The new era., 1860-05-03


this circumstance happy Presage oI
my own fate, and made arrangements
to make immediate possession.
| My nerves and mind gradually be-
came Comparatively restored in this
tquite retreat. There was only one
child in the whole household, and the
mother of that was 50 careful OF its
fhealth that it not often left her room.
This was blessing. Nothing puts me
out ofpatience more than the crying and
screaming of children. The boarders
were mostly young single sntleman-
clerks, two or three lawyers, one editor,
and two rival doctors, who sat opposite
at table, but never spoke to each 9TH
er.
! Our landady was a slim tall, pale
woman, apparently about thirty-fye,
very gentle and digniied IN her man
ners, and as found, very much respec-
ted and esteemed by all her boarders.
She had been widow thirteen years,
after having been wife but six months.
When | heard this. my heart pitied her,
and ] endeavored on more than one oc-
casion to draw her into conversation !.
that might allude to that subject, and
express my coincidence for her
She would converse in her calm, pleas
ant manner, but if alluded, however,
meantly. to her past bereavement, she
would look at me SO sternly, for her,
that would have to stop short in my
sentence
The editor professed for me consider
able friendship-so mich so-:hat l
used to invite him into my room Of Sun
day nights on which occasions, l com
municated to him by degrees, my whole
past eventful history, in which he brofes-
sed to feel much interest, and for my
self he expressed much sympathy. At
first he merely hintcd, then plainly ad-
vised me to pay my addresses to Mrs.
Miner.
"Here is the reason of your repeated
failures" ne would say to me. "You
have given young. inconsiderate, foolish
girls, opportunities to amuse themselves
at your expense. At your age of life
you should seek to unite with yourself
some lady more sedate, Of more exper-
ience and consideration. So estimable
a lady rs Mrs. Miner would make you
a pattern of a wife AS your friend |
advise you to do this, d will also
speak good word for yon to her. She
is already much prepossessed in your
favor, as | have learned from her own
lips"
Ineeded not mony persuasions like
these from my friend to encourage me
to prosecute my attentions to Mrs. Mil
ner. She was so quite, so selfpossessed,
always so serious and distant that |
scarcely knew how to act. See was So
kind, however, and so polite, that
doubted not the truth of my frend's
statements Of her regard for me, with
which he favored me from time to time
Following his directions one evening
at tea, asked her if | could see her a
few moments alone. She hesitated fol
a moment, saying she should be engaged
till after eight o'cloch-but would see
me after that time if | desired it.
: had no douut, in my own mind, bu,
that the editor, Mr.. Fleet, had informed
her of the object OF my desire private
terview, and as her answer was sc
cheerfully given, notwithstanding hel
prior engagement, and so unisant with
her generally interesting manner, thai
| waited the coming of the hour with
commendable composure, | ought tc
have called to my mind my former de-
feats-and experienced some perturba.
tions and misciviugs Of heart-but alas
blind, obstinate confidence has eve
been my besetting stumbling-block
/ toek my station in the little parIor
on one end of the sofa, which | wheeled
up before the CRATE, the Goals in which
stirred into brightness, and then sat
waiting for her footsteps, coming ovel
IN my mind my love-speech something
near to the SEVENTEEN and seven, in or
der OF number. determined not tt
appear excited. however much nv knee.
; might shake, and my heart flurriedl,
beat. would strive to initiate her ow,
impurturable calmness.
At last, soon after the clock toll,
, Eeight, the outer hall door opened foots