The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-06-13

you nave Deen accustomed III that little
outofthe-world village, that you would
Ind yourself sadly out Of place. Then
there is young and very distinguished
orator to be present, about whom the
fashionable world is just now in perfect
ecst"cles; and you couldn't, of course,
expect us to present you to him. But
you can make yourself useful in some
way, dare say. The servants will be
very busy; and after the company have
all arrived, you can go into the dressing
room and arrange the cloaks and hats,
so that the owners need not have so much
difficulty in identifying them as they did
at out last party. always look forward
with dread to that finale of confusion"
bowed my head and left the room,
Tor the tears were coming; and would
not that they should see them.
"Oh, Aunt Mary Aunt Maryl if you
could see your little Alice now I" proan-
ell in the agony ofmy heart, as lay my
tbrobbing head on the arms wrapped
together on the table.
And then | resolved | would return
again to my village home, though all the
light had gone out Oft. Now my health,
which had not gained when came to
my aunts, was restored, thought could
establish an infant school in my old home.
and Tor Aunt Mary's sake the inhabitants
would aid me in this matter.
1t was evening. All alone in nv little
chamber, at one corner Of the mansion, |
could hear the hurrying to and fro of
many feet, and the rumbIing Of carriage
Wheels, as they drew up before the door.
Below me; | knew, The chandeliers were
pouring their tides Of silver light through
the magnificent drawing-rooms, and flow
ing over fair young brows, and winding
through the ringlets that dropped around
them. l thought of the light hearted
girls there OF my own age; and envied
them not their happiness, nor their riches,
out the love that was denied to me; and
sometimes, when a swell of rich eager
laughter would come ripping up the wind
ing stairs to my chamber | would bury
my face in my hands and weep. And.
sometimes, | thought Of him for whom
all this beauty and chivalry were assem-
bled; and then | would wonder if, amid
all that homage and adulation, his heart
would not grow mournful a moment,
were he to know that, under that very
ROOT, broken hearted orphan girl was
sitting, with no companions but her men,
orles and her tears
At last, grew very uneasy, and sit
ting there With my head leaning on nv
hands, | fell asleep, and dreamed | was
sitting with my Aunt Mary by our old
cottage-window once more. e,
1t must have been very late when
awoke, for | could hear the tide Of COM
pany slowly setting up from the dining
hall into the parlors, aud remembering
the task which my cousin had assigned
me, seized light and hurried down the
back stairs into the dressing room.
1t presented to me a scene of almost
hopeless confusion; but had at last sue
eeeded in arranging the garments so they
would be readily recognized by the own
ers, when heard footsteps hastily ap.
preaching the door, and vainly looked
round to find some mode Of e,ress.
You did well, Lee, to smueele me out
OF the room as you did; but necessity
knows not the law Of conventionaIism.
and must hurry of without taking leave
OF my hostess and her daughters. Here
are our hats; lucky we've found 'em.
stood in one corner with the light in
my hand, so the gentlemen did not OBJ
serve me; and was internally congrs,tu-
lating myself on this when the Younger
OF the men, who had previously spoken,
turned again, saying
"Wsit moment, I put my cain in this
corner, and had well nigh forgotten il.
Madam.
lifted my eyes anil the light fell full
on his features, and we stood there face to
face. One giance---yet another, intense,
breathless, into those brown, deep eyes
that were fastened eagerly, wonderingly
on mine-and then knew him. Time
had moulded the contour Of the pale boy
face into that of early manhood, and soft
ehec and deepened the light Of those
wondesoaa eyes; but knew they were
Henry Wizards.
"Alice r.
"Haryl
The words came involuntary to the lips
Of both; and then. with that vo;ca. tha