Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1856-02-14

ham took his seat on stool in the modest
work-room of the dressmaker, Lucy Prime,
and began with more zeal than skill to put
her work-box to rights.
"Where do these skeins of silk 60, Miss
Lucy % said he.
ooh! dear me-" replied Lucy, impati-
emily; edo let them alone. You always
leave everything in such confusion, that it
costs me an hour to set the box to rights
when you are gone"
"You see [ think so much Of you when
I'm here"
''Nlr. George, if you talk so foolishly, I
won't let you in again"
"Mayn't say l think of you, dear Miss
Lucy?''
':You know very we'll don't like it."
every well. But I do, all the same
When [ saw the sun rise the other morning,
just tipping those dear old mountains with
gold, as the song says, do you know what
was my first thought ?"
"How should I know? replied the young
girl, with a downcast glance,
II thought it would have been delici-
Gus sight, if you had been there to share it
with me-"
''NIr. Georger'
ooh you needn't say Mr.. George" re-
piled the young man with warmth Il can't
helpit. I'm always thinking ofyou. When
I sit down to read those prosy old books a.
bout physic, find my mind wandering a
way from fevers and lotions to you. When
I ride to the Lindsays, and talk to Kate, |
always fancy | am talking to you. I've
even caught myself being civil to aunt Bet
sy, under the impression that she was trans
formed into my pretty Miss Lucy"
eff | didn't know that you were talking
nonsense, Mr.. George, should be very un-
happy. But you've made me waste ever so
much time, and I've got this dress to finish
by nine. promised it for four o'clock this
afternoon, but lost the day going to visit
those poor people you told me of, and Mrs.
Timms was so angry"
"Mrs. Timms! It's forAer %
Yes Now, let me work, do"
Every odd that Mrs. Timms should want
dress at nine o'clock at night. It's not an
evening dress, I see"
s'No- But what do you men know about
dresses? IF it's not done by nine I will lose
her, and she's my best customer"
Il wish could sew" said George, with
a sigh >@---7s,$
Il think you'd better 60 home. It's get
ting late
Late? Oh! you're quite mistaken. It's
very early on the contrary. And l cant &c
yet"
why not, ifyou please?' inquired Lucy,
raising those beautiful eyes of hers, and
looking searchingly at George.
Because I've something to say to you. .
'sSay it at once, then-no," she added
correcting herself, and sewing very nervous
ly, perhaps you had better not say it,
There was pause, George walked across
the room hastily. Then Lucy broke the 81
lence by observing in a firm voice -
Il change my mind. What you have
to say, Mr.. George, I am ready to hear
now.o
Il love you"
And he seized her hand, and covered it
witt kisses.
She was violently agitated, and grew very
pale. A minute or more elapsed before she
could speak. At last she said:
''Now Mr. George, that you have spoken,
[ will tell you frankly, that-that you must
not come here again.
t'Lucy, do you love me %
You must not come here again"
just at this moment, rap was heard at
the door. George had just time to hide
himself in closet, when the door opened,
and Mrs. Timms entered the ROOM
''I'ye come for that dress, Miss Prime, y
said she, in tone which seemed very strange
to George.
I'm very sorry" replied Lucy, 'to have
kept you waiting ma am; but | was delay
ed. 1t will be ready in ten minutes, if you
will take seat"
"Never mind" said Mrs. Timms, faint
ly, s'I'll take it as it is"
Lucy looked at her customer, and so did
George, from his hiding g-place. she was
strangely pale, and seemed i'll.
"Wont you sit down, ma'am? In five
minutes it will be finished. I've only a
stitch or two to make. I was in hopes you
would not want it till the morning"
''No," said Mrs. Timms, hastily, ''the
doctor and | are going to the country to-
night He's waiting for me at home, now. D
George had some difficulty in suppress
ing an exclamation. He had heard DIR.
Timms say, not two hours before, he would
spend the evening at his fathers. Lucy
had broken off her thread, and was folding
up the dress, and looking very wretched.
"Neyer mind folding it," cried Mrs.
Timms. And after pause, during which
George was convinced he heard her teeth
chatter, she asked Lucy if she could give
her glass Of water.
Lucy rose, and passed into her bedroom,
Mrs. Timms, apparently too nervous to sit
still, followhd her. The moment they left
the room, George sprang from his hiding
place, and hurried down stairs
<ho ho