The Kanzas news., 1859-01-08

4. as ior Miss Thcrp,sl hardly gave her a
tho't- really had not noticed her enough
to know the color of her eyes. don't be-
liieve looked her fair In the face once the
whole evening. The idea that she was sim
lgle, perhaps free, aud that possibly my
friend briggs imagined she would edo for
me, prevented my taking the least interest
in her The only feeling had in respect
to her was that she ought to have been Mrs.
briggs. and that Mrs briggs ought to have
been Mrs. Craw6sh; and pitched into the
Fates that it was not SO. What right had
| briggs, dull, slow, unromantic creature,
to up and marry an angelic, seraphic being
like Kate Thorp? Who would dare to talk
to me after this about matches being made
in heaven? So
Twice | wrote a note to my friend. pre-
tending that circumstances-.sci scircumssan-
ces over which had no contror' would de-
iprive me of the pleasure of dining with him,
but in neither instance had the resolution
TO send it. The fact is, was conscience
stricken. Suppose second sight of Mrs.
briggs should make me love her still more
should ''feed my guilty passion" as the
novelists say. But was it my fault that
loved her the moment saw her? Didn't
briggs probably do the same thing? Again,
I If am so made. that a certain combination
of feature, certain air, a certain feminine
make up, in fine. a certain style of woman,
sets my heart on fire, am TO blame for il?
To all of which conscience replied, s,Fool
that you are, do you not know that you love
that woman only because she is anotber's?
That if she were single and attainable you
would not. perhaps, deign to look at her?
That, in truth her beauty had nothing to do
with the matter, and you ought to cure
yourself of this terrible propensity of COW
citing what is another's?" But I appealed
to conscience to answer me if Mrs. briggs
was not the most beautiful of women? If,
therefore, / could help admiring her? IF
briggs himself did not introduce me, etc?
But it was of no use; the little monitor
stuck to its text, and stuck to mine--and
went to Drigs' to dinner.
To tell all that passed that afternoon and
evening, would require three volume nov
! ell. briggs shone as he had never shone
before, and seemed to be the happiest man
in the world. Why should he not be, I
asked, with such a wife? After coffee we
had singing. / had heard Jenny Lind and
Grisi: but what were they to Mrs. briggs?
[ verify believed that she would have sung
either of them off the stage. Miss Thorp
sang also; but, to be frank, I took her pow
ers for granted, and retired TO the other par
lor with Mrs. briggs. And there for hours,
! { so the clock said, but 1t seemed ,incredi
| bic, besides being improper, We talked
| about every imaginable subject-about the
weather, the country, the city, about the
opera, the fashions, the last new novel,
about poetry, and sentiment, and love,--un-
| I'll at last, one of my hands, without the
j tslightest consciousness on my part, parole
d'honneur!t had slipped into hers, aud the
other / verify believe was about to clasp her
| 10 my heart, when in came-DRdGGs! NV
hands were transferred to my pockets in
second, and I shrank from my friend as if /
had been stealing his silver. l had not said
word to his wife $50 at least she has told
me since) which was not perfectly proper;
but felt as if was the bIackest villain in
the world. Judge, however, of the state of
my brain, of my utter bewilderment, when,
as I stepped to the window to hide my emo
tion--or to jump out were it necessary
overheard the lady saying to my friend,
.sMy dear, what charming man Mr..
Crawfsh isl How intelligent He has
read everything. And then how beautiful |
ly he talks; and how affectionate be seems. |
All! IF had husband like him I would |
be perfectly happy.
This was terrible / had made her dis
eontented with her husband. It was too
much to bear; seized briggs by the arm, |
hurried him into the hall, owned up to him
my yillainy, asked him thousand pardons, |
promised never to cross his threshold again, |
and then rushed for my hat, when with the |
most imperturable coolness, he walked be-
tween me and the door, looked me quietly |
in the face, and said:
s'My dear Crawfsh be calm, Come with |
me into the garden, and let US settle the
matter at once"
'sSettle the matterl What, fight with my |
old friend briggs, the dearest friend that / |
have in the world, and fight with him on
his own premises. Never. own up that |
have grossly outraged yon, and beg yoar
pardon, if necessary on my knees. More
over, if you require it, T."
Il tell you again, my dear friend, keep
COOL"
By this time We were in the garden, and |
briggs. forcing me into the chair. continu-
..Now. Crawfsh. be quiet, and listen to |
me, while I, too, make confession. II
have secret to tell you. All rightl''s
The words call right relieved me i'm
menseiy; but what manner of man was this I
who could use them under such circum-
stances? The mystery was soon solved
my good fellow, ~ said briggs, in q tone
severe but Kind, ..do you really fancy you
love Mrs: briggs? Don't be afraid to an
swer; tell me honestly and truly. Remem-
Der, you have met her but twice. and 1t f
may. after all, be nothing but caprice.
: daor II. s.sso crssQi HhVJ
breast oft, and confessed ali ?'' Pr
s.Then kyeu do love her. Good be-
Iieye you.5s Listen, now. and hear my story.d
Lsympathize with you most profoundlysl