The Carrollton sun. (City of Carrollton, Parish of Jefferson, La.) 185?-1???, 1860-10-27

y
fire with book or work waiting for the
dinner to be brought up. AS l reach
my own door, however, | found it open,
and three children of varying ages,
taking an atfectionate farewell of my
housekeeper. had never cared enough
for any one before to experience such
an emotions as jealousy, but l think
no other word would adequately des-
cribe my feelings as | walked into the
.parlor and shut the door. Presently
Mrs. Smith made her appearances.
! '.I'm very sorry" she began.
sssNot at all madam
4 Oh, but | am. / remember your
,stipu1ations about the children, per-
ffectly. l surely did not intend they
should annoy you. / presumed you
would have no objection to their coming
sometimes in your absence, and / like
to see them as often as l can, but they
shall not be here again at an hour when
you are likely to come home.''
She must have thought me an ungra-
cious boer, for l growled out merely,
$. No matter--no matter at ALL
Twas in an ill-hun3Ur. The pleasant
anticipation with which i hurried home
had not been realized. Moreover l
suspectedM was becoming too much
interested my housekeeper to be
reminded that others had stronger
claims upon her. That night | sat on
zone side of the bright fire and Mrs.
Smith on the other. abhor furnaces,
tbs one of my whims. | loved when
[ was a boy, to make pictures in the
fire, and The habit and l had grown old
together. We sat silent for some time.
] was watching in two ember, two little
boats sailing on lovingly side by side.
Atsfength { I~nid abruptly,
1What was Mr.. Smiths business
ma am3'
"A merchant. He was in dry goods
firm; and able to give us every luxury
until BE fai1ed.'
So that was it. He had, failed and
died, and left her all those children to
support. looked into thd.fife again.
The boats had drifted far apart, and
were sailing down fame colored river,
''He the side-she on the other."
!, j mused on, half sorrowfully, until at
length said, speaking unconsciously
out loud
Y sPerhaps conld have stood the chill
dren, it it were not for thinking she
had loved somebody else. She'd be
looking back, aud all the time compar-
ing me with No. l.
'Sir?'
My voice had attracted Mrs. Smiths
attention from her book, but She had
evidently not understood what | said,
and was looking up inquiringly. Thank
fortune for that. ! laughed Ii tie ncr-
vously, / imagine.
Nothing, | was not speaking to you.
IN fact L think l was talking in my
Sleep
She looked down again, and I watched
her instead of the fire. She was pretty
prettier that kad given her credit for
at first tho't too, she might be youn-
ger than thirty, as | surveyed her now
There was a delicate peach blossom
color on her check, an innocent, almost
girlish expression on her face. We'll,
check anQ expression were nothing to
me. got up and went disconsoIutcIy
to bed.
The next day my sister.in-law came to
see me. As usual she had plenty of sug-
gcstions to make to Mrs. Smith, which
that lady received in silence, but with
peculiar twinkle in her eyes. At length
Mrs Bishop followed me into the library.
" Well, Sandte," she remarked, seating
herself, since you do not follow my pre-
diction and marry your housekeepcr, !
suppose | may speak of her freely. ]
have thought from the first that she was
a very arttuI woman. have no doubt
when she came here she meant to marry
you. She is very attentive now. but of