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

DON'T look at me that way, Sarah shall CRY
My dear my darling! did not mean to bnrt
you. l am perfect fool Do, please look at
me with your old sweet eyes again How
"Look at Lefty" said i, succeeding at last in
q laugh. And really Lefty was comical to look
at; she was regarding Josephine and me with
her eyes wide open like two blue larkspur
flowers, her little red lips apart, and her whole
pretty surface face quite full of astonishment.
"Wasn't that q nice little tableau, Lefty ?"
said Josephine, with preternatural GOODNESS
=" You looked 80 sleepy, thought I'd wake you
mp with bit of scene from Lara Aboukir, the
Pirate Chief you know we have q great deal
OF private theatricals at Baltimore you should
see me In that play as Flashmoria, the Bandits
bride"
Letty rubbed her eyes little, as if to see
whether she was sleepy or not, and looked
grave; for me, the laugh came easily enough
now. 10 saw she had not quite succeeded, 90
she turned the current another wav.
shall tell your fortune now, Lefty? Are
you quite walked up?" said she.
mo, thee needn't, cousin 10; thee don't tell
very good ones, think"
mo, Lefty, she shall not vex your head with
nonsense. think your fate is patent; you will
grow on little longer like a pink china aster,
safe in the garden, and in due time marry some
good friend-Thomas Dugdale, very possibly
and live tranquil life here in Slepiugton till
you arrive at preacher bonnet, and speak in
meeting, as dear aunt Allis did before you."
Lefty turned pale with rage. did not think
her blonde temperament held such passion.
won't! won't / never will % she cried
out. hate Thomas Dugdale Sarah Thee
ought to know better about me thee knows 7
cannot endure him, the old thingl"
This climax was too much for 10. With
raised brows, and round mouth, she had been
on the point Of whistling ever since Lefty be
gan it was an old naughty trick of hers but
now she laughed outright.
No sort of inspiration left, Salyl l must
patch up Letty's fate myself Flatter not your.
self that she is going to be q good girl and
marry In meeting not she If there's a wild,
scatter Drained, n6some, dissipated, goddess
youth in all Slepington, it is on him that testy
little heart will fix, and think him not only a
hero, but prodigy of genius. Friend Allis
will break heart over Lefty but I'd bet you q
pack of gloves that in three years you III see
that juvenile Quakeress in scarlet satin hat
and feather, with blue shawl, and green
dress, on the arm of fast young man with
black hair, and cigar in his mouth"
why! where did thee ever see him, Jo-
~ ohcu Lot.yj uOW rosy Win quick
bushes.
The question was irresistible. 10 and burst
into peal of laughter that woke friend Alis
from her nap, and, bringing her into the parlor,
forced us to recover our gravity and presently
10 and / took leave
Lefty was an orphan, and lived with her cous
in, friend Allis. too was alone but kept a
tiny house in Slepington, part of which | rent
ed, and 10 was visiting me.
AS we walked home, along the quiet street
overhung with willows and sycamores, said
secret?"
MY dear, l did not know it any more than
you; but | drew the inference Of her tastes
from her character. She is excitable-even
passionate; but her formal training has allowed
no scope for either trait, and suppression has
but concentrated them. She really pines for
some excitement; what, then, could be more
natural than that her fancy should light upon
some person utterly diverse from what she is
used 70 see? That lie simple enough. / hit
upon the black hair on the sane principle.
like in difference The cigar seemed wonder.
full to the halffrightened, all-amazed child but
who ever sees fast young man without a
cigar2"
am afraid it is Henry Maiden" said |,
meditatively "he is all you describe, but he 10
also radically bad besides, having been in the
Mexican war, he will have the prestige of .
hero to lefty. How can the poor girl be un.
deceived before it is quite too late 2"
What do you want to undeceive her for,
Sally? Do you suppose that will prevent her
marrying Mr.. Maiden 2"
should think 80, most certainlyl"
Not in the least. If you want Lefty to mar
ry him, just judiciously oppose it. Go to her,
and say you come as friend, to tell her Mr.
Malden's faults, and the result will be, she will
hate you, and be deeper in love with him than
ever"
"You don't give her credit for common sense,
Jo."
"Just as much as any girl of her age has in
love. Did you ever know a woman who gave
up a man she loved, because she was warned
against him? or even if she knew his character
well, herself? / don't know but there are
women who could do it, from sheer religious
principle. believe you might, Sarah 1t would
be hard struggle, and wear you to shadow
In mind and body; but you have q conscience
and, for woman with heart as soft as pud.
ding, the most thoroughly rigid streak of duty
In you none of which Lefty has to depend
on. No; if you want to save her, take her
away from Slepingtoa take her to Saratoga,
to Newport, to Washington; turn her small head
with gayety; she is pretty enough to have a
dozen lovers at any watering place it is only
propinquity that favors Mr. Maiden here"
=" can't do that, Josephine. have not the
means, and Miss Allis would not have the will,
even If che believed in your prescription"
Then Lefty must stay here, and bide her
time. You believe in special Providence,
Sarah, don't your"
Yes, of couree do"
Then cannot you leave her TO that care
Circumstances do not work for you. Perhaps
it 10 best that she should marry him, suffer- live,
love, and be refined by ire"
My heart sunk at the prospect of these posi-.
bilities.
Josephine put her arm round me. "Sally,"
said she, in her soft tone, al grieved you,
dear, this afternoon. l did not mean to. |
grieved myself most. Please forgive mel"
haven't anything to forgive, Jo," said l.
What you said to me was true, painfully true
and being so, for moment panied me- should
have been much happier to be married, know
but now | daren't think of it. have lost a
great deal. have
sic -"Ios, mn place
My sweet safe corner by the household fire.
Behind the heads OF children
and ye. do net know that have not gained
little. 1t is som ething, 10, to know that am
not in the power of O bad or even an ill-teu.
pered man. can sit by my fire, and know that
no one will come home to fret at me-that |
shall encounter no cold looks, no sneers, no
bursts Of anger, no snarl of stinginess, no con
tempt of my opinion and advice. know that
men now treat me with respect and attention,
such ~ their wives rarely, if ever, receive from
them. Sensitive and fastidious as am. / do
not know whether my gain is not, to me, greater
than my loss. know it ought not to be So
that it argues vicious, an unchristian, almoet
an uncivili.ed state OF society; but that does
not affect the facta" =
ioI frighten me, Sarah. cannot believe