The hydraulic press., 1859-03-26
For The Press.
JUST ACROSS THE WAY.

MILD eHO h0Ao diy III. 1IeshluS du-
vertisement appeared "a house to
let in Prospect Square-furniture for
SALE" etc. We drove around to Pros
pect Square. The house pleased US
the grounds were delightful and in the
course of week we were so settled be-
yond doubt, that we could scarcely
believe but what we had been born
there, and had grown up with that lux
uriant foliage-had smiled in the sun
light or wept in the shadows, just as all
children do.
If | were an artist, [ would describe
objects as they appeared to the eye-if
poet, | would tell how they stirred the
soul. As it is, / shall attempt neither;
| can only say, the throbbing din of the
great city below, the flashing brow Of
the restless bay, or the dim and dusty
outline of the shore beyond, with its
uncertain shadows, which seemed every
moment melting into sunlight, produced
a feeling much akin to that of minor
strain of music in midnight serenade
There was but one objection to our
new home. The apartments allotted to
me by unanimous consent, (for belong
to that unfortunate class of females
styled cold maids, y were situated upon
the west angle of the house, which
overlooked a grave-yard-somewha dis
tant, it is true, but none the less
graveyard and every night, when the
sun went down, the weird shapes that
come with the night would creep up the
slope and gather among the green
mounds
Women are curious, to degree-so
are men-the only difference being that
that element in woman's composition
termed curiosity, seems mysteriously
transformed when discovered to exist in
the other sex, and is at once dignifed
under the head of-philosophy!
Albeit, my curiosity led me to observe
everything which by chance came with
in range of my vision. Among other oh
jects, had noticed a stately locking dweE
ling just across the way, and every morn
ing the bloomingconservatory attached to
it was approved by the presence of a
young lady, who usually appeared in an
elegant wrapper of white cashmere, re-
licved by a delicate blue, or peach-blos-
som color. Her step was measured yet
graceful, and her tone and manner as
stereotyped and infexible as the law of
the Medes and Persians. She always
assumed that same air of listlessness,
which deprived her classic features Of
even that infnitessimal degree of ex-
preston they mi ight otherwise have pos
sessed and she turned from the rare
exotics, as if in reproach that they should
fail to bow their " diminished heads"
beneath her glance.
One morning she sat at the open
easement in the drawing-room, occupied
with the "news," when the finely CHS
eled lips relaxed into the faintest posi-
BILE smile, ard | heard her exclaimxE
"Only think of it Pa Mr. Middleton
has arrived l have just observed. Ills
name upon the list of passengers by the
last steamer. By-the-by, now.>I think
of it, we were betrothed! / wonder
has he forgotten it-hope he has, for
there is
Just at this juncture our breakfast
bell sounded, and my gossip was lost
among the clatter of china-the reader
herself soon being absorbed in the
startling intelligence" painful acci-
dents" etc., announced in the morning
issue.
There was little white cottage, too,
across the way, tucked in cozily among
the vines and shrubbery, that had for its
tenants now only an old lady and her
daughter. Poor young thing. how
slight and pale she was; and the bright
spots upon her cheek and the light in
the sweet blue eye, told the old-fashioned
story againrof blighted hopes, and
weary hours, and deep, secret heart
longings, and the dark lonely journey
beyond the region of the farewell All
these, and much more, gathered round
the slowly receding form of the early
doomed across the way. And | pitied
her, because l thought her too young
and fair to die.
One night the yefulgence of light
from the tall house opposite almost be
wildered US. The grounds were illu-
minated, and every bush and shrub and
tree poured down food of beams of
every conceivable hue. The spacious
halls were thrown open, and volumes of
the richest melody swept through the
air. Guests came, and snow-clad figures
glided through those brilliant salons
with an airiness which Knocked the very
breeze that bore their revelry abroad.
Presently a fine man with soft brown
hair stepped from a carriage and entered
the house, followed by dignifed looking