The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1861-04-27

ever. for / had a notion to try What pair
OF spry hands and feet could accomplish.
At that instant, the clock il the sitting
room peaied forth one, two. three. four, FIVE;
the morning was yet young. and arose
with quick step and light heart. Broom,
brush, dishcloihs and fersevefiug labor got
the mastery. and shortly surveyed with
proud satisfaction the beautiful order had
brought about: Something stilI was want
ing. and, snatching my broad brimmed hat
from its accustomed nail. with eager steps
l sought my flower -garden. Selecting
choice roses. pansies and vefbenas, trans
ferred them to our cosy parlor. very angels
of fragrance and beauty. Nor was this all.
determined 10 get dinAef that would
shed honor upon me so, barring my arms,
| was soon deep in Aunt Din - mysteries.
thought busy. and, as the sequel viii prove,
thoughtwandering.
Through the tender care of the novelist,
heroine retains the immaculate Wilderness
of her robes, even though she should wade
through mud puddle He knows it would
never do to introduce her washing. with
bedraggled and despatched skirts it would
sound unromantic. Well. was once sim
pie enough to believe his fbs. and inclined
to initiate his lady Ange'as in dress ; so |
donned my daintest white muslin. While
stood before the glass, could not help
feeling a good deal of natural. feminine
vanity. for I was looking my very best
True. nv figure was rather short. and its
proportion was of too healthy fullness for
elegance; and, according to the American
type of beauty, my cheek was, oe too rich
color but was pretty-there was no gain
saying it. Nv short. thick curls and black
eyes were attractive. and l knew that l was
vain puss then. petted, half-spoilt only
daughter, and heiress to broad acres. You'll
ask. For whom were all these preparations :?
Certainly not for lone me.
Who ever heard of girl of eighteen
working and puttering at such rate. when
she did not expect beau? You see | knew
intuitiveIy that Philip Dean would come
you know Philip? There had been little
kindness growing up between US two, from
mere babyhood. He had carried my dinner
basket night and morning, during all our
school days, and always said I was much
handsomer and better than a rival belle.
sweet Jenny Wheeler. Besides, he won
my girlish gratitude. by silly working out
for me the long. hard sums in the old arith-
meiic-no wonder he was undisputed owner
of large share of my affections.
| Since I had donned large frocks, had
been almost invariably his companion to
all The singing schools. picnics, sleigh rides,
and boating excursions. 1t was his general
rule to spend two evenings Of the week at
our house; yet. with ali this attention. he had
never spoken a wood of love. Somehow,
had presentiment (you girls understand
this) that a declaration would soon be made.
l was not mistaken.
1t was not long ere heard step on the
graveled walk, that could belong to no other
but himself. Looking backward over the
train of years. it seemed stran &c what f1ut-
ter. futter, there was about my heart.
Philips CHEEKY Good morning" in no wise
tended to allay my perturbation. His hazel
eyes had never appeared so handsome and
impassionate before, nor had he been hall
so entertaining I was proud of him.
We sat near each other-so near that he
toved with my hand. 1t was way Philip
had. and l thought nothing of it.
How charmingly you are looking. Mel
ly," he said, moving degree nearer.
Now, I don't believe that person lives
who does not like a little flattery, given in
the right manner, time and place. in spite
of what wiseiipgs say, or may say to the
contrary. Our sex is said to be most pleased
with it; and in its name. plead guilty to
the weakness. Freely do l own that | have
liked il from my pinafores and surely, I'M
der such circumstances, it must have been
agreeable The complimentary speech, re-
corded above. was followed by very awk-
ward pause. during which time we blushed
to the rims of our ears.
"Nelly." he then added, ''you know I
have no sister. Sometimes am very lone
ly. My dear and valued mother is becom-
ing aged. and my nature Graves younger
and dearer companion"-
Horrid At that moment an odor OF
burning meat came most unpleasantly to my
olfactories. begged to be excused. and
FASTENED into culinary quarters. to find the
piece of beef l had so carefully prepared al
most spoilt.
Nervously I caught holder from the
shelf, and in so doing succeeded in knock
ing mas favorite cut-glass pitcher, which
fell with loud crash, breaking into thou
sand pieces. Philip must have heard it.
Oh. this meal getting, with LIVER in the
parlor With flushed brow went back
to the old seat. Philip smiled provokingly.
Nelly he then added. II want wife.
Home viii lack nothing. then. to render it
the dearest resting place this side of heaven.
KNOW IIItbS SIEi HuO Is as previous W INC
as life.''
"Ohr' Just then, disturbance in
Bridget's appearance caused me to leave. !
had carelesely left open the door. and dame
grunter had taken the liberty to enter and
taste OF the pudding had Get to cool.
1t was in no enviable frare of mind that
l hauled out the dining table. and laid the
dishes. AS looked at the warm, heavy
biscuits. unpalatable meat and burnt pot4-
toes, my pride and self confidence vanished.
should not have cared SO much, had not
known what an excellent cook and notable
housekeeper Mrs. Dean was. Besides, in
the matter of the palate, Philip had been an
epicure from his cradle-and every body
knows that men think more of their stom-
achs than of their sweeLhearts.
To add still more to my trepidation.
Philip eyed me curiously when I invited
him to dine. AS he eyed the viands before
him. thought he was going to say grace.
by the sudden eIongation of his visage. /
poured some muddy coffee. and, notwitb-
standing my secret discontinue, took
malicious pleasure in seeing him sip the
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