Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1857-09-17
K Short Story.
Which is the Lady?

cedaTs and dropping larches, which we
could see very plainly form the front
chamber window where we sat together.
tOh, Mr.. and Mrs. Garret live there. |
They are young people, and | wish
you could see thelady, Cousin Henry"
'EWhy, Hettie 2" &
because she is 50 perfect lady-hke.
It is really luxury to ones aesthetic
faculties to watch her. cannot keep
my eyes off her when she comes in here;
every movement is so full of grace.
She walks across the room, or takes
seat, in way that is perfectly capti-
waiting in short, she realizes my ideal
of lady, graceful, elegant, refined
what are you laughing at, Cousin Hen
ry p
"Atyow8e!f. Forgive me, dear, but
I see you haven't lost your old inten-
sity Of language since we parted. /
believe, however, extravagant adjec-
tives are one Of the failings of your
sex. | should like TO see this paragon
of yours, anyhow"
''Well, you shall, tomorrow after
noon. How fortunatethat mamma in
vited her and Mrs. Pease to tea"
"And who is Mrs. Pease?"
"Another of our recent neighbors.--
She lives in that neat, straw-colored
brick house, just down the road. But,
dear me! she isn't at all like Mrs Gar
rett, though they are old friends and
schoolmates. She is fat and dumpy,
and so clumsy. They do say, though,
she's very kind-hearted."
Ihad not seen Cousin Henry Ward
for years. He had been in California
during this time, and his return was an
occasion of great rejoicing to me.
The next afternoon our neighbors
made their advent. Mr.. Garrett was
elegant, fascinating as ever, and / saw
Cousin Henry, who, like most men Of
his temperament, highly appreciated
grace and beauty, was much attracted
by the lady'S manner.
Perhaps her face was not regularly
beautiful, but its brightness and vivac
ity more than atoned for this; anC
there was a grace, an ease and self
possession in every movement arC
manner, which impressed every one.-a
Her voice was clear and soft, her con
versation cultivated and piquant, anC
it seemed as if an atmosphere of els
gance and refinement environed her a
all times.
Very unlike this was her friend
Mrs. Pease. Her manners were no
unlady-like, and her conversation wa
pleasing and intelligent, but her mol,
was very different from her friends
who, perhaps, was not aware of tn
: marked contrast between them, fo
Mrs. Pease's figure was large, heav,
and ineIegant. I do not believe sh
could have committed a graceful action
and while Mrs. CARROTS taste in dres
was exquisite, Mrs. Pease's sense o
fitness Of arrangement and harmony O
color was remarkably obtuse.
But Just before tea, circumstanc
occurred which materially affected ou
relative estimates of the ladies.
, Mrs. Winters, another of our neigh
bors, called to see us. She was a pref
ty, rather characterless, and, or, tn
whole, well-meaning sort of woman
: who lived in a very dashing style, an
was very anxious to ignore her earl
life, which was obscure. But then, W
all have our weaknesses, and if Mr.,
Winters lacked moral courage in thi
: matter, most likely you and I do
some other, reader.
7 l observed that our new guest seen
L ed little embarrassed when [ presen
ed her to the others, and partly divine
. the cause, when they spoke of bein
natives of the same town.
"You have, however, altered so muC
| should hardly recognize you, Mr.
Winters" remarked Mrs. Garrett,
inc the course Of their conversation. "Br
is you know we used to meet almost ever
= afternoon, as you returned from ii
- factory and l from school," Her vol,
was very9low and soft, but itseemed
me there was little consciousness
:, the smile that curved the lips of Il
), lady, while Mrs. Winters face chan
ed suddenly to crimson, as she star
T.) mered some incoherent renIv 'sF +.
Mrs. Pease interrupted her sudde
ly, and very earnestly: /, too, 7
member you, Mrs. Winters, because
those delightful visits we used to ha
s. together at your uncle's the Colonel
). You know he was quite the lion of O
town, and then, my father thought
port mueh. Of him. Mrs. Winters IA
: beaned with smiles, as she turned
toward Mrs. Pease, but doubt whet
er she felt SO happy as that lady j.
n then.7r u 1E5 g cG}E.r5ZL
u le1s'Well, Sarah" remarked Mrs. G.
rett, while we were at supper, 81
ways thought you hadn't the slight
2. leaven of art in your nature. But
realIy doubted it. when you made Il