The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-09-15

leave the next day for Newport, and begged me
to go with them. OF course this was an impos-
sibility; and my excuse was regarded as all
sufficient-that my motive for coming here was
to be with Aunt Jane, and that 1 should re-
main with her. That my refusal was not
matter of regret, I readily saw, Notwithstanding
all the attempts she made to impress me with
her earnest desire that l should go with them.
But when Dick was approached, she was not a
little surprised to find that no persussions
could induce him to leave his mother. She
affected any degree of skepticism as to his de
votion to her, and suggested that if she could
persuade me to go with them, her wishes might
be gratifed, and that Dick would feel himself
mpeled to see that his Cousin Meta was not
spirited away by Mr. H or some such at
traetive gentleman. The day came, and the
hour, and we all went with them to the depot,
and saw them off.
With what different feelings did walk down
the beautiful grounds Of the United States on
that day and the day of my arrival. had
Dick and Aunt Jane with me now, as then,
The sun shone as brightly, and the cheekered
shadows danced as sweetly on the greenswArd
All Nature wore the same joyousness, but
was not joyous. Dick walked on in silence.
supporting Aunt Jane, and tried to talk of
the light and shade for the hundred and twen-
for you must know, when l could say nothing
else to one of those wearisome men who haunt
the piazzas of the United States, started the
loneliness of the sunlight and the shadows with
some success; but not so now. Dick was alb
sorbed, and Aunt Jane did not care to be
awakened to enthusiasm about what she had
said everything she had TO say. And so we
three went to our rooms.
This state of feeling existing between Us, the
arrangement, hard as it was for Inc to bear.
was harder for Dick, and he manifested his
temper in way to attract the attention of
Aunt Jane. After watching US for day or
two, she asked me what had happened--and
told her truly, nothing. So she took an oppor-
tunity, when had gone out a riding with Mr..
and Mrs. H., to inquire of Dick, who at first
would give no sign, but after while, when his
mother told him it was the first time time ke
had ever denied her his loving confidence, and
that she felt 1t like sword piercing her 10 the
heart, he gave in, and said that Meta had been
guilty of what he regarded a great indelicacy
in saying to Amelia A. that she never would
marry him. Aunt Jane, with a woman's in.
tuition, denied for me that had ever made
such speech. Dick was sure it must be so.
for Amelia had repeated, as she said, word for
word, the conversation; and he thought it most
unkind and unmaidenly for me to make sucha
hdence, and who, in all other matters than this,
never appeared to have received it. Indeed,
we seemed to be the antipodes of each other
as he wished me to be.
On my return home, Aunt Jane having sent
Dick out, found her alone, waiting to ask me
for my speech, as repeated by Amelia and BY
Dick. l listened to it all, and then said, AZ
made no such speech. Dicks name was never
mentioned. Tho topic was about MARRYING
first cousins, and I said / would not marry q
first cousin" 81 told Dick sol" exclaimed
Aunt Jane; and then, the hood-gate being
raised, | had full talk with Aunt Jane of all
| had endured during the last two weeks, and
was greatly relieved by her sympathy and as.
surance that had acted with great discretion
and kindness, Of which she had not been mob
servant; and that the time would come when
Dick would come to his senses. "These men
are such FOOLS" said Aunt Jane, "they never
know their own minds till somebody helps them
into daylight; and l think Amelia A. has done
this for Dick" l could not delay to tell You
so much as this, and l must confess I was glad
to hear Aunt Jane say Dick wished me to be
pnlike Amelia A. ] viii write you one more
letter, and but one more, for Aunt Jane says
she will certainly leave here on the lst of Sep
TENDER, and it may be we shall 90 to Lake
George before we set our face homewards.
Hoping we may soon meet, I remain, dear
GN**, yours, lovingly, META.