The Panola star. ([Panola] Panola County, Miss.) 1856-1857, 1856-08-13
S Ell ECT PIECES
From the american Courier.
THE WHITE COTTAGE
OR,
THE GALLANT DEFENDER:
O.
BY BESSIE BEECHWOOD.
BY BESSIE BEECHWooD.

table in William Morton's little parlor.
variously engaged, to pass the long even
ing. The first was the master Of the
house, fire looking, good humorcd old
! gentleman of sixty, who WIS almost uni
ycrsally called ''Uncle William'' by his
young friends. The second was "Aunt
Lucy," bis wife, a sweet, gentle woman,
somewhat younger than himself; and the
third, Your humble servant.
Aunt Lucy and | were working and
chatting, interrupted by an occasional
paragraph from the evening paper, which
UuCle William was reading. Having read
it through, advertisements and all, the
reader let the paper fall in his lap, and
sat watching his wife, as her busy needle
passed in and out. We had fallen into
silence, which was suddenly broken by the
! gcDtleman's exclaiming--
"Shall | tell you a story, Bcssie?''
"Oh! delightful!'' criedI but, catch
ing the merry twinkle in his eye, added,
"a true story though. No fibs now!''
g "|Oh, promise it is true, every word of
it," replied he; and, leaning his arm on
the table, and glancins at his wife, he
began:
"Many years ago, when this city was
the village they sometimes call it now,
there stood little cottage on what was
then. the outskirts, but is now the heart of
business. As this cottage lay directly in
my road between my dwelling and place
of business, it naturally attracted my at
tention by its quiet beauty and rural situa-
tion the vines clambcred ovcrit in sum-
mer, and almost hid its white walls, and
an air of neatness pervaded the place,
which showed that woman inhabited it :
but Of the inhabitants, except occasional
~ an elderly lady, saw nothing for many
months.
However, at length that cottage became
the object of my walks; it hurried my
departure in the morning, and induced my
. earlier return in the evening. But, al
though the cottage itself was just as pref
tv as ever. did not notice its beauties as
formerly. y golden head ut the window.
or pceping among the vines, had now far
more charms for me.
glanced at Aunt Lucy-shc was smil-
ing; but the hair that could be seen be-
meath her cap was Silrer, not gold.
Well, that bright head became most un-
accountably mixed up with nay accounts
and calculations, and bales of cotton had
the most surprising habit of changing in
TO white cottages overgrown with vines
7 found that these juggleries were serious
Iy interfering with my business, and so
determined to obtain, at all hazards, al
introduction to the fair unknown, and
thus allay the spirit if possible.
This / found easier to resolve than tC
do, for no one of my associates seemed tt
know the occupants Of the white cottage
But was not to be so conquered. By
dint of close watching, | discovered thai
nv charmer at certain times left her home
to take her music lesson, Judging from
the roll of music she carried. But how
to avail myself Of the information haC
obtained?
Among my acquaintances there was {
good -for-nothing young dog, called jack
who was good enough fellow in th'
main, but who was always in want O
money, or in some scrape or other, in botl
of which dilemmas had frequently assist
ed him; consequently he was always will
ling to do any little thing in return, tha
did not require much exertion, for he wa:
proverbially indolent. So, in my presen
necessity, hunted up Jack to assist me
E'Jack,' said |, do you want to MAKE
a little something towards a new outfit
For he was lamentably seedy.
sI'm your man, replied he, provided
it's not too much trouble
Assuring him on that point, bid hin
' meet me on Wednesday afternoon, at hal
, past five O'Clock, near the old prison il
, Prune street. Jack WINGED as l name'
, the locality, but my promise of safe con
, duct pacified him, and he consented.
A little before five on the appointed da.
! | was at my post, and, keeping within tn
r shadow of the prison wall, | saw tn
young girl come quietly along Sixth street
and pass on towards Spruce, her usua
destination. At the exact moment Jacl
II.
Joined me, his anxiety to know the mature
If his ssecret service making him un
usually prompt. Helooked eagerly rouno
!; but laughed at his fears, and SO re-as
sured him. that we chatted pleasantly TO
the intervening half hour. ;,
( AS six struck from the neighoorins oeii
Y | directed his attention to the house TN
fair music-scholar would presently leave