The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-05-01

lit Ny short. thick curls, and bright
black eyes were attractive; and knew
that was vain puss then, petted, half
spoiled, only daughter. and heiress to
broad acres. You'll ask, for whom was
all these preparations? Certainly net for
lone me-
Who ever heard of girl of eighteen
working and puttering at such a rate
| when she does not expect beaus You
see knew, intuiiively, that Philip Dean
would come-you know PAilip7 There
had been little kindness growing up be.
tween US from mere babyhood. He had
carried my dinner basket night and morn>
ing. during all our school days. and al
ways insisted that I was much handsom-
er and better than a rival belle, sweet
Jenny Wheeler. Besides, he won all my
girlish gratitude, by slyly working out
for me the long hard sums in the old
arithmetic wonder he was uDdisputed
owner Of q large share Of my affections.
Since had donned large frocks, had
been almost invariably his companion to
all the singing schools, pic nies, sleigh
rides, and boating excursions. 1t was
his general rule to spend two evenings of
the week at our house; yet, with all this
attention, he had never spoken q word Of
love Somehow, had presentiment,
(you girls understand this) that decla>
ration would soon be made. / was not
mistaken 1t was not long ere ! heard a
step on the graveled walk that could be-
long to NO other but himself. Looking
backwards over the train of years. it
seemed strange what flutter there was
about my heart. Philips CHEEKY "good
morning" in no wise tended to allay my
perturbation. His hazel eyes had never
appeared 50 handsome aud impassiona,e
before; nor had he been half SO enter
taining--ohl l was SO proud of him
We sat near each other, so near that he
toyed with my hand 1t was way Phil
lip had, and I thought no. hing OF it
How charnaingy you are looking
Nelly he said, moving degree nearer
Now, l don's believe that person lives
who does not like little fattery. giren
in the right manner, time and place. ia
spite Of what wiseiing, say, or may have
s,id to tile contrary Oar sex is said to
be most pleased with it; and iu its no ne,
plead guilty to the weakness. Freely
do own that I.have liked it from my
pinafsres; ard, surely, under such eircnm-
s,ances, must have been agreeable. The
mplimentsry speech recorded above.
was followed by very awkward panse,
during which time we blushed to the rims
of-our ears,
Nelly" he continued, "you know
have no sister Sometimes l am very
lonely Mysdear and valued mother is
becoming aged, and my nature Graves q
younger and dearer companion"
Horrid Al that moment sn odor of
burning meat came most unpeasantly to
my olfactories. l begged to be excused,
and hsstened into the culinary quarters
TO 6nd the piece of beef l had so care
fully prepared almost spoilt. Nervously
/ caught holder from the shelf, and in
SO doing succeeded in knocking mothers
fsvorite cut glass pitcher, which fell with
loud crash, breaking iuto thousand
fragments. Philip must have heard It
| On, this meal getting, with lover in tht
parlor! With flushed brew ]. wenl
back to the old seat. Philip smiled pro
vokingly.
Nelly" ne then added, II want
wife. Home will lack nothing, then, t,
render it the dearest resting place thi
side of Heaven. know little girl VIII,
is as precious to me as life"
"Ohl" Just then disturbance il
Bridget's apartment obliged me again t,
leave. 1 had carelessly left open tn
door, and dame grunter had taken th
liberty to enter and taste Of the pudding
/ had set to cool.
II was in no enviable frame of mind tha
l hauled out the dining table and laid tn
dishes. As looked at the warm, heav
biscuits, unpalatable meat, and burnt pc
tatoes, my pride and self confidence van
lished. 1 should not have cared so much
had I not known what an excellent COO
and notable housekeeper Mrs. Dean was
Besides, In the matter of the palate, Phil
lip had been an epicure from his cradle
and everybody knows that men think NOR
of their stomaehs than of their sweet
hearts To add still more to my trspida
tion, Philip regarded me curiously when
invited him to dine. As he eyed tie Wand
before him, Thought he was going to So
grace, by the sudden slongation of hi
vissge. poured some muddy coffee, an
3 Notwithstanding my secret discontinue
took malicious pleasure in seeing biz
sip the beverage. He was an iLevitabl
coffee drinker, hut, somehow, his cup di
rot lower much.
What rare fun / should have had If
J had not been Dinah! We came to del
: sert at last. and when / handed him th
aaky crusted pie. a relieved expressio
, stole over his countenance, which on
] tasting changed to perceptible grimac
= What could all mt highest efferts1 Ala
t had forgotten to sweeten the applet
? Were veYations never IN oaasa3 Y