Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-11-22
comprebended her situation. and realized


!. scene being enacted within. Recovering hi
self-possesson at last, our poor victim turne
to escape, but stopped short again at sigl
OF her tormentors ; and sinking into chai
covered her confused face with her hands an
r burst into tears
This was too much for Elizas kind hear
and she hastily stepped forward, beggn
pardon, anti gravely expanining matters I
our astonshed guest, while Mary. seeing tn
passage clear made good her retreat.
We followed hut no conxing or persuasion
could induce our spdate and victmizcd siste
to be seen in the parlor that evening: as fo
the two days shat followed, she kept he
room closely; only venturing out when sh,
knew Harlow was not in his room We
begged her pardon ngain and again, snt
although she cherished no hardness ngains,
us, we could not prevail upon her to allow
young man.
Such extreme deicacy at last created a
most ardent desire in our guest to see the
possessor; and laughingly declared that he
would tire her out, until she was forced to
seek air aud exercise.
| She, weared at last Of such close confine.
ment, and taking Il book one morning when
she thought We were ull engaged, she strolled
into the orchard. We had nice seat under
large apple tree and throwing herself upon
it, and forgetting for II while her mortifcation
she gave herself up to pleasant thoughts and
| the perusal of her book
She must have remained there longer than
she had designed, for it was not until sister
Eliza had gone into the kitchen to get din
ner. that Mr.. Harlow yawpingly declared
that he must walk around little, to see if
he could not pick up relish for the good
things we heaped upon him at our noontide
meal.
lwas no sooner alone than I hustened to
my sisters room to try for the fortieth time
to dissuade her from her foolish course.
found her door open and the room vacated,
and with merry hopes l hurried to the kitchen
With the news, and to discuss with sister
Eliza the probabilities of an unexpected
meeting somewhere upon the premises.
1ou CO. Harriet" said Eliza, with
meaning rie, and see that she does herself
no harm. while ! stay and help Susan to get
the dinner upon the table"
did not heed not 10 be told the second |
time. threw on my sun bonnet. ! directed |
my steps toward the garden, but feeling |
of guilt intruded itself. and lnstinctlvely |
looked buck for encouragement
A sympathetic Feeling must. at the same |
moment have taken possession of Sister
Eliza, for she had come to the door at the |
same moment to look after me, and seeing
my hesitation, reached out plate she bad in
her hand, saying, with another droli express
sion OF countenancc
Get Il little lettuce, wont you Z"
went buck and took the plate, and thus |
fortified against appearance Of uuwarrantable
curiosity. made my way into the garden.
The orchard was just beyond, with no fence
between, aud the bed of lettuce was at the
further end Of the garden.
l walked briskly along, intent npon my
business, but took the liberty before | stopped |
among the green leaves 10 take a careful |
survey beyond, and was rewarded by fair
view of sister Mary seated under the apple !
tree reading apparently, with utter HELPLESS
ness as to whether anybody was near, while |
Mr.. Harlow hat in hand-Stood at a little
distance regarding her attentively, seemingly |
whether TO proceed or retreat.
sat down to pick my lettuce, keeping
watch Of the two, but before / had half !
finished, the young man began to move eau
tously along towards my sister, and an
preached so closely before she looked M
that was half inclined to believe that she |
knew more Of who was near her than she |
cared to have any one think.
Child that ! was, my face burned, and /
trembled SO that ! was scarcely able TO rise
from my position, when ] saw her start, and,
dropping he: book, draw her bonnet cuouet.
ishly over her face.
II was but the work Of moment for Mr..
Harlow to stop aud pick up the fallen vol.
uine--wlth the most obsequious bow present
it TO her--and tancied, from the movement.
beg seat beside her.
hurried back to the house and made my
report, much to the amusement of those who
listened, while sister Eliza added, with o
comical effort to icOk distressed:
Aud now-and now. Harriet, we may as
well give him up. Oh! what il we should be
old maids Oh! oh But-Mary went.
IT was not until we had ring our little
dinner bell the second time that our guest
made his appearance, leading the conquered
girl, and looking us well satisfied as though
lie had gained kingdom.
We were already seated at the table, for
our scrupulously punctual father would never
allow US to keep dinner waiting for any one
but with his usual urbanity and kind desire
10 make stranger feel at home, he begged |
of Mr. Harlow to be seated assuring him
that the girls had prepared a most excellent
dinner, and it would not do to let the dishes
spoil by standing. He inquired particularly
after Sister Mary's health much to her |
not understand how matters stood inno-
Gently supposing. as we had equivoeally !
that it was Il slight indlsposition
that had caused her absence from tho table
for the two days previous.
Our staid mother who was better informed !
about the matter, but who did not allow her
self to stoop from her dignity to interest her.
self in our foolishness, east sly glance over
her glasses, aud let her lips work into Il
smile, sufficient to betray her relationship to
the drol creature who had been the moving |
cause of our merrIAent while the viands at
length claimed the attention OF all, and
general sociability followed.
That afternoon and evening. as may be
supposed, my elder sister and me had to |
ourselves us best we could, for Mr.. |
Harlow was all intent upon continuing the |
acquaintance he had commenced in the |
morning, and in drawing from beneath their
prudish covering my sister Mary's excellent |
and interesting traits Of character.
Matters progressed rapidly, and When, after |
few days more. our guest Informed US that |
his visit must close, We were neither surprised |
or inclined to turn into ridicule his serious
proposal to visit US again.
He b,d ..,Lan laaya nf onr narants and |