Smyrna times., 1859-07-28

Of told, palmer than words, that Fred had lost b
>. little, if any, of his schooboy sauciness
He came just before tea and did not ca
. Maud In the library because preferred Qui,
r chat with him of old times and far-away face
} to the saucy repartees Of my witching couslr
She met us in the tea-room, looking NOR
than usually pretty in her plain white muslin
and her wreath of natural moss-rose buds.
She didn't dress for him, anyhow"
chuckled, as Introduced him. He ncedn
Halter himself about that''
lie didn't have time to fatter himself; for
wasn't ten minutes before the little chatter. bo
gave him to understand, that 5. she didn't thin
he was the gentleman whom Charlie had beeI
grlnnlng about all the week"
Uncle Amos came in at that moment, and i
was lucky he did-he no doubt saved me from
another hit. Maud hadn't seen that rood ia
theF OF hers in a whole week, so she left Fret
ana 10 ENJOY in peace tea-tahle chat, anC
she began to rattle at Uncle Amos, who sal
mere (poor old soul that he is y and listened tc
| her, and made believe he understood her We
IeIt them sitting there-eXcnsed ourselves and
/ went out on the piazza, lit our cigars, and sat
down to continue our "table-talk."
! All at once, Fred broke in with
| "ChafIle, that cousin o. yours is a perfect
| witch. amt she -
'Guess you'd think SO, if you knew her as
we'll as do.
" She's dirt, amt she 90
You better ask Nate CIare-he might tell
you better than l."
I'm her cousin: Never tell tales out of
school,, you know
Charley, I'm good looking as ! used to be
don't you think so 20
don't think you've improved any, Sir Con.
celt' said |, laughing, in spite of myself, al NY
friend S earnest inquiry.
Well, I'm richer than | used TO be. and
riches make up for good looks. | havn't lived
to be twenty-five, without learning one truth"
You've had good luck ;" couldn't help
signing when said it, for thought of the DIFF.
terence; he moneyed Soltherner, pleasure
seekIng-I New York lawyer, seeking for
health 10 enable me 10 make a fortune by work
ing hard, Uery hard for it.
lie didn't notice the sigh I'm glad he didn't
but went right on in his flank manner, I'm
rich and good-lookIng; Maud. as you call her,
is rich and as handsome as poets DREAM fond
OF Hirtlng as we'll as myse ef-CharIey Ward,
you'll see funs''
And fuR II did see, if that article consisted
IN being the third person in the parlor, every
evening until ten o'clock, and after that above
IN my room until twelve, with echoes Of mer. |
ry laugh stealing in every now and then, to
mock the wretchedness of my loneliness
The four days of Fred's allotted visit came
to their close, but in answer to Uncle Amos
earnest invitation, and my boisterous oue-and
l mustn't forget TO mention that there was some
pleading glances from across the table, he con.
sented to 90 to New York, iniSh his business,
and return TO us.
He did so; and presume | saw "fun" again
n % Of I
ways stop TO think moment when Pm told
that I'll " see fun" I'm sure, it was verv
queer sort of fun was seeing Two Young.
sters smiling and whispering together as they
Derambuated the garden wa ks during the long
evenings but thought it was fun
or them, as we'll, and that could easily afford
% laugh at other peoples Illness
The week passed, and Fred left US but after
ne was gone, there used to come rather suspi.
;lous notes to hand from the post office in
Baltimore, and Fred's letters to me visbly in
reased in the warmth'of their friendship; and
n one of them, the saucy fellow wrote me-
hat he thought the balmy air of his Southern
lOme would be beneficial to me, and urged that
should come there and spend the winter
ringing Maud with me as q nurse.
| was wise just then; it was a very tempting {
pple, but ddnt bite it. "Maud for nurse -
wouldn't wonder if my grin did grow to
road one at the idea of that mischevous mad
ap being my nurse. 'Twoud be quite like ;
er to give me peppermint tea, instead of some
ealing cordial, and put the blister that ougf L
D 60 on my throat, on the bald spot at the top e
f my head. T
We were none of us blind to the desperate !
lrtaton but Uncle Amos, and he laughed to C
Ink that his "graceless pet" was driving |
no tbot Oh ! a
ould stay home at ease. and take care of him.
md Maud would laugh and clap her hands, and
ny, :" Just so, father" and meaa something j,
lse all the time, if one could Judge from the
winklc in her saucy blue eyes. +
At last the truth could be withheld from us S
0 longer. Fred came up there one day last c
inter, and asked to see Uncle Amos in the H. 6
rary. | wasn't there at the time, but " Sam - il
aid that he heard 'em talking. and by'me-by 4
ne young gentleman came out dc room looking G
-ery happy, and went in de parlor, where Miss h
laud was sayln', aud in few minutes Massa /
Yard came out, scratching his head, an sal yin, "
the young rascal!" D
And thea Fred came to New York, burst in. 5
my Office, upset my nkstand on the file of nv p
lost brilliant law case, nearly broke my arm I
laking my hand, and by fits and jerks and
lushes q never thought man could blush be. Il
,re), gave me TO understand that he was head h
nd ears ia love with that mad-cap cousin Of "
line, and that she loved him enough to go to d
iallinore and be his nurse, to all fuIurity; and d
} cap all. that Uncle Amos had told him he II
tight take her. n
Confound him. He hadn't done mischief o
nough by upsetting my inkstand and spelling s
~ fle--he had to go up to Shady Grove and a
teal from it our gay, our witch of Maud. / |
ould have choked him, but then happened to I
lnk of young lady in Jersey City who mig ht II
e fearful of the consequences of my so doing
0 withheld my hand from fulfilling my rash
1tention. And then to think of II! Maud a
'anted this young lady and to act as alten- $
ants at her wedding did it, too; but Uu- \
le Amos never can see clearly how Fred Grey b
on stole the heart of the mad-cap Maud. I
Ali | wouldn't wonder, if it had flown 10 II