Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-04-17
How 4 Lost My Lover.
BY NELL rIrrsISGER.


as they started off on visit to some relatives re-
siding eastward, beyond the White Mountains.
They were to remain absent about fortnight,
and was to be commander-n-c chief of rows of
shining milk pans, pots, kettles and household
affairs in general and in particular.
Farmers wives know that this is post OF con-
siderable importance, one of hard duty and con-
slant watchfulness. | was so thoroughly con.
yinced of my competency as a housewife, that
was sorey irrtated when my good mother i'm
Piled doubts of it, by her countless and repeated
charges.
Now, thought, 81 am in my glory" as l sat
down to recover the breath and patience had
lost in racing after collars gloves, pins and neck
ties; and in order to prepare for commencing
operations, which resolved should astonish my
unbelieving parents, and show them what a treas
ure of daughter they unwittingly possessed,
glanced around. The rooms were in woeful con-
fusion. Band boxes, coats, pants, and cast off
shirts, were scattered over the floor and chairs;
eobwebs hung from the ceiling and windows; on
the table lay huge pile of unwashed dishes; and
the half opened doors revealed tumbled beds and
mussy toilet stands. This accumulation of dis
order would have driven Lord Chesterfield dis
tracted; and no wonder that the mirror opposite
reflected a heated and impatient face. / was no
longer to be daunted, however, for / had a notion
to try what a pair of spry feet and hands could
accomplish At that instant the old clock in the
sitting room pealed forth one, two, three, four,
five; the morning MAS yet young, and l arose
with quick step and a light heart. Broom, brush,
dshcloths and persevering labor, got the mastery;
and shortly surveyed with proud satisfaction
the beautiful order had brought about Some
thing still was wanting, and snatching my broad
brimmed hat from its accustomed nail, with eager
footsteps sought my flower garden. Selecting
choice roses, pansies and verbenas, / transferred
them to our cosy parlor, very angels of fragrance
and beauty.
Through the tender care of the novelist, he
roine retains the immaculate whiteness of her
robes even though she should wade through a
mud puddle. He knows it would never do to in
troduce her washing, with bedraggled and be-
spattered skirts; it would sound unromantic Well
| was once simple enough to believe all his ibs,
and inclined to initiate his lady Angelas in dress:
50 / donned my daintiest white muslin. While
stood before the glass, could not help feeling a
good deal of natural feminine vanity, for. | was
looking my very best. True my figure was
rather too short, and its proportion was OF too
healthy funess for elegance; and, according to
he American type of beauty my cheek was of too
rich color; but / was pretty-there was no
gainsayngit My short thick curls, and bright
black eyes were attractive; and l knew that
was vain puss then, petted, half-spoiled 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 putttering at such rate when she does not
expect beau? You see knew, intuitively that
Philip Dean would come-you know Philipi
There had been little kindness growing up be-
tween us from mere babyhood. He had carried
my dinner basket night and morning, during all
our school DAYS, and always insisted that | was
much handsomer and better than a rival belle
sweet Jenny Wheeler. Besides, he won my girl
ish gratitude by silly working out for me the long
hard sums in the old arithmetic-no wonder he
was undisputed owner of large share of my af
fections
Since had donned large frocks, / had been al
most invariably his companion to all the singing
schools, pic nics sleigh rides, and boating excur
sions. II was his general rule to spend two even
ings of the week at our house; yet, with all thi
attention, he had. never spoken word of love
Somehow, had a presentiment (you girls under
stand this) that declaration would soon be made
was not mistaken. 1t not long ere hear
a step on the gravel walk that could belong to M
other but himself Looking backward over tn
train of years, it seemed strange what fiutter
hutter, there was about my heart. Philips cheer,
"good morning" in no wise tended to allay m
perturbation. His hazel eyes had never appeare'
SO handsome and impassonate before; nor had h
been half so entertaining-obl was 90 proud o
him. We sa. near each other; so near that h
toyed with my hand. 1t was a way Philip had
and / thought nothing of l.
