The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-10-20

who sat next me, of all the funny things could
think of and kept Aunt Jane laughing all the
time, 80 that she had no spare moment to think
any more of Dicks absence. Leaving the table
with us, Mrs. c. accompanied Aunt Jane
TO her room, and then whispered to her to in
vite me to her room, which she did, and / of
course accepted, for was dying to tell her Of
all that had happened. She said to me, when
| had got through, as / supposed, for like other
girls had yet TO tell it all over again from an
other standpoint, and still another" Meta,
said my lady friend, " Dick will come to his
senses soon, and will be very, very sorry for all
he has said to you this morning" Whereupon
was very brave, and said, Dick is at liberty
10 take his own course-the world is wide, and
l don't care if never again see him. I" In
deed ! " said Mrs. c., [" do you know your
self, Meta ~ and answered, /" Yes, madam, ]
do" And can you, Meta, crush out from
your heart, at once, the beautiful romance OF
your life?" eyes, at stampi" and as l said
this, ! raised my foot and gave great stamp
on the floor Then talked the whole scene
oyer and over, as Mrs. C. saw something in
me to censure, until she wearied of it, and said
o yes, Meta, you are angry, and not yourself
Let US two GO to the morning prayer meeting. =
Prayer meetingln exclaimed, {" Lam in nc
fit state of mind for ANY such place." $50
see, my dear Netta," she replied, putting her
arm round my waist, and drawing me to her;
I on will 90 to your room Meta, and remain
there quietly, for assure you, you look and act
like one under undue excitement, and it is best
for you to be in your own ROOM" -. .ef g
/ was startled and humbled by this reprooi
from one SO eminently gentle and good, so
went straight to my room, and shut myself in
and locked the door, and when Aunt Jane call
ed to me, begged her to excuse me, for / was
busy writing--as was all could recall of what
had passed with Dick, 80 that might see how
1t would look on paper a week hence, if need be.
Dinner came, and Dick was absent, to the
great surprise of Aunt Jane, and she was begin
ming to feel anxious, when Bridget brought her
a note from Dick, stating that he had rode over
to BallstOn, and would not be back in time for
dinner. Aunt Jane showed me the note, and
asked, "Who is there at Ballston that Dick
would ride over to seer" and the thought few
through my mind like fash of lightning, "Ame-
liza has returned and sent for Dick;n and /
said this to Aunt Jane. Impossible, Meta"
:" The most likely thing in the world to happen,
Aunt" l replied, in as calm a tone as kcould
command; and believed all said.
Dinner over, went to my room without a
word of gossip with Mr.. p, Col. R, and
Judge B, who said they all we're waiting
elected by me for the promenade of the piazza,
after dining, but l excused myself, and when
Aunt Jane came to get ready for drive to the
Lake with Sophia s., I begged to be ex-
cused, and so she left me to finish this long let
ter to you, which has been part Of this most
eventful days labor. e4aaus
MONDAY NIGHT, PAST II.
Hardly had / written these last lines, when
heard Dicks step in the entry, and his tap at
the door of Aunt James room. was taken by
surprise, for Bridget had asked leave to be alb
sent for the afternoon, and there was no one to
open the door. Closing my door as / entered
Aunt's chamber, / cried out, "Come inin Dick
entered-his face flushed and his eyes red, his
voice subdued and changed. / seated myself
on the sofa, and pointed him to his accustomed
seat-a chair near the window-which he took
with the docility of child who had been well
whipped, or expected to be. | sat silent, won
dering what was next to be said or done. 1t was
a long pause that followea-at least, SO it
Meta" at last said Dick, ~ left you this
morning in anger, for thought you had done
me great injustice, and come back to say
am profoundly Inundated with all that has
passed, and l say so out of fall heart"
Now, not exactly comprehending this con-
fession, sat calm and silent. Dick then
changed his seat to one beside me, and took
my hand, to which made no objection, but it
was cold as marble--I felt it myself to he so.
His pressure might have been made upon the
cushion on which sat, for any impression made
on me- SO, then, Dick began TO talk of our
early days, of his delight to watch my coming,
waiting for me on the cold pavement, so happy
to carry my books, as we bounded along to-
ward the Spingler Institute-my loved school!
and then he talked of the long summer days
spent by US last year at Lake Mehopac, where we
rowed our boat into every nook and corner of
the lake, seeking for plants for my herbarium;
and that he had believed all this while that his
love, though unspoken, had been expressed
every day and in every action of his life since
he was fourteen years of age; and that he had
impatiently waited for the time when he should
be admitted to the bar, that he might then with
ali propriety disclose to me and to my parents
his ng-cherished hopes. Now, all this would
have been delightful to me just ten hours be-
fore-but it came too late.
As he talked on, with singular beauty and
grace of language, could not but recall and
confess to my own soul how bright and beauti-
full he had made the days of my young life.
lived once more in those inspiring, clear, cold,
frosty mornings, when sat out for school, with
my armful Of class books, sure to meet Dick at
the corner, waiting for me; and what fond hearts
we had in those days-so much to say witty
words and funny incidents we had treasured up
for this very hour, and with what reluctant steps
we paced the pavement after we had crossed
over Fifth avenue.
And as he talked of Lake Mehopac, where
spent the whole of last summer with Aunt Jane
and Dick, could not refuse to recall the times
he woke me at day-breaking for the fresh de-
light of rowing our beautiful skiff upon the sur
face of the lake, just as the rays Of the rising
sun had walked its waves to a new life. If
was all the world to Dick in those days, Dick
was all the world to me-brigbt days, truly too
bright to last; so thought /, as he spoke Of our
little hairbreadth escapes from being upset by
some folly of mine, and of our pic-nics in the
woods around the shores of the lake, when we
two were all sufficient for ourselves, and needed
no one to whom to say, "Isn't this delight
full"
/ was wakened from this sweet reverie by
Dicks speaking of events happening at Sara
toga. With great effort he confessed, frankly
and fnlly, that he had been dupe. His pride
was humbled, and was glad of it--he deserved
it, and / was happy to see him coming to his
senses, but my pity for him was gone, and sat
all this while silent, looking up at intervals to
see the workings of his features, as his voice
filtered with emotion. And so he talked,
and SO i listened, till at last he leaned to-.
wards me, and whispered, "Have you no
touch of tenderness 10 your heart for me,
Metal" and great tear fell upon my hand.
Now, dear G***, you know that T. as well as
all other of the Spingler girls, are well posted
up before we graduate in Diapers Chemistry,
and have at our tongues end all the solvents
known to science and the arts, but knew moth
ing of the power of tears. That one tear no
sooner touched my hand, than the frozen eur
rents of my heart melted, and wept ~
/ ought to stop short here, G***, and yet
cannot / do so wish to recover all his words,