Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-10-17

"What has made you worse, Nellie2 You
were quite comfortable when left you 10
Il knowit, sobbed Nellie, longing to throw
herself in his arms, and ask him If he were
really the villain she had been told.
Fearing an ecIatrctsensent, in which she
might not appear to advantage, Miss Grabatit
remarked, with much apparent feeling, a" The
baby fell and hit his dear little nose against
the rocker; his poor mother has worried her
self almost to death since''
Did he hurt himself?' cried the alarmed
father, pstting the cheek of his son, who was
growing and kicking with all his might to be-
taken out of the cradle, where his mother
placed him when she lay down to recover her
composure, previous to the return Of her hus-
band.
Nellie, you mustn't excite yourself 30 about
bubby's falling, which, l suppose, will happen
So often, you'll get used to it,, said Mr. Greer,
tenderly, as he drew her on his knee and
rocked her and soothed her lovingly, as if she
had been an infant.
Poor Nellie what fierce struggle between
love and doubt was going on in her heart From
Nellie's relenting looks, and Ebens devoted
anxious face, Miss Grabatit feared the expla-
nation was coming and said
-" Are many out shopping to-day?"
This question recalled n ellie to her previous
feeling of resentment; and rising from her
husbands knee, she took her baby in her arms
and played with him. while on her pretty face
the cOmmingled expression Of love and pain
had given place to a stern hard look, that
filed her fond husband with fears for her san
lty, and he brought her to lie down and try to
sleep promising to take care Of the baby and
of her visitor, who felt no oompunction for
having caused so much misery.
But Nellie declined, and insisted on taking
her place at the table once more, she thought,
for the last time.
Miss Grabatit, who had been disappointed in
lOvo hafo oil hors
that under the fairest masculine face n very
black heart was hidden; and owing to this opin-
ion, che favored Greer with an unsp0ken vol
ume of contempt and doubt, highly edifying to
imagine, but moro so to hear, if the privilege
had been granted one.
50 Are many out shopping to-day ?" she en-
quired again. and with more emphasis.
- L really have not noticed he replied.
without looking up from his plate
Miss Grabstit and Nelly exchanged glances
while the former shrugged her shoulders and
nodded her head, significantly, as if to say:
See, the monster, protesting innocence; ,re
happen to know better. thought
Nellie turned pale asshe leant her head over
her oysters, pretending to eat them, while Miss
Grabatit seized chicken bone as if determined
to annihilate somebody with it.
Mr.. Greer looked at his watch, when, starting
to his feet, he exclaimed " must go now, as
L have engagement must keep; Miss rabatit,
take care of Nellie don't let her excite her.
self. shall be home very early tonight, and
hope to see her looking as bright as she did in
the morning. After he had put on his hat, and
opened the outer door, Eben came back and re-
peated the charge with affeetionate earnestness
Nellie thought, ''can doubt this man -
Grabatit assured her she could, and all through
the afternoon repeated the sight with her own
eyes, by the aid of her specs and bade her not
relent, and 90. with her and catch him, she
thOupht wit fha of hisI Iata Of
fectiOn.
Nellie complied, arraying herself for the ex-
curson very hastily, forgetting she had not been
out Of doors for a long time.
Miss Grabatit, like all mischief makers de-
lighted in what she was bent on doing, without
thinking OF any course for the young wife to
pursue when she had separated her from her
husband. piece of advice she avowed her in
tentiOn Of acting upon. When the clock struck
four the two women set out Miss Grabatit vas
so interested in the object of their walk that she
forgot she had said Nellie couldn't stand it,
but hurried her forwards rapidly
There he is W whispered Grabatit, pecring
into shop window, where Greer was discovered
trying an elegant velvet cloak upon prettiy
formed lady, whose smiling face turned to-
wards him Look at the deceitful sinnerv
exclaimed Miss Grabatt, sotto voce.
. do. Oh, dear, take me home" answered
Nellie, completely overcome, and pale, even to
swooning.
Miss Grabatit took her into friends'house
Where she was obliged to wait some time till
she was strong enough to return when they
did, Mr.. Greer had already arrived, and the SER
want said. was up stairs playing with the baby.
" L m good mind to leave the house now,
right away; will you 60 up and make an ex-
cuss to bring me the baby?' 1 can't leave
him with his vile father and that arIul wo-
wo-woman," said Nelly, crying out loud
"Whers shall you 90 ?" queried Miss Ora
batit
''Ovor to your house for the present Oh,
how happy L am TO have such friend. What
could do without you? %
IL don't think L can accommodate you
my tenants don't like children-so you see,
my dear unfortunate creature can't take you
in, though L should be glad to! - and here Miss
Grabatit tried to look very regrstful about it.
Z" Nellie looked at her in great surprise,
thinking that perhaps after all, her friendship
was but an empty sound. Just then the baby
gave short baby laagh, and at the sound
Nellie bounded over the stairs into the cham
Der, where she found him dressed in the pretti-
est cap and cloak in the world and her hus-
bands dear face all crowded into the richest
and tiniest Of white satin bonne ts, and over his
shoulder the elegant velvet sack he had been
but a little while before, trying on tho pretty
lady in the store. In an instant she compre-
hended the whole-the visit in the morning to
udNO tnc rlcu presents indue, anu the d1ternOOn
TO see how they suited him, and to bring them
home. .-' - ,.
oh, you dear rogue; how ugly you do look
in them let me try them on, cried Nellie,
kissing him. ....
8. You're an angel in any thing" said Eben,
passionately.
You do love me- don't you?" said Mrs.
Greer, in delight. r
Love you OF course do' Who said /
did nt?'' ......
Sally Grabatit"
Thessrpent She shsn't come here again.
And she didn't: ~
"A FUNNY INcIDESr.-0wing to the embar-
rassments Of the New York Central Railroad,