"How charmingly you are looking, Nelly,
| he said, moving a degree nearer.
Now, / don't believe that person lives VIII
does not like little fattery, given in the righ
| manner, time and place, in spite of what wise
| lings saw or may have said, to the contrary. Gu
sex is said TO be most pleased with it and in it
name, plead guilty to the weakness. Freely d
I own have liked it from my pinafores and
| surely, under such circumstances, it must hav
been agreeable. The complimentary speech re
corded above, was followed by a very awkwar
| pause, during which time we blushed to the rir,
Of our ears
Nelly" he continued, 90 you know have n
| sister Sometimes am very lonely. NV dea
and valued mother is becoming aged, and m
nature Graves younger and dearer companion
Horridl At that moment an odor of burnin
meat came most uDpleasantly to my olfactorie:
| begged to be excused, and fastened into tn
culinary quarters to to find the piece of beef
| had so carefully prepared, almost spoilt. Nei
vously, i caught a holder from the shelf, end !
| SO doing succeeded in knocking mothers favor
ite cut glass pitcher which fell with loud crasl
breaking into thousand fragments. Phil
must have heard it. Oh, this meal-gettinf
with a lover in the parlor With flushed bro
went back to the old seat. Philip smiled prc
vokingly.
Nelly" he then added, "I want wifi
Home will lack nothing, then, to render il tn
dearest resting place this side of Heaven.
know little girl who is precious to me
life" nhe
"Oh - Just then disturbance in Bridget
apartment obliged me again to leave. I ha
carelessly left open the door. and dame grunt
. had taken the liberty to enter and taste of Il
pudding had set to cool.
1t was in no enviable frame of mind that
hauled out the dining table, and laid the dishe
As looked at the warm, heavy buiscuits, unpa
/ atabe meat, and burnt potatoes, my pride al
sef-confidence vanished. should not have car
, SO much, had not known what an excellent coo
and notable house keeper Mrs. Dean was.
sides, in the matter of the palate, Philip had be
an epcure from his cradle, and everybody kno'
n that men think more Of their stomachs than
4 their sweethearts. To add still more to my tire
r idation, Philip regarded me curiously when
yited him to dine. As he eyed the viands beic
= him, thought he was going to say grace, by {
r sudden elongation of his visage. poured sol
a muddy coffee, and. notwithstanding my sec
discontinue, took malicious pleasure in seei
him sip the beverage. He was an inevitable c.
fee dIipker, but, somehow, his cup did not low
much.
Is What fun should have had, if l had
!! been Dinahl We came to dessert at last, a
when handed him the flaky crusted pie. a
Is Iieved expression stole over his countenan
. which one tasting changed to perceptibe gri
u ace. What could all my highest efforts? AL
= had forgotten to sweeten the applet
o Were yexations never to ceIsef BY chance
Dr caught glimpse of a reflection in the glass. v
n it mine? / glanced downward. Shade of Ha
Of My faith in spotless- -robed herones gone
ry once. | was a tricolored exhibition of red, WI
I'd and black. Troubles heaped themselves
strangely. wanted to throw myself on the C
Mt pet, and cry like very child i did nothing
ne the kind Instead, burst into laugh, as
id whole scene came before me in its ridicul,
ne light l laughed till the tears rolled down
re cheeks; and, as Philip became more disgust
ed my merriment increased. / laughed when
5. went away, though knew he would never fin
el the offer so unluckily began.
Three weeks later he was united to Jer
o. Wheeler. Soon after, / attended a party
rs widow Deans, and had the happiness in oy
hearing Philips Indifferent remark to Fred
a kind of explanatory apology for the hirtat
,u between us: "a dear little girl, but p
of cook"
g I'm time my parents returned; and | o
too glad to put off a responsibility of which
n L IN. Il