The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-05-04
people. And as Harry presented mo with o
magnificent bouquet, he whispered
tIet that atone In mart for nv satlcy sDcecheS

magnificent bouquet, he whispered:
Let thatatone in part for my saucy speeches
to-day, Cousin Emily
L thought ut that moment could have
forgiven him much greater offences.
Now said John, I'VE are to have series
Of Ia blcanx, oil in your honor, Emily. You
are not expected to take part in them, other
wise than by staring at them most intently,
for ] assure You they will-be something re-
markable. a7s'
The fnt tableau was rather failure. II
represented John in very picturesque dress,
and with a drawn weapon standing over
Frank, who crouched upon the ground in
terror. The bright wcapan, 30 near the curly
head, must have frightened my little favoritc,
for no made very pcrceptible movement,
which greatly amused tho spectators, but
destroyed the effect Of tho picture. Then
followed representation Of Evangelinc, with
sweet, sad lace, sitting BY tho "namclcss
grave;'" Roth, among her sheaves Of wheat,
besides various groups which looked remark
ably well. Little Red Riding Hood, which
character was represented by blooming Amy
Anthem, in charming red cloak, was
another attractive feature.
But the tablcau which most engaged my
attention was the last Of oil, where David
was represented as mourning over the dead
Absalom. Harry, Us Absalom, lay in the
very semblance of death, every feature in
perfect repose. There was a hush among
the spectators, for perfect stiffness was such
q novelty in connection with our wild rogulsh
Harry, that this seemed real, too real. Over
the bier bowed David in all the majesty OF
woe. The face of the actor was hidden from
nv sight; but tho bowed form, the attitude
alone, proclaimed the depth ofhuman suffer.
ing. Never before, to my knowledge, had
seen the person who represented David, mol
did he seem known to the company for when
the curtain fell every one asked of his neigh
Dor the question, who acted DayidT None
knew.
A little later in tho evening managed ia
find Harry, who now lookcd as little like the
dead Absalom as it was possible to look, and
endeayorcd to extract from him some inform
alton in regard to the stranger; for. strange
to say, that was the subject upon which my
thoughts oftenest dwelt. But Harry preten-
ded perfect Ignorance.
'Iiow should know who twas, when my
eyes were closed the whole time? tell you
what, II isn't an easy thing to act Absalom.
But you certainly know who was leaning
over you, Harry
Il know think net. / had as much o,
could do to keep perfectly still.
saw there was nothing to be extracted
from Harry, 80 attacked John upon the
subject. But my question unanswered, for
John was again seized with one of those fear.
full fits of coughing that had engaged my
sympathy in tho morning. =,
'sNow that have recovered, Emily, said
John, when it pleased him to stop coughing,
.iust come with me into the dining.room,
from this crowd. I've something there to
show you.'
And something indeed there was; for there
stood my good old uncle, with beautiful
gold watch In his hand, which no presented
to me, with few simple but affecting words.
Then followed my aunt with q gift, ut once
elegant and appropriate. And then, in their
turn each of them, before the presentation OF
his gift, which was an elegant rosewood
writing-dcsk, John attempted to make
little speech, but broke down in the midst of
it, to the great amusement of all, for John
was very seldom embarrassed. ALI ! how
little Justice had done them all that morn
ing. / had accused them of not caring for
mo, of wishing mo out of the house; and
here had the whole family united in honor
ing my birthday and remembering my tastes
How much hadI, old maid Ms was, and
thrty.fvc years old, TO DO thankful for =
How like q stab did every one of these kind
nesscs seem, when thought of my morning
soliloauy. As these ideas passed through
my mind, raised my eyes and encountered
those of Annie, twho, childlike, had been
Hutterins about from ono room to another,
and was watching mo.
sNow, Cousin Emily, If you will como
into the library will show you my present.
The library had been entirely deserted by
our guests, and us Annie and l approached
it from the dining-room, | saw only one
solitary figure. that of the stranger, sitting
with his face turned from tho light. was
about to withdraw, but Annie urged me
gently forward, and Just then the stranger
turned with an eager look, and, for the first
time for twelve years, l stood face to face
with Philip Allen. There was no mistaking
those features, which, once seen, could never
bo forgotten, and thero was no mistaking tho
eager. impctuous haste with which Philip
rushed forward to greet me. He was not
changed, and that thought brought such cx-
cccding joy, that forgot was thirty-fve,
and no longer young and handsome.
Strange to say, this idea never occurred to
me during the remainder of the evening,
which seemed unaccountably short, neither
the next day, nor the day after. But, as
Harry remarked next morning at breakfast,
travellers have such wonderful stories to
relate, that one cannot even think OF any
thing else. Philip had been wandercr
many years, and those had been full Of mar
ye,lcus adventures, and 1t was 30 necessary
that he should tell them to somebody, that
it happened, I hardly know how, that was
obliged to give him great many conferen-
ces in the library. And these adventures
had from one thing led to another, and
finally, in the most unromantic manner
possible, ,(for what romance could be expcccd
Of such elderly peoples? itwas proposed that
we should give out another invitation to our
friends, and that we should become actors in
that very imposing tablcau called marriage.
We did as We proposed, and so became
Mrs. Philip Allen. -
John congratulated mo in curious fl'h'
ion: .l..-r. .. m
you arc not half good enough for Philip,
Emily. For haven't you deserted me most
cruelty, when took the trouble to take you,
to ride upon your thirty.fifth birthday, and
nearly killed myself TO keep good news from
YOU. The whole family took tho greatest
trouble to deceive you that day, for Of course
we oil knew Philip had come. by tho way,
I must tell Philip how much happier you
would DO II you went away from here, be-
cause-'
And hero John was seized with his old fit
Of coughing which was speedily cured, how