The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-09-16

manner All the morning, and she smiled q
quiet smile to herself, as she stood before the
mirror IN her own room, srraying' herself in
her most becoming walking costume; for Mrs.
Harry vane vas going out too. =. 4
she htted . dainty pair of boots to her pretty
feet ana ngntened the fastenings of her sweet
est pair OF lid gloves, put on her most bewitch.
ing bonnet, and then teok the lest glance IN
the mirror, TO assure herself that there wasn't
. sveeter or more captivating little woman than
Mrs. Harry Vane. He has good taste. At
any rate" she solilcquized, " and that is one
consolation" But the little half Sigh which
closed the sentence intimated that It WASN'T "a
very consoling, after ell. n a-4di -fa
After her own toilet was completed, baby was
dressed in his richest and most spotless robe
and Mary was Entrusted with the precious
charge, and bid to follow her mistress. Down
the road tripped the little lady, taking the short
est way to the river side. There Law the steam
or, With flags flying and whistle blowing, jusi
ready 70 convey party Of happy excursionists
down the river ~. $50 IN &C. !
Mra Hawy vsas trippea lightly over the pier,
followed b. Mary and baby, and tho next momen,
the gallant steamer, with its HOLIDAY company
yaafairly under way. Mu. Vape walked leis
urely 10 the forspart of the vessel, and there
apparently very much to her surprise, discov
cred Mr. Vane siting in. most attentive prox
unity to q handsome and SNOWY young lady,
who was evidently quite the slave OF Mr.. Vane's
Vaccinations.
"Why, good morning, Hsrryi~ exclaimed
Mrs. Vane, in her sweetest and most cordisl
tones; this 10 indeed delightful surprise. ]
had not anticipated the pleasure of your com
pany.. After you left home, happened to no
tice the advertisement of the excursion, and
baby has seemed 90 aiiing lately, that thoughl
1t might do him good to take an excursion; &C
! dressed myself as quickly as possible, and
hurried down here.p
What could Mr.. Harry Vane say in reply tc
this most amiable, wite-hke greeting I? Mrs
Vane was not at loss, however, to fill up the
pause which his hesitation occasioned.
This lady i friend of yours, presume
introduce me to her, Harry" said she, turning
to the lady. Mr.. Vane's circle of friends pre.
vious TO our marriage vas 10 very extensive,
that have not even yet made the acquaintance
of all of them. l hope, however, to know them
all IN the course of time, for nothing gives me
greater pleasure than to entertain Harry's
friends. Your name is-2 I didn't quite
understand"
stifly. - o
"Ah yes, Miss Wentworth" said Mrs. Vane,
conplacently. II do not recollect bearing
Harry speak of you, but it is all the same; my
memory lie very treacherous and indeed he
might have mentioned your name casually, YOU
know, dozen times, and still might have for.
gotten it But, bless me where is the baby ?
Mary, come here"
Mary answered the call, and placed the blue
eyed little wonder in the arms of its delighted
mamma.
"Mamma's precious little darling Was it
warm 90 it was. Mamma will take eff its hat,
80 she will. There, does it see its papa I there,
80 it does, and knows him, too--precious an.
gel See, Miss Wentworth--see how we'll the
little dazzling knows its father and it isn't four
months old yet" And Mrs. Vaue danced the
utby, red-faced little thing up and down in
Mr.. Vane's face, and asked, enthusiastically,
Didn't Miss Wentworth think he was Just the
image of his pa?"
There were several Of Harry's acquaiutances
pa passed a from b. Up Co p and smiles and iis1s
and jokes, 81 Harry's expense, circulated in
every direction. He excused himself as speed.
lily as possible from the society of the ladies,
and walked modify to the other end of the
boat, and there stood contemplating what he
should do to extricate himself from this dilem.
ma.
"What the deuce am / to do7" he solilo.
quized. ITO blow ont at her, as should like
to, would only raise row and circulate the
story and ] can't get rid of her, for the boat
won't put back, suppose, on my account.
Cad if the water wasn't 90 hot, I'd drown my.
self. To bring that red.facsd little imp with
her, too! 1t il pretty child enough, though
of course, it couldn't BE anything else, and be
my child and she looks deuced pretty herself,
too, to day. She's q vast deal prettier than
Madge Wentworth ever was--the baggsgsi II
/ ever get safe ont of this scrspe, catch me
riskiDg my reputation for another bold firt like
her." !.
Meanwhile Miss Wentworth, who possessed q
deal of womanly tact in her way, had overcome
in q measure the embarrassment of her first
meeting with Mrs. Vane, and entered very af
fably into conversation with her. The baby
as if determined to do its part, was as sweet
tempered a. its nam ma, and coed and laughed
to the infinite delight of Miss Wentworth, who
was, or pretended to be, exceedingly fond OIL
pets. Mrs. Vaae's smiability was perfectly ir
resistible, and when Mr.. Vane returned, he
found the two ladies on the best possible
terms. $40 4ri
When dinner was announced, Mrs. Vane
called to Mary to take the baby, and, rising
exclaimed
"Mr. Vsne, give your arm to Miss Went
worth, ct the same time sppropriatipg the
other to her own use, and we will hurry away
TO dinner. This stiff breeze gives one such an
appetite" -.t......
At dinner, Mrs. Vane's first attentions were
given to Mise Wentworth, and the least failure
upon the part of Mr.. Vsne (who, to tell the
truth, was . little absent minded) to observe
the wants of that young lady, was reprimanded
by Mrs. Vaue.
sMy dear, Miss Wentworth will take some
more fowl" said Mrs. Vane. "Hsrry, dear
help Miss Wentworth to some of these delicious
peas. Miss Wentworth, allow me to assist you
to some of this sauce; assure you it is deli
cious."
After dinner, the two ladies, with the baby
retired to the ladies' cabin, and Harry enioyed
an hours immunity from the society Of either
he retired eft, to enjoy ~ his Havana. Lei
| us hope that its fragrance served, in some meas
ure, to calm HE troubled mind.
It was nearly dark when the excursionista
returned, and Harry called cab for the ladies
and directed the driver 10 his own residence.
"Harry, my dear, how can you be 90 impo
| lite ," said Mrs. Vane. eve must see Min,
Wentworth home first, by all means. She ha.
been complaining OF fatigue for the last two
hours, and / must protest against her beipl
| driven mile or two out Of her way upon M
account" 'f =
Harry was obliged to aequiesce, and Mrs
Vsne had the satisfaction of leaving Miss Went
worth at her own door, and, bidding her mos
aGectionste farewell, with the hope that she hat
enjoyed the day, and would experience no in
convenience from the fatigue it had occasioned
her. .l h
Ten minutes later, Harry Vane was stretchins
bis weary limbs upon sofa in his own quie
psrlor. Mrs. Vane hustled about, and pre-
pared . most delicious tea for her loving lord
At first his vexssion betrayed him into few
unamiable remarks; but the real tenderness o.
Susie's manner, - she handed him the smoking