The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-06-08

ceiying q sudden disgust for hotels and
boarding houses, took handsome house
In respectable part Of tho town, and began
looking for q housekeepcr. Tho advertise
ment which heads this narrative had Just met
my eye as glanced over the "wan6" In
the evening paper. It pleased mo. In fact,
| / suppose Destiny had decrccd that ! should
be pleased with L.
Twas reading Il for tho twentieth time,
when servant knocked at my parlor door,
and announced my sistcr-in.law, Mrs. Eliza
Bishop, and her daughter Eliza. Mfs. Bish.
op was the widow Of my eldest brother, and
her attention to, and care for my comfort
were really touching.
She followed her name into the room, lead
ing her daughter-the eldest, and best bc-
haycd of the three. She was handsome
woman, of the commanding, imperial order,
and she looked her best that winter after
noon, In her rich fus and vclyets, her cheeks
crimson with tho effects Of tho keen, frosty
mir, and the exercise she had been taking.
Il am glad to sec you, said, as handed
her chair. There are some things you wo-
men know more about than IN old bachelor
like me, and want to consult you. l have
concluded to 20 to housekeeping
ELIAS face frightened into an expression
even more bcaming than the one she had pre-
yiously bestowed on mo. Il never occurred
to me Chat sho could DO thinking of my fu.
turc home rs convenient residence for her
self and three. She answered warmly
AN excellent idea, brother Sandic, If you
arc prepared for oil the trouble and expense
Il involves. The expense, 10 be sure, Is not
much OF consideration to you. You have
been 30 successful that you would not require
so close an economy. in your house Us ! used
to practice in poor Roberts time. He al.
ways said made one dollar do tho work Of
three. But there will be o great deal Of
trouble. In the first place, you'll have to
find housekecper.'
The very thing wanted to speak to you
about
Her smile was positively brilliant.
slow kind, Sandie.'
Not kind ut all, troubling you about my
Affairs
For shame as II you ever had reason to
think that anything l could do for you would
10 trouble
A very Just remark, considering that her
voluntary service amounted, beside frequent
visits, to pair of slippers, with pink-cyed
pusy-cat on each toe, and smoking cap
with the device Of o grccn-eycd poo lilo couch
ant.
I hastcncd TO place before her tho paper
In which had marked tho advertisement
which heads this article.
There, Eliza, there Il what have been
thinking about. Somehow fancy should
like Slrs. NJ. L. Smith-Mary, imagine her
name is am going to write to box lOOi.'
But aren't you acting on impulse San
die3'
.Perhaps SOL always do-and somehow,
nv ventures have bocn tolerably fortunate.
Yes, but this'is such 40 important thing.
OF course you know'-and she laughed rath-
or uncasily-'that you will bo sure to marry
the lady,
Marry! believe every woman has In her
character the elements ofan Eve. Hero was
an apple should never have seen but for my
sister-in.law. Il was my turn TO laugh.
sWhy, no, Eliza. That Is an objection !
have never thought Of. / don't imagine 1t
would prove to be ono with me, though. !
am not q marrying man. Besides sho is no
doubt widow with children, and
l stopped, for l remembered my sisters
bereavement and membranes. Her face
turned crimson.
All men do not think II impossible TO
marry widow with children, and you may
not when Mrs. Smith has kept house for you
six months; though, to bc sure, ] don't
think some women would ever make up their
minds to marry again.
supposed 'some women referred to her
self, and was glad Of this hint rs to her
sentiments, for poor Robert had left his fam
iy very comfortable, and did not want to
500 his children subject to the untendcr mer-
cies OF second papa. Aiter few more
cautions from Mrs. Bishop, and few strong
expressions of admiration for various articles
of feminine adornment from little Eliza,
which extracted from the pocket of her good
naturcd uncle the customary amount OF hush
money, my visitors departed, and wrote my
letter to box 1904. In II | stated my resi-
dcncc, the salary was willing to pay, and
tho number of my household. ! gave her
my name, and tho names ola few Of my
friends who would be ready to afford her
whatever information she required rs TO my
means and character. added postscript
to say that particularly objected to child
rem, and would male II q point with my
housckeeper to leave hers behind her. lfshe
liked the terms and the stipulations, re-
questcd her to call ut my counting room the
ensuing morning.
II would bc Idle for mo to say that at-
tended very closely to business tho next fore
noon. The housekeeping fever. the homo
longing, had taken full possession Of me. !
must confess, besides, TO no small amount OF
curiosity as to the personal appearance OF III.
l.. Smith. Iwanted IN agreeable housckecP-
or. Not too young-that wouldn't look
well-no toothless, wrinkled cronc to sit OPP
posi.c mc ut my board, but pleasant cheer
iul woman, young enough to make my homo
lively.
II was abodt eleven o clock when my young
man waited upon tho lady In. My previous
favorable Impressions wcrc fully confirmed
Inv her appearance. I did not think her
handsome, certainly in tho style Of sister-in-
law. Shc was small woman, light-footed,
and slender, with q sunny, pleasant face,
which might have testified 10 thirty-iive sum.
mcrs, but no winters, surely or, if she had
met storm or chill, she had borne them with
such brave patience, that her face reflected
only tho sunshine. Her brown hair was put
simply and smoothly away from her Tranquil
face. Her eyes were frank and checrful.-.|
Her mouth not small, but winning and rnil.
ing. When she spoke, her low. pleasant
tones endorsed tho expression OF her coun'
tcnancc.
Mr.. Bishop, I believe tho gentleman
who wrote this letter 7
And she drew my episilc from hcr pock.
ct.
The samc, madam
Il camc, sir, to say that would accept
your propositions; ifyou still wish II, now
that wc have met
was about to say that ! wished Il moro
than ever, since I had seen her, but fortu.
nately rccollccted In time, that compliments
to my housekccpcr ~ere no proper part Of
tho programme, and very dccorously couclu-
dcd my engagement In o mattcr-of.fact and