The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-12-19
il with the arrangement, without saying I

know il this Miss Eliza Evering i an elegant
looking girl
slight opportunity | had Of observing hsr-
and her brother, so have been told-ranks
among the most graceful and fascinating
young men in the United States. think
he would be q fne match for you, Melissa
sThank you--he is probably engaged
Report says to the contrary, and really
know Of no young lady who would in my
opinion, stand, better chance Of making
favorable impression on him than you.-
But it is growing late, and must bid you
good night ~.
q believe, ON reflection said Mrs. IIar.
den to her daughter, after Mrs Howell had
gone, that shall sound Mrs. Mansfield to-
morrow, and ascertain if she has any knowl-
edge Of the Evenings, and if she has not,
perhaps she may as well set in the pew with
us, If she chooses to attend church,
| According to the determination she said
to Mrs. Mansfield the next morning 1t the
breakfast table, sI understand that one Of the
richest men in the State resides in the town
where you belong Is
'You allude to Mr.. Evering suspect
sYes.'
sDo pray tell us what you know about the
family, and whether you ever happened to
see any of them;' said Melissa.
Thave seen them,' was the reply, .and they
have the reputation of being very intelligent
| and amiable.'
Have they ever employed you to do their
sewing?' said Mrs. Harden. f.
sThey never have.' .,l..S .s.;...l
sPhebe told me this morning. said Flor
khnk h. - he g., Gak
rived at the hotel last evening was
She had proceeded thus far, when an ex-
pressive frown from her mother silenced
sNow Ihave commenced asking questions
said Mrs. Harden, should ike to inquire
If you know anything about the rich Mrs.
Sinclair, who resides in h, who is my
sister in-law p ... ..raa )
sIam somewhat acquainted with her, though
not so thorougly in every respect. a. anSSas
to be- ....,,..t -. .,- a#.-.s.-
Il have heard that she is very handsome.
and very lady like said Melissa. ~
sIs she, aunt p asked Florence s~,s
Some have thought so-the opinion of
others may be different -. ~,
I'VE must always expect said Mrs. Har-
den, 'to find those among lower classes who
can never see anything in persons whom
fortune has exalted above them either to love
or ADMIRE -.
sYou never saw anything SO elegant as
collar aunt is working for Mrs: Sinclair
said Florence. .. -
sThen she employs you, if the Evenings do
not p said Mrs. Harden. 0l.-..
'Yes, have done great deal, first and
last, for her. ...
sDoes she move in the same circle rs the
Everings?' said Melissa.
q believe she does-or rather I'm certain
she does.' r.:-['- -...,
slow sorry am that We did not send for
aunt Sinclair, as we talked OF, > said Melissa.
'We must expect our plans to yield to
those of your father and Florence said her
mother.
Il am sure father said that you might send
for her, if you thought best said Florence.
'But it SO happened that did not think
best. thank my stars have u little sense
of propriety, and am not, like him SO i'm
mersed in business, as not to consider that
| q seamstress or washerwoman would feel
i'll at ease in the company of the wealthy and
refined. ..
Tears started to the eyes of Florence, and
the color in her cheeks decpened to crimson.
Even Mrs. Harden thought she might have
gone too far, and stole glance at her guest
that she might observe the effect of her
speech, who, far from appearing to resent
it, was, at the moment, slipping her coffee
with an air of perfect composure. a...
q have no cause for ALARM thought she
t-'arrows cannot penetrate marble; and
from that moment she ceased to have any
misgivings respecting the arrangement they
had made for the Sabbath. wa, I'D :
1t was Saturday evening, and Mrs. Sim
clair had been in the chamber about fifteen
minutes, when Florence having raped for
| admission, entered with flushed and excl
ted countenance.
'Aunt Mansfeld,' said she, 4 wish had
never sent for you, and had known father
was going to be absent, never should
You feelings must have been daily, and al
most hourly wounded, and now my mother
and sister have plan in agitation which is
worse than anything they have said or done.'
'For certain reasons, my feelings may have
been less injured than you may imagine; so
my dear Florence, give yourself no uneasi-
ness. But what is the plan you allude TOP
Florence, in reply, informed her that MIR.
Evering and his wife, and their son and
daughter were at the hotel, and that her
mother had just told her that she had sent
an invitation to them to take seats in their
pew, should they wish to attend church,
which they had accepted, and that in con-
sequence Of which, her aunt and she would
be obliged to remain at home, or sit with
the shelp.' r ..-...
Don't let that disturb you,' said Mrs.
Sinclair, with q, ,smile-sI mean on my ac-
count. can receive just as much benefit
from the religious services, in plain, hum
BILE pew, as IN one ever so splendid s.
sBut consider it an insult to you, and
| would not bear it, .s..I, ...sa.
again say do not let it disturb you, for
l assure you that it does not trouble me in
the least. But, if am going with you to-
morrow, will see if my dress is in readi-
ness.' So saying she opened the trunk which
contained Mrs. Mansfeld's scanty wardrobe,
aud took from it black silk dress which
had once been handsome, but which not even
careful keeping could quite preserve from
the ravages of time. Florence saw that al
though It might beft the humble station of
her aunt Mansfield, it would occasion the
scornful laugh of her mother and sister, and
inwardly resolved to start for church at In
early hour on the coming Sabbath.
Sunday morning came, and Florence and
her aunt had seated themselves in the pew
allotted to the household servants. Soon
rustling of silks was heard in the aisle,
and looking up, they saw Mrs. Harden and
Melissa proudly showing the Evenings into
their family pew. There was much whis-
pering among the young people Of the con-
gregation, and many stolen glance betray-
ed q. the delighted Melissa the fact that the
occupants of her fathers pew were the cob
served Of all Observers <
On the conclusion Of the service, as tho
congregation were leaving the church, Flor
ence suddenly discovered that her aunt had
been observed by the Evenings who were
Fastening towards her with evident feelings
Of pleasure. She received their cordial
greetings in perfectly lady-like manner;
and, ON their inquiring where she was stay
ing, replied, Sat Mr.. Harden's;' introducing,
at the moment, sher niece, Miss Florence
Harden
sAh! relative, presume of Mrs. Har-
den, who has been very kind to US in. Offer
ing ~ seats in her pew. am sure we ex-.
poctsd nothing of the kind from people to
whom We were entire strangers.'
| On bidding her aunt goodbye Florence
1 a