The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1861-02-16
THE
Life OF A SPINSTRR;
HOFEs AND FEARS.

No one was In the drawing.r room, but Ho-
fsr came down much more cheerful and lively
than she had been for years, and calling Owen
materially better. Honor was very happy,
and presently begged her to come and see
Owen. She obeyed with alacrity, and was
conducted to the study. No Randolf was
IS she wa, sfee,iug owen, who looked mucs
better and less oppressed, Honor made an ex.
tlamation, and from the window they saw the
toung man leaning over the sundial, partly
itudying its mysteries, partly playing With little
Owen, who hung on him as an old playmate.
"Ycs," said Owen, she has tgken pity on the
ooy-h, is,yery good to him-has served an
apprenticeship"
Mr. R,nioiph looked up saw Phoebe, gave
Mart Of recognition and pleasure, and sped to
wards the house.
"Ycs, Phpbe, do SEQ some likeness" said
Honor. as though Il good deal struck and
buchcd.
All the ridiculous and troublesome confusion
Vas so good as to 10 driven away in the con-
butment Of IIumfrey Rlndolpfs presence, and
lhc wondrvus magnetic conviction that hc was
SlualLv glad to lie with her. Sh. lost all rest
t.ssness, aud was quite rtady to amusc Owen
by a lively discussion AMI comparison Of the
Two weddns, but she 50 well knew that she
should Ike to stay too long, that sho cat her
lime rather over short, and would not stay to
luncheon. THIS was not like the evenings that
keyan with llilwltha and enlGl at Likrvillc,
. on Lake Ontario: but one pleasure was in
: torc for Phu,bc. While she was iniuy her
tnbrclla, an | putting on hor clogs, liumfrcy
Raw lolf ran down stairs TO her, aud said, II
Wanted to tell you something. My ssepmother
going to be married.
'You are gladl'
"yery glad. 1t IL to merchant whom sho
pet at Buir,lo, well off, and spcakin,; most
hin lly Of the little boys"
"That must be n great load of your mind.
"Iniced it is, though the Children mUst still
hicay look to mo. | should like 10 have little
Gcor,e at good school. However, now their
hnmc Gatc IN lntcnance is of my hands hayc
hrrs to sp'ud in educating myself | con- get
syeniag lessons how, when my days work is
Ner."
"oh! do not overstrain your head, said
ehGbc, thinking Of Bertha.
"Hcsds can bear good deal when they arc
bill ofkopc, he said smiling.
"Still after your out Of doors lif, Of bodily
Exercise, do you not find 1t hard to he always
hut up in London2"
"Perhaps tho novelty has not worn off,. 1t
vas II life had only begun since came iEto
"A new set Of faculties called into playi'
''Faculties--ye,, AMI everything else.
az must 20 now, or my sisters will be wait
ng for me, and l SEQ your dinner coming in.
Good bye"
MAY come to see your"
"Oyes, pray let mo show you our cottage
/'When may Gomez
f"Tomorrow, I suppose"
She felt, rather thnn saw him watching her
III tho way from the garden gate to the wood.
That little colloquy was tho sunshiny point in
ser day. Had tho tidinSs been communicated
n the full circle, it.would have Ieen as nothing
compared with their reservation for her private
,ar, with the marked 81 want to tell you."-
Then she camc home, looked at Maria thread
Lg holly berries, and her heart tainted within
keP. These wero moments when poor Maria
kould arise before her as hardship and an in-
fiction and then she became terrified, prayed
Ieainst such feelings as crime, and devoted her
kafto her sister with even moro than her won-
ked patient tenderness.
The certainty that the visit would take place
Kept her from all hutterings and 'elf debate,
md In due time "Mr. Randolf" arrived. An
xiously did Phoebe watch for his look at Maria,
br Bertha's look at him, and she was pleased
With both. His manner to Maria was full Of
scntleness, and Bcrtha's quick eyes detected
Iis intellect. IIc stood an excellent cxamina-
lion from her and Miss FennimOrc upon tho
worn channel Of Niagara, which had 80 often
been used as a knockdown = "rg,,ti gsni his bright
T.. rovera of description gave them, Us 'hey
\ .grcea, a better idea OF his woods 'h'h ""'
:rayels which they had read.
us vas able to render great servlceto m,s,
r,ha,lscote, MIR. Brooks's understanding hh.
snt cleared with time, and tho aecouh'. 'aa, =,
Al hern tangled in summer were ny me eht ~ ~
nu.,aar In Confusion worse cOnfoundei. ii'
meyeat IN NJ Ian, INIT his accounts had al
vas 'a'a; a'i',a;,oJ every month anl in his old
ways ucen .s;,hr otic would not carry him far
isc, MS III. r,;s,res,s long absence abroa'
nler, 80 ;n,od such a homeless chaos, that bu
sla GcoaS ,,'r services, his honesty miIht hav
in In question. Honora Put this idea ava.
vI,h n,,,v a. horror Not only did she love an
kith angry ho,,u hnt be was A legacy fror
rust the "lu ,''I", .hc yvoIAS hayo torn tho p',
Humrrey, ana sue ,Lar 49, tb,n rouse tho lea,
from her receipts rhiner hn 'SS Yst sIs % could n,
kasplclon asnS' o,y aav In Humfrcys FAR
N tear to ieaNo on:a and norIlcxcd herself
; <books, an1 sl,o '' Gnainr out what distrossC
Nain; tii oNrn, y, h;s avn inc,pacitv, b"gg,
her anu Ir ,n;s,ht helm her; when behold, q
that haiiuo'' M ono,nTs ARRANGED thCmsclvcS in col
eoniuseu;i Columns, AMI poor old Brooks W
p, prensl,'S 90 Sayn chealea himself so much mo
G,on b;s iady. as to bc entirely exonerated irC
tMn tmh,,, nny;,e-boaded Tho young MAJ
farmer NE qualified him to be highly nopaaii
ut tho Holt. llo was curious hoou. ~ :.
S,shs,ary, talked to the lahorers, ana tri
,Mass;s.o1i, r,th no ur prac;ised hand, even W
sne a Ill which honor's hatred of steam stu "
sn' ,hn winters employment IN the barn hsl
preciatcd the bullocks' srtiriIet WV ,o. ~,
au,eI ~ - No, Iees such an ono about the pl
s he's shn S,niro himself"
',o - ;o,or,oprse with Humfrcy
Inro. much more fragrncntary than
?ounse, ana therefore, perhaps the more d
Town, al. saw him on most Of the days OF
ss,n;,b,'s slou' STAY. either in the mutual call
.%. ,,n housc; in chance meetings in tho
lac or in walks to and from the hoiy aay
taee ., ~ 'ha church: and these afforded m
Nsnt vices ~ in which she was let into the d
momehl vi ,,at Lis first English Christ
or ieeiihBs 'n. not conventional Christ