Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-09-03
Ter, with Gags flying and whistle blowing,

and baby, and the next moment the gallant
| steamer with its holiday company was fairly
| under way. Mrs. Vane walked leisurely to
| the foro part Of the vessel, and there, ap-
parentiy very much to her surprise, discovered
Mr.. Vane sitting in most attentive proximity
TO o handsome and snowy young lady, who was
evidently quite the slave of Mr. Vane's fas-
cinations.
Why, good morning, Harry exclaimed
| Mrs Eane, in her sweetest and most cordial
tones E" this is, indeed, delightful surprise.
had not anticipated of your company. After
| yoh lett home L happened to notice the adver-
| tisement of the excursion, and baby has seemed
80 ailing lately, that thought it might do him
| good TO take an excursion so L dressed myself
| as quickly as possible and hurried down hero :"
What could Mr.. Harry Vane say in reply to
this most amiable wife-like greeting? Mrs
Eane was not at loss, however, to fill up the
pause which his hesitation occasiOned
| This lady is friend Of yours, | presume
| introduce me to her, Harry" said she, turning
| to the lady. g Mr Vanes circle Of friends
| previous to our marriage was SO very exton-
sive, that have not even yet made the ac-
guslntancs OF all of them. l hope, however,
to know them all in the course of time, for
nothing gives me greater pleasure than to en-
| tertain larry's friends. Your name is -?
L didn't quite understand
| Miss Wentworth" replied the lady, bow.
ing stifiy.
"Ah. yes, Miss Wentworth said Mrs.
Vano, complacently. 81 do not recollect of
hearing Harry speak Of you, but il is all the
same my memory Is very treacherous; and,
/ indeed, he might have mentioned your name,
casually, you know, q dozen times, and still [
might have forgot 1t. 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
g Mamma's preciou. little darling. Was it
warm so it was Mamma will take off it's
hat-sO che will. There-does it see its papa
| there, so it does, and knows him, too
precious angel See. Miss Wentworth, see
how well the little darling knows its father,
and 1t isn't four months old yet" And Mrs
| Eane danced the chubby, red-faced little thing
| up and down in Mr.. Vane's face, and asked,
| enthusiastically Didn't Miss Wentworth
| think be was just the image of his pa 30
There were several of Harry's acquaintances
| on board, by whom the affair was thoroughly
understood; and ii was not long until the story
passed from lip to lip, and smiles and titters
and jokes at poor HarTy's expense circulated
in every direction. He excused himself as
| speedily as possible from the society of the
| ladies, and walked mOOdily to the other end of
the boat and there stood contemplating what
he should do to extricate himself from this di-
| lemma.
| What the deuce am I to do ?'' he solilo.
Il I. Il
to, would only raise a row and circulate the
story, and 1 can't get rid of her, for the boat
won't put back, 1 suppose, on my account
Cad If the water wasn't so hot I'd drown
| myself. To bring that red faced little imp
\ with her too 1t Is a pretty child enough,
though; Of course it couldn't be anything else,
| and be my child and she looks deuoed pretty
herself, too, to-day. She's vast deal prettier
than Madge Wentworth ever was-the bag
gage. If l ever get safe out Of this scrape,
catch me risking my reputation for another
bold fiirt like her"
| Meanwhile Miss Wentworth, who possessed
| deal Of womanly tact in her way, had over
come IN measure the embarrassment of her
first Meeting with Mrs. Vane, and had entered
| very affably into conversation with her The
baby, as if determined to do its part, was as
swect-tempered as its mamma, and cooed and
laughed to the infinite delight of Miss Went
worth, who was, or pretended to be, exceed
| iDgly fond of pets. Mrs. Vane's amiabiIity
was perfectly irresistible, and when Mr. Vane
returned he found the two ladies on the best
| possible terms.
| When dinner was announced, Mrs Vano
called to Mary to take the baby, and, rising,
exclaimed, Mr.. Vane, give your arm to Miss
wentworth, at the same time appropristing
| the other to her own use, "and We will hurry
in to dinner. This stiff breeze gives one such
an appetite :"
| At dinner, Mrs. Vane's first attentions were
given to Miss Wentworth, and the least failure
upon the part OF Mr.. Vane (who, to tell the
truth, was little absent minded,) to observe
the wants Of that young lady, was reprimanded
by Mrs Vane.
/ My dear. Miss w Wentworth will take some
more fowl said Mrs. Vane. Harry dear,
help Miss Wentworth to some of these delicious
peas. Miss Wentworth, allow me to assist you
to some OF this sauce; assure you 1t is de-
licious"
After dinner, the two ladies', with the baby
retired to the ladies cabin, and Harry enjoyed
an hours immunity from the society of either
He retired aft to enjoy (!) his Havana. Let us
hope that its fragrance served, in some meas
ure, to calm his troubled mind.
1t was nearly dark when the excuTsionist,
returned, and Harry called a cab for the Ia
dies and directed the driver TO his own residence
Harry, my dear, how can you be SO impo.
lite 2" said Mrs. Vane. 1--WE must see Miss
Wentworth home first by all means. She has
been complaining Of fatigue for the last tive
hours, and L must protest against her being
driven mile or two out of her way upon my
account"
Il Harry was obliged to acquiesce, and Mrs
Nane had the satisfaction of leaving Miss Went.
worth at her own door, and bidding her mos
sffCctionste farewell, with the hope that she had
enjoyed the day, and would experience no incon.
yenionce from the fatigue it had OccasioDed her
Ten minutes later, Harry Vane was stretch
J ing his weary limbs upon sofa In bis owl
quiet parlOr. Mrs. Vane hustled about and
prepared q most delicious tea for her lovin.
/ lord. At first his vexation betrayed him int
} Few unaniable remarks; but the real tender
ness OF Susie's manner, she handed him thu
} smoking cup of Souchong upon the lounge, ant
/ soothed and petted away the headache which
{ oppressed him, silsnced his irritability, anc
} won him back to good humor
!, That WAS the last of Harry Vane's wander
J ings. The name Of Miss Wentworth was peye
/ mentioned in his house; and save his peniten
, confession, made that night with his wear,
head lying upon her bosom, Susie, hav,
! wronged you; will you forgive me?" to whicl
hor only answer was the kiss Of peace an,
! trust, and q glance more eloquent than an,
Z spesch,) there was allusion to his faults.
, Susie is gray-haired now, and her failin
strength is supported by the tenderness of he
/, grand-daughters; and it may be that to then
D she sometimes repeats the story of the woma
e who wouldn't be jealous.