Smyrna times., 1861-03-21
SELE.C STORY.
PRoCRAS TINATION.
81 LOST A WIFE BY IT."

NEw YEAR's Day returned home from a
SOsthern tour, and was sitting in my room in
the SSening, writing TO some of my friends,
when she Cousin of mine came in and laid a
small bundle on my table. II was a slice of
wedding cake, done up very neatly in gold
edged paper.
All, said |, what have we here!
Wedding cake, sad coz.
eddIng cake; a generous slice truly -
Who OF my friends have been SO foolish as TO
Commit matrimony! aud when did this melan.
eholy affair happen!
CHRISTMAS Eve. returned coz The card that
came with the cake will answer your first
question aad giving me an arch smile as she
pointed TO the card, left the room,
Indeed, my old chum married! said TO my
seli. as took up the card and read MIR and
Mrs. George Adams Ha, ha, la who'd have
IAought George would have committed such 40
act! Mr.. aud Mrs George Adams! Ha, ha 4!
really, ! should ike To see the fellow, Just to
ers hIni a bH. Bot vino is this lady! Il can't
be Miss -, nor Miss -; they were
no faV0rItes OF his. Let me think, continued l.,
ukihg out my pencil and putting on a piece of
paper the names of our female acquainIances
weat on with; There's Ellen Rice-caE't be
h@r; Jane Greeu-nor her; Mary WiIlis-nor
heF, until | had written down the names of
about twenty girls. with, ut satisfying myself
aai@ the right one. So, then, Adams 10 really
nsrried. said to myself. felt truly reioiced
that q was 50, and could not help thinking
hos comfortable it would be to drop in of an
evening with my lady for had serious no.
t'0ns then Of getting married-as you shall
aesr by-and-by-and having social times.
Planned out how We would spend our evenings
together In pleasant intercourse. 1 determined
that has lady and mine should be the best oil
trends; and Mrs. Adams as sister TO me, aud
my vile as a sister to him. 10 fact, such q
p'eture oil domestic happiness did draw up
50 oright and glowing with all that is delight
!e' ga the future seem in married state
that threw my paper one way, my pen ano.
iaer. jumped up, and prepated for visit tC
maria Bailey, to whom meant to offer myself
.Aat very night, and get married as soon as the
"N ana the minister would Aet., Having pu
oa clean dlckey-it was a cold night and
wM hurry sailed forth 10 meet my in
tended. Maria lived &C the nor h end of III,
e"Vn with her mother, a widow lady. Will,
% as way TO the house, I will make the read
sra little acquainted with Maria. and the rela
uon 10 @heh stood to her,. | will not prais
hsf eean'y--slthough as beautiful creatur
4 eye ever rested ou-peilher will | speak G
hs' amiao'e aisPesitions her accomplishment
II ate, ..
Maria and myself from childhood had know
saeh other, and were pretty intimate In on
\ friendship When / was % years Of ACE
concluded 70 take o. Trip through the South
and as had beea indisposed for some tin
back. with q loss Of appetite, no sleep, etc.,
inside this my excuse. travelled for m
Aesisbs When made this decIaratio the
sm aoshiag like lrsyellingfof healfh-ever,
eoay Recommended il. 50 started, with Ii
.,s' q being sbsens a year or more Era
'hng, must say, agreed with me completed
ms iirst Stopping place 4 made as hear
-.. as any, Of my fellow passengers :, al
eh tstopped Tor The night, I slept as SOU
T. fosct.a T3teiI the struth feirned &c
RS oaiy faf an excuse 20 gss away from hom
im real motivc Of my departure wss. my fee
Il ssgsiswsrd Maria began to change; Ialws
III na foolish leaglng 10 be near, her, and
Il axasaf feeling Of regret when she was a Wi
h "sn home whea called 10 spend soc
N evening"; snd there was a, peculiar sepsari
n oas my heart when saw her enga geds clos
III ssasersaiioa with any of my coln pauiol
~ whsn she bestowed apon them d smile. =
A segsn TO feel something more thaa frier
P1ewzrds hers i did not lea her kaow. /
as o my mind. but laughed and frolick
Nj "ah her the same as ever MY afrction
H.iat4ata ask EslilE1 ~ Nil II
tsttE Hsigea sbsfa Asa