The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1857-08-22
lt was
Wiaship, to-
'fently sewing,


lL%lt WaSGN
Winship, To-
Ftcntly sewing,
about ler,as IL 81
the disorder Of The
acknowledgement.
see how far. she was behinas.
ters that effect the comfort. ii q nv.
shemagnanimously resolved 10 tsEe a..
Aunt GATHERINGS book If possible, to be-
along in her irksome domestic duties.
q Come up stairs with me, Miss Stanto.S
she saidto her guest. one morning, when a me,
than usual language had prevailed over both.
\ want you to help me arrange lspm, Us
you Know Mark like to have it. nj am.
not a good hoNsekeeper,s she adde1
. but | am willing to learn, and anxious to do
what my husband prefers 3
Aunt GATHERINGS. conntenance frightened.
She had taken q peep into the said room that
very morning, and its slatternly appearance
had Disguised her 50 thoroughly that it had
made her really unhappy about poor Marks
comfort. She accepted Naleria's invitation as
q good omen, and cheerfully folded up her sewing;
removing every trace Of her work into the lit
tie basket that held her materials. tn'
4atYou must not call ME Miss Stanton, but
Aunt Catherine. 1 am Marks aunt, andsI
must be yours too. Marke me your friend
your mother, and j will do all that q mother
cah do for yon both.n
Thus they. walked up the broad stairway to
the chamber so full of disorder, where the open.
trunks ind drawers, the chairs covered with
clothing, and the untidy appearance of the
whole room, brought the blush to Naleria's
cheek.
From out the mass Of homogeneous maicpials
that lay scattered around, Miss Stanton selec-
ted those that could be pressed into shape,
arranged the drawers, the ample closet and
trunks, nnd once more placed the room, in l.
feet order. G&83N s' &
"Now, lot This be kept just so every dav.
my dear. and you will feel happier, and so will
Mark. Make it n rule never to read or write
until your room is fit for inspection, f7&
IL am afraid to promise" said Va'eria /; and
welfshe might be, for only the very next morn
ing, Miss Stanton softly entered the room, and
found her niece lying across the uhmade bed.
with a book in her hands, over which she had
fallen asleep. The CLOTHES she had worn the
day before lay in q ring upon the carpet a
pair OF silk hoes, were twisted about the bed
post, shoes belts, collars and iewelry lay to-
gethere upon the handsome bureau; and,
most dlscouraging of all, the nicely packed
trunks were open again, and the contents tum-
oled into Heaps. While Valeria slept, her aunt
softly re-arranged all except the bed. and then
went down to the silent drawing-room aldsr !
Honr succeeded hour, and still Valera slept,
ana when Mark came in, he reused her from
her slumber, and almost angryfor the first time
at her leaving her gnest so long.
But Aunt Catherine was busy over a basket
OF long unmeded clothing, and had taken no
note, OF time, This day the dinner was delayed
and half spoilt, because Mark would not ALLOW
ms wife to go down in her wrinkled dress.
she made her appearance in a beautiful brown
silke that her husband had chosen for her, and
IN which she looked especially handsome.
AS she entered the ~drawing-room, previous
TO going to dinner, Mark exclaimed, !. WHY
Naierla what have you done to your dresSy pa
Aunt Catherine really pitted her. she looked
so intensely mortified and strove to comfort
here by saying that the breadths could be easily
replaced. 1t spoiled Valeria's dinner, although
she covered the offending part with the pret.
test little apron, Aunt GATHERINGS wedding
gift also. ir %
=" want you and Aunt Catherine to 90 to the
opera with me, this evneing. Valeria,p said
Mark, one morning. 81 am anxious that she
should hear some music, better than she ba,
been accustomed to-" ~ r.
~ would like to go she answered, "bnt |
have engaged to read a book which has lust
come out, and give my opinion of it before to-
morrow at ten O'clock
Mark bit his lip. He was mortified that she
should have so little regard for his wishes, or
Tor his annt's pleasure, as to keep q merely
nominal engagement for he had heard het
request to read the book, and had heard also
that her friend told her not to read the book
unless she had sufficient time. Valera saw
II, but she had not sufficient tact to change
her plain Of action, and the evening passed off
and constrained, She sat up lar into the
night TO finish the book, and was writing n
rapid appoval, without heart or interest.
through the entire morning.
Coming from her pen, il was recognized as
being in her own peculiar style. aud as such
was besieged by scores of her literary friends
who spent the hours with her, which should
have been devoted to her husband.
Aunt Katherine saw that a screw was loose
IN me domestic economy, but she could not as
yet see the way i'll which it was to be fastened
She dared not approach so delicate a point. os
a matter between husband and wife but she
unconscleusly began to pity Mark. and to fan
cAy that she saw great trouble ahead for him.
She was wise enough, however, to keep ber
own counsel, aid to be satisfied with making
'hlngs as smooth as possible during her stay.
WIN the fullest intention in the world, of
making a good wife and performing the duties
one saleria continued to fail in the fulfil
Inent. Every night, after some unmistakable
hint on the part of Aunt Catherine, she would
promise 10 herself that neither book nor writ.
.lng shonld interfere with those duties another
iay-and every morning she broke that prom
IN her devotion to tie things she intended
20 adtlfe, It was growing worse and worse,
a literary cotefie was forming Of which
Naleria was expected to be the center. as she