Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-04-04

"Oh, I'll be sure to remember" said she
smilingly, and half wondering q: that unusual
pressure he gave her hand. Ladies often do
provide their bachelor friends so !"
Mark went home, the hapPiest individual
that ever trod a new York pavement. Indeed,
so great was his felicity that he INDUCED in
various gymnastic cspers indicative of bliss,
and only paused in them at the gTuff caution
Of policeman, who probably had forgotten
his own courting days-"Com0, young man,
what are you abOuti"
"Was there ever q more delicate way Of as
suring me Of her favorable consideration -
Was there ever a more feminine admission Of
her sentiment OF course she will come her.
self-an angel, breathing airs from Paradise
and shall tell her of my love. A house wife
oh the delicious words Wonder what
neighborhood she would like me to engage q
residence-how soon it would be best to name
the day! Oh if l should awake, and find it
ell a blissful dream "
Early the next morning Mr. ThOrnbrooke
set brisklY to work, "righting up things."-
How he swept and busted and scoured-@-the
room was aired to get rid of the tobacco smoke,
and sprinkled with cologne; and beautified
generally. And at length, when the dust was
all swept into one corner, and covered by a
careleesslp () disposed newspaper, he found
the window glass murky, and polished it with
such vengeance that his fist, handkerchief and
all, went through, sorely damaging the hand,
and necessitating the ungraceful accessory of
an old hat to keep out the wintry blast for the
time being. However, even this mishap didn't
long damp his spirits, for was not Lily coming
Loug and wearily he waited, yet no tinke at
the bell gave warning of her approach. "Tt's
all her sweet feminine mOdesty," thought he,
and was content
At length there was an appeal below, and
Marks heart jumped up into his mouth, beating
like reveille drum. He rushed TO the door,
but there was no one but little grinniDg black
boy, with box.
miss RaymOnd's compliments, and here's de
housewife, sir.
The housewife, you little imp of Erebus."
"fes, sir, in the box, all right"
Mark skunk back into his room and opened
the box, half expecting to see a full dressed
young lady issue from it, ala Arabian Nights;
but not was only a little blue velvet book,
and full Of odd compartments in azure silk,
containing tape, needles, scissors, silk, thimble
and all the Moe little work table accessori,s -
"And Sh9 calls this a housewifel" groaned
Mark, in ineffable bitterness of spirit at the
downfall of his bright visions "But / won't
be put of So"
Desperation gave him courage, and off he
hied to the Raymond mansion, determined to
settle the matter if there we're forty Joneses and
Esthers there.
But Lillian was alone, singing at her embroid-
cry in the sunshiny window easement.
"Dear me, Mr.. Thornebrooke, is anything
the matter?"
Perhaps it was the shadow from splendid
crimson cactus plumes in the window that gave
hey cheek such delicate glOw-peIhaPs-bu
we have no right to speculate.
"Yes." And Mark sat down by her side, and
took the trembling futtering h'nd you sent
me housewife this morningl"
Wasn't it right" faltered Lillian,
"Itwasn't the kind wanted at all!'
"Not the kind you wanted"
HNO; prefer living one, end l came to sea
if could change it. I want one with brown
hair and eyes-sOmething, in short, Miss Lillian
Just your pattern. Can't b We it,"
Lily turned white, and then red; smiled, then
burst into tears, and tried TO draw away her
hand. but Marx hold Il fast
"NO, no, dear Lily; first tell me l can have
the treasure ask for"
"Yes," she said with the prettiest confusion
in the world; and then, instead ofreleasipg the
captive hand, the unreasonable fellow took pos
session Of the other, too. But ss Lily did not
object, we suppose it was all right
And that was the odd path by which Mark
Ihornbrooke diverged from the walk of old
OachelorhoOd, and stepped into the respectable
ranks of matrimony