The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-08-31
TaR CHARMING LITTLE WIDOW
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.ss-sm.nns. ShiHey had aaotnet i"n., ~ 80
dowa s.awsrds hsr beautifal child q. she sas
cun sss.r rhatting, flirting so careiessIy Win
s.9ssS W lie Juiiette went away occasional.
~ 10 see II the little one was Properly a.'ehoeo
sout sunset they set out on their return,
nd The drive was as delightful as the morn
snv rambie. as they watched the early stars
ueeping forth, and he listened TO tones ina, 20
him were sweet as the ripping music OF TIE
summer riils. lie had, In truth, begun 70 see
everything coulcar de rose--and how true .he
words OF the poet, when speaking OF the hrs'
step into Loves labyrinth
.T,it,,e we rock Of our coming years
Ne fancy them lust As we choose;
For whstever LIES after Ii bit MAY be,
Il colors its FIRST from the rose.
Then the evening was as happy for MN A. w, Ia
whole day had been 10, ~" i. and snend II
,r,th them When the tea was hanoeu Touhu,
Shirley had the extreme ieieiy % Iii ~
cream into Juliette's cup, ahu p' Than TOO
sit,inx near her for several hours. insu, .oo,
~rhs,, Tea was over she was his antagonist NJ
cheat and he looked with deiight on nfi t'I-i
ffnrers looking still whittier oy e9ntIas. VII"
sha - y,eces che moved so daintIiy ana SKILL
fn,,y over the board. Her delightful voice was
ss,,i lingering on his ear as he closed ms eyes
fn sieer, for other train OF thoughl mao
broken the enchantment.
they wendell their way home that night pul
Shirley was not quite so morose as 10 uechhe
his friends invitation, gwen al par
what say you to calling on thp iauie TO-,
morrow, TO see IL tney nave leeo'eie" avn
their fatigue - ,s
The next day they did indeed call, and PAID
them an uncomfortable yisit--it one can trust
Miss Hendersop's account, who iived OPPOSITE
and who actually lost the whole morning,
peepinc through the blinds 10 see when 'hsy
would leave. And the next day, ana again s s
mex. Shirley had an ever-reaay e aa hose oe
calling, To-day i, was, 81 must take ihose
drawinu On promised - at other Times, II nave
a piece OF music which must take, or q ne"
book; till at last, grown boiner, ne lnaoe 10
sycnse al all but visited there quite en- fen,ls;
or to use the prying neighbours expression, rs
she watched with envious eyes the comimgs
and goings of the handsome lieutenant, ne
had hung up his hat there Tor DEAD eer'ain-
ty.'' r,,o
il was two weeks since the opening OF TINS
story-in the same room, and his face was not
iistiess az then. but wore pre-occupied auo
rather troubled look, as turning with sign 20
his friend who was watching the Wreathes OF
smoke curling over his head from his cigar, he
said Eliery, what do you thlnk wiii DE my
chance for success with Miss Martin =
"Miss Martin p replied Eliery, with pro-
volinI smile as he knocked the ashes from
his cigar deliberately against ms boot, "Why,
to be plain with you, my dear fellow, thlnk
YOU have but q slight chance. Take my ad-
vice--far better try the widow
aOh hang the widow!' exclaimed Shirley.
"But Joking aside. why do yon think so she
appears 10 like me and, without VANITY,
may be considered handsome and agreeable
enough for any girl with an unoccupied heart
10 love especially when woo"
sAhi yes But there's the rub, Shirley. The
unoccupied heart. There is no apartment to
let In that heart fatter myself; at least, If l
can trust to woman's vows as am inclined
TO do in this case
"Wnat do you mean, Eiiery lhat you love
her and that she-Pshaw! ~
"You may shaw much as You like, Sir
Irresistible, but it's true, Notwithstanding; L
am myself engaged to that very same Miss
Martin"
For once in your life be serious Eliery, If
y0u can"
.sSerious, Well, if you will not take my
word, Ill swear TO il, Shirley. And If you
still douot me, 20 and ask for yourself; give
you leave. But you had better take friends
advice, and inform the widow of your Ilatri-
monial proposals whist in the spirit
Shirley came very near saying that which
were better left unsaid, lie rose from his
chair and paced up and down the room. FL
lery sat smiling to himself, as tilted back in
his chair, with his cap set jauntily on the side
of his head-he finished his cigar, tempting
the now thoroughly irritated Shirley, by
mocking air, IN knock HIM over every time he
approached. At last, having finished snok-
ing, EIiery rose, and as che was drawing on
his gloves, making ready for start, he said,
Some, my good fellow, don't be east down
II you can / get Miss Martin take Mrs. Mar
tin 'One OF the name is "a goods the same.
