller
was ushered in. And at length some par
ticular friends, like James Hayden, tor in
stance, calling very often, Miss Amity be-
came familiar with their approach, and lost
her terror of it. By-and-by another ad-
vance was made. Miss Amity paused to
bid her patrons friends good evening be-
fore she withdrew. The next amelioration
in her condition was to wait and talk with
them moment about education in general
and the dear children in particular. When
this topic became exhausted we found 9th
ers, which took up more time; and Miss
Amity certainly made very pleasant i'm
preston on all my friends-on James Hay
den in particular. He would even inquire
for her if she happened not to be present
which inquiry would be very great liber-
ty in any one else; but he is my most init
mate friend, and stands not on conventional
etiquette.
Everything went on delightfully."-. Never
was better ordered and more quiet house
and family. Never had | been so pIacidly
content with bachelorhood; so fixed in my
determination that nothing should ever in
duce me to forego my independence and
change my state. Here was perfect COM
fort. The presence of Miss Amity was sun
shine IN the house. A perfect being in her
manners delicacy and refinement in her
thoughtS-yirtue incarnate-the best posi-
bic guardians for the dear orphans-and so
charmingly unsophisticated, childlike, and
unobtrusiye And [ had to thank James
Hayden for it all. Poor fellow-itsa pity
he's married! We might make a Joint es-
tablishment of it; for | have satisfied myself
that entire happiness can be secured with
out matrimonial chains.
Tine children sailed out for their daily
walks Or rides so delightfully."- happy that |
once caught myself wishing that they were
mine indeed, and that [ were father instead
OF uncle. But | checked my foolish thought
at once. Were they not mine? And was
not myself mine, my own, besides, with
nobody to claim proprietorship in me, or
assert over me any right to domination on
the plea of being the mother Of my children?
Had not all the comforts of home without
any of its disadvantages?
put the question one day to nv old
friend James Hayden, who had dined with
me. Miss Amity and the children had left
US, and we were taking the second cigar
There might have been something of tri-
umph in my tone, for his wife is lite acid,
and the subject is tender one.
"YOu are very comfortable, my dear fel-
low" he said; and pausing to puff, added.
'of course you will soon make permanent
arrangements"
"Pe-ma-nent ARRANGEMENTS"
Don't repeat after me, nor look so won
derstruck. Don't deny to an old friend
that you intend to marry Garry -ah-Miss
Amityw
Il never dreamed of such thing"
Then your sleep must be very sound in
deed" said my friend, laughing. every
body Is full Of it, and we only wonder that
you have waited so long. 1t is a very en-
6arrasSlng situation to keep the young lady
in"
Embarrassing! Why, she is only the
chlldren's governess. She was educated
precisely to that expectation, and venture
to say entertains no other"
MY TREND whistled, and took his hat
w hat plague was in it? What had | done?
What should do? After tea came the old
comedy. Children dismissed. Me with
evening newspaper. Miss Amity opposite
And now behold new thing under the
gaS-!ght! l,sO calm the night before, nay,
at dlnner that day, so free from care or vex-
alton, now perturbed, and with nobody to
tel 1t TO- There was no speaking to Miss
Amty m on that subject, for there was no
telling where to begin it, or where it would
END: And | could talk of nothing else
AND L must speaker burst. The silent
tete tele was very awkward-to me. Miss
Amlty worked away at embroidery or
CrocheI, as unconscious and uncOncerned as
the spoiled cat On the hearth-rug. AS
Pe3eped over my paper at her, l could not
help regretting that such fine Uis-d-uis as
we presented must soon, in all human prob
ability, be spoiled forever.
A caller relieved my perplexity 1t was
my pe9rtlnacious friend, James Hayden. l
was always glad to see him-never more so
than this very evening. Miss Amity had
seemed unusually disposed to stay, and there
IS no knowing what folly might have been
guilty OF. | tremble now when L think OF
1t; but tharly fOrtunai the danger Is over.