The Oxford intelligencer. (Oxford, Miss.) 1860-18??, 1860-08-22

carriage ana delchtelY carried INTO tiie mouse,
without touching the French kid slipper to
the ground. The driver took off the shabby
little trunk, that looked so much shabbier for
all these gauds about it, aud elbowed his way
through the crowd of coachmen in white kid
gloves, as he carried it up the steps and set
it exactly in the middle of the hall.
No welcome awaited poor Margaret; but
window, dimly Suspected who was her visit
or, whispered to Il servant to take her and her
trunk away as speedily as possible. Up
up-more flights than Margaret travelled at
home, and into little, dark-looking bed.
room, the man escorted her. not stopping an
instant to see if she wanted anything. There
was low bed, chair, and table that an
swered two purposes, for it held the cracked
bowl and ever that was as guiltless Of water
as the drawer was of towels She could not
even part with the dust. She was tired, and
had eaten nothing since morning. There
was no lamp in the room, and daylight was
fast disappearing. She sat down and shiver-
ed with the cold, and wished herself back at
the old piano. She heard the clattcr of dish
es, and filncied they were at supper below.
She did not dream that the meal could be
dinner
"Why need care| she asked herself
"They sent for me as they sent for others.
Why should not go to their table then! !!
surely they don't expect me TO live without
food while am here. Take courage Marga-
ret Mrs. Morrison is only your aunt, after
all.n
And she shook out the dust aud wrinkles
from her dress as well as he could, and de-
cended the stairs whore the blaze of light al
most blinded her. On she went without i'm
pcdimcnt, for company and servants were
now in the great diningroom. Thither she
followed the sound of voices, and entered
just as the soup was being served. At the
head Of the table was a woman whom she
supposed must be her aunt, or she would not
be in that place although she marvelcd that
The large, han ghty l,ol.ing person, with such a
red face and such proflsion of flowers in
her head-drcss, could be sister to her pale,
gentlc-looling mother. No Que noticed Mar
carot, the company probably snrposing her
servant, AMI Mrs. Morrison, and her daugh-
ter evidently not Designing to recognize Eer.
The thought reused mp her inlepe,ler., feel
ings, aud she walked strait up 20 tie hostess,
whose red face grew rcIicy at Lcr approach.
II have come Aunt MORRISON" said Mar
sarc,, very quietly, yet ioad cnongh for ell to
Lear. :" presrme yol got my letter accept
ing you: invitation ("
Their was a seat occupied by a gentleman
next 10 Ars. Morrison, and close 10 that was
"a empty one. Tho gentleman who had
heard hor words distinctly, half rose, and put
,ing ont his hand, led her to the vacant seat.
\ glance At an opposite mirror showed her
that she was pale and tircd-looking, and she
half regretted that she had come down. Her
neighbor was so cxquisitly dressed, that she
felt there must be terrible contrast to him
in her own appearance.
Margaret was hungry, and the gentleman
loaded her plate unmindful of Mrs. Morison's
severe looks. As yet, she had not even an
swcred her niece, nor looked at her The
whole party seemed to feel that something
was wrong, and there was little said except
between Margaret and her agreeable neighbor.
lie had been in her native town and had
known herfather That brought her acquain-
cd with him at once, and forgetting that she
was intruding upon company so grand and
imposing, she talked on rapidly and well,
showing by her chosen words and correct
pronunciation that she was as refined in speech
as any there. But she took occasion at the
first opportunity to make her exit, and taking
a lamp from the hall table, she again mount
ed the stairs.
THIS time she succeeded in finding some
hdtNlf hHiSu Siit " liSl IOtsn. W ltu
its assistance, and the help also of another
gray dress, which was less tumbled and
fresh collar, and fresh pair of sleeves, be-
sides an extra nice arrangement of her fine
hair, she found herself more prcscntablc-
and to get away from the cold she again de-
sccnded to the drawing-room. Preparations
seemed to be making for dancing, and yet no
one seemed willing to play.
ado pray help me, Mr. Hallowell," said
Mrs. Morrison, :. to find somebody, that will
play for one waltz, at least" And the gen
tleman thus addressed-her .niece's dinner
partncr-turned Immediately to Margaret her
self who stood near the door, and entreated
her not TO force him to make the circuit of
the room to find a musician Probably he
did not expect a little, plainly-dressed coun-
try girl ike her TO be able TO comply, but he
seemed as much pleased as astonished, when
she accepted his arm to be led to the instru-
ment. Ms. Morrison was thuaderstuek.
'Your niece, believe" called a lady from
a group near by.
Mrs. Morrison bowed stifly, ayes. She
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