rs the old saying has it, and l really believe
she MAS 4 fancy ~ you"
He did not stop to hear his friends answer
as he left the room with laugh. Shirley
continu ed his walk-now rapidly, then stop
ping, again fist-tili he came TO dead halt
In front Of the window,
"Impossibie! There is no truth In this
world, if IL exist not in Jnliette Martin. |
have heard her express an opinion concerning
Ellery, and even laugh at him, which no wo-
man ever does at the one she loves. L will go,
by George, and ask her indeed. If lis true,
then will never trust woman kind again.
Aud walking to the glass he brushed his
dark locks as carefully as ever did one Of the
weaker sex, and then, taking his gloves and
hat, he started for Mrs. Emptons.
His own heart was humping as loud as the
old cushioned knocker to his nervous rap,
he stood on the doorstep. He was ushered
into the comfortable parlor, where tae SUMS
rays came siyly in through the closed blinds,
playing hide and seek with the roses of the
carpet, and where the red glowing light, from
the fret ell upon the bright tace of uiiette IL
ehe sat on a low ottoman, playing with the
curly headed Annie, whose silvery laugh was
echoed by the mellow, cheerful one of the mo-
Their. There was no one else in the room. After
the morning saiutatious, Shirley said. .has
not Eiiery been here''
"IeS,n she replied she and my sister are
out visiting"
Shirley moved his chair closer to the low or
toman. Excuse me- he said, sit ask you
one question, and do not, beg, deem me i'm
pertinent: entreat you to answer me frankly
Tor assure you my whole earthly happiness
depends on your answer. Are you really en-
gagged 10 Ellery p
"Who! l, Mr. Shirley You must be
dreaming" said Juliette, as she opened her
large dark eyes still larger in her surprise, her
face and neck coloring deeply US she met his
glance,
"There is some mistake in this" Inuttered
Shirley. "He told me this morning that he
was engaged to you, and bid me ask you, to
convince myself"
"Why, the man must be crazed SURELY
Yet wonder still more at you in believing
him. You, to whom - and again the
face was bent over Aanies ringlets 10 hide the
tears yelling up In those eyes, whilst the
child sat demurely listening as if bound TO
recoilect each and every word
Il did not-l do not believe him." said
Shirley; Though he told me that he was en-
gagged to Miss Martin"
merry laugh rose to her lips as she q uick-
ly raised her face, still crimsoned with bright
bushes. "Ah, yes, see il all now" said she
lie IL really engaged to Miss Martin But
!. ME- NH dc you take me for ~
was his amazed reply. se---A-'S 'ui'e1'e'
~ am Mrs. Martin, and the mother or,,h;.
nttle girl, she replied; aud she stopped to kiss
Annie, for she was sadly afraid the laugh
would again break forth, such a bewildered
face met her view.
II would be impossible to delineate the diff
ferent emotions that chased one another
through Shiriey's mind, as he thus sat gazing
upon the graceful creature, as she sat in that
rich light. Pride, shame, a wee. biz Il anger. at
tnus being daped by Eiiery; but high above
., '"e nstiong, the enduring, struggle for mas.
tery. vi course, the last conquered, aud the
niue enerub, sitting on her mothers knee, lis
tened TO declaration as the heart prom,ted
what she replied leave to the reader S i'm
s&inatton; but when JEANNE and Eilery en-
tered from their visit they found them sitting
tele.a.tete and smiling. All was explained
aeannte and her affsanced magnanmousiy
nxlng the blame, while Shirley, in his happi.
ness, readily pardoned the plotters who had
been the means Of giving him such a store OF
present felicity