The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-11-07

: on our tets-s.ssts. could not belp glanci
: ., the door uneasily now and then, expet
ing momentarily the advent Of mamma
, elder sister. But no one came, and 1 felt
, was making an unreasonably long call. n
, resolved to 20 many times before 1 did.
liked her % much in her simple home dres
. and the low sewing-chair and workable
she bay window evidently were her speci'
property. All, me! to think ofgoing bac
to life Of endless hotsl corridors and drea'
drawing rooms crowded with tarnished ~
holssery and sravelins.suide BY the watt
pitcher on the center-tAble.
/ But rose to take leave at last, and Jul
then q pretty child, her curls all in tangl'
and great straw hat hanging o, her shouie
s, BY il green ribbon strings, came hcate
and brsathless up the garden walk.
"Oh, my darling, what race! Ho'
could you run 30 fast ?" was the child's firs
greeting. Evidently her youngest sister,
I said to myself, remarking the LIKENESS be
tween the two. ! had just said something
about calling TO ay good bye the next day
Is on the one following, was to return Il
New York.
"put, mamma 2" How I started! Ian
sure Il was visible but felt my face dam
ing and hot like the child's; and my hear
turned over with . choking, suffocatine
pressure that almost took away my breath.
How could she look up 30 quietly the ne1'
moment, and say, rs IL in explanation, 81
wasjust going to explain your slight mistake
It is Mrs. Dean, not Miss Green, who owet
you her thanks for your kindly escort"
Ionly bowed and walked away. could
not trust myself to speak. could not tell
what 70 think Of her or Of myself. II il
true could recall nothing that savored Of
cOque.ry, or encouragement in the slightest,
except the permission to visit her, which
was certainly not quite right without adding
her husband 8 invitation to her own. And
what had sugcred myself sO dream over
the last twenty -four houn7 OF time when
hotels and boarding houses should be things
Of the past with me when cottage like
this and its mistress, too nearly like her /
had Just left, should welcome me at nightfall.
felt like one who has been suddenly robbed
Of an inheritance, as went heedlcssly on
my way under the cool shadow Of shade
trees. and past many quiet, homs-like
nook. In my abstraction suddenly en-
countered some one going in the opposite di-
rcction. In fact, in was rather more than
An encounter, nearly a collision. Both par
ties fels the necessity Of IN apology.
II was Mr.. Gordon. He remembered me,
and evidently guessed my errand in the
neighborhood.
"Lovely little woman, Mrs. Dean" hO
said. nodding in the direction Of the cot
tage. known her long before her hus-
bands death"
An instant before, had wished Mr.. Cor
don on any road he pleased, so that it was
not mine. Now, l instantly felt constrained
to offer him the pleasurs OF my society for
few squares. Obliging man not only dis
Greet, but liked him all the better for as.
,umins just then that I was IN old acquain-
lance Of the family.
"IIow any man could neglect such pref
ty young creature, and an orphan, too, as
he did, is passed my comprehension. No
one ever knew itfrom her, though no, bless
your soul. She never talks about her now
affAirs even 10 me, and I'm about the near
est relation she's got in tho world, or my
wife is. and that's oil the same thing. Now
Ill be bound she's lad many good offer
since but you never would catch her breath
ing it. wonder she doesn't marry though
to be sure, her FIRST experience was not very
encouraging"
He might have rambled on all night in
this fashion, and should have "rambled"
beside him. But presently he got upon the
nick Of real estate in the neighborhood, and
discovered I had an engagement which OBJ
lised me to bid him good evening abruptly.
If there was one class OF persons above
another which ha always avoided, it was
widows. When my friend Harri, married
the relic. Of an eminent ship chandler, We
considered him-all our set-as subject for
formal coincidence, and were ever after &C
customed to speak Of him as "the late Ia
mented." When the very Appleton Green
I had blundcringly put forward as relative
proposed introducing me to the rich Mrs
Hacklestone of New Bedford. 'ho had sig
nifed her approval Of my personal appear
ance, avoided the little man as If he had
proposed deaths head as cheerful even
II
ing companion.
"widows," l had been accustomed Il
say TO my old friend Nelson, "widows ar'
the pestiIent atmosphere of female society
Avoid as you would a sirocoo, poeticall!!
speaking. You may always detect them OF
the instant Of their approach. There is tn
full blown widow passing for thirty.fve, bu
in reality nearly ffty. There is your senti
mental widow still in weeds, and talking
about sympathy and blasted hopes. There
your dash,ng young widow who calls YOU
BY your christian name ten minutes ate
you are introduced to her and your wild
ow with an interesting young family Away
grouped around her in an affectionate tab
leau. Man-traps, all Of them, Nielsen, m.
boy" I would ay, knocking the ashes from
nv cigar.-"Mr. Weller, senior, was SCUM
and practical
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