Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-02-06

4
ner, Jane, aud my lips ARE sealed. And
not another word would she say on the sub.
iect.
Jane and Lucy Prior thenceforth underwent
kind Of mental torture. On that dav and
the next they employed themselves in
thinking OF the names Of all the gentlemen
they had ever met at the Ellsons, or else
where, who had spoken to the EIlisons, but
in vain. No gentleman had they seen in
the least like the picture. And with such
by.~iYM whiskers = said Lucy.
Bertha Wagner aided louisa with all
her might. She began her portrait. and
took care to leave it where Jane and Lucy
would see it.
'Of course, said Jane, spitcfully, Louisa
is having her likeness taken to give it to
the loved one. When is the happy day to
be, Berthal =
you know quite rs much about it as |
do, said Bertha 'and as to Louisi's hav-
ing her likeness taken made her promis Sc
to sit to me a long while ago :; and Bertha
looked very demurc.
i am certain that you d. know all about
1t. said Jane, in a great passion Louisa
can tell You everything. but she is mighty
close with us. Never mind
Il am sure said Lucy, Il don't want to
know anything at all about it,
Nor do L. SAID Jane. 1T is no matter to
me to whom she is engaged
well, said Bertha, 'al can say is. that
have never asked Louisa single question
on the subject
Jane chose to take this speech ns sar-
casm levcllcd at her, and she showed n
great deal OF temper in consequence.
And then these two girls began a regular
system OF espionage. They would pop in
ut Mrs. t.ilison's at all hours, morning,
noon and night. Ir they did not find Louisa
at home they supposed sh, was gone to meet
him; and if she was at home they would
stay, in hopes Of seeing him, until they were
ashamed to stay any longer
Onc day they saw a lady and gentleman
in cab. They took it into their heads
that the lady was Louisa, and FASTENED to
Mrs. ElliSon's. They did not see Louisa in
the room, 50 they ut once Jumped to the
conclusion that she must have been in the
cab.
| do not think i proper for Louisa to 70
about in cabs with gentlemen sand Jane.
DO you approve of it. Mrs Ellison .
W hat do You mean = asked Mrs Eli
son.
'Oh, said the soft tongued Lucy, : it is
only hccau6c we SAW Louisa IN a cab with IL
gentleman about ten minutes or quarter
o! an hour ago
sHjecd Slii Mrs. Ellison. and going to
the door which led into another + ON, She
threw 1t open, and showed them Louisa in
her morning dress, husly copying muisc.
She looked up, and her mother said, |
would advise you, young Indies, to be GER
tain another time before you speak Of my
daughter as you have done to-day.
What Is the matter, mamma = asked
Louisa.
'Only, my dear, that these young Adlcs
have lAst been telling me that they saw you
III can with gentleman, not ten minutes
or quarter of an hour ago
On, mamma. said Louisa, with smile
OF peculiar nearing, it was a mistake. no
DOUBT, and everybody is liable to mistakes,
You know
This was siil in such way that Jane
and Lucy were almost certain Louisa was
in cab hut how she could have whisked
back, taken off her bonnet, and then seated
herself 50 quietly to copy music, puzzled
them spreIy. They left Mrs Elison's
l9iite. eFsst-.alil&Sg pn4 fagai8f. more than
Bat that they found impossible. No gen
ticman, in the least like the miniature, ever
was seen by them at the Ellis1ns: 50 Jane
and Lucy Prior attributed some sinister
motive to Louisa for keeping everything 50
secret. They said, There w.s no need for
people TO be 81 mysterious. II they did
nothing to be ashamed Of. Louisa mean
while was 50 delighted at the success Of her
iokc that she resolved to carry it on as long
a. possible Her brother Arthur (to whom
she ulludcd when she obtained the minia-
turc from Bcrtha) was in Germany. and it
was on his account that the Pr ors were not
deferred from visiting Mrs. Ellison, Jane
wisely enough arguing that if she went
there often while Arthur was in Germany,
NJ one could say anything to her going as
often when he came back to England. Bat
She hoped in vain to make any impression
on Arthur Ellison. lie had gwen his love
to Bertha Wagner, and it was settled that
as soon as possible after his return to his
home they were to be married.
Some time after the events above related,
Arthur wrote a letter to his mother, in
which he told her that he was coming home
immediately Jane Prior, who was present
when the letter arrived, tried hard to ascer-
tain On what day Arthur would arrive, as
she wished very much to meet him but
neither Louisa nor her mother gave her the
information she wished So much to obtain
She contentcd herself, therefore, with
calling on them ottcn'r than ever: and at
the times that she did not call, her sister
did. Between them both Mrs. Ellison was
almost harassed to death.
Mrs. Ellison and Louisa would soon have
shaken off these moral incubuses, had not
their father, while he was alive, rendered
Mrs Ellison's husband very great services
when they were most needed and a feeling
of gratltutc made Mrs. Ellison bear and
lorbear' with the ungracious girls. She
woull say to Louisa, who sometime:
was quite angry with them, and then spoke
/ her mind freely to her mother, 'All you say
! is very true, my dear Louisa, but | car
never forget that your papas credit wal
| saved, and him elf also from ending his day
/ in prison, by the noble manner in whicl
/ Mr. Prior came forward to his assistance
/ Il only wish said Louisa that his
/ daughters rcsemhed him.
Their rude curiosity is owing to theiI
! having been so much with their aunt, Miss
Lucinda Prior, replied Mrs Ellison 'Sh,
never is satisfied unless she knows every
/ body's business | heard that she sat uI
| a whole night to see when her next. door
ncighhor went home and when she founC
out at what time he came home, her mex
wish was to know what made him com,
| home at the hour he did. But sho coulC
not find that out. and her neighbors left the
/ house without her discovering what she Sc
/ longcd to know. | knew very well what
| the gentleman was hut did not tell her
and was very much amused at her endeayor
/ to find it out.
And what was he . asked Louisa.
lie was connected with one of the daily
/ papers, replied her mother, and had t
remain up nearly all night in consequence
but poor Miss Lucinda could not imagin,
what he was. She thought he must be NJ
actor, but then he came home too late fo
that even, and the efforts she made to dis
cover the mystery were almost suporhuman
Aud have no doubt that the inquisitIve
ness of the Priors is owing to their associa
ton with their aunt
We'll said Louisa, Jane and Lucy ar
likely to fret themselves to death, fear, i
they do not discover who the original of th
picture is. And am sure Arthur will enio,
the Joke exceedingly
If Jane and Lucy knew that we expccte'
him tomorrow. they would he sure to come,