Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-03-29
Miscellaneous.
STORY OF AWOMs ,wEbtpREn


orhap ..,tct With coguettIsh velvet rusette
D" s6w bespattered and bespangled with
e,-sel clay, and with slight rent on the left
quarter as though the foot it onee encased
had torn Itself away by violence, ami left the
little thing to perish. Tt was a mute appeal
10 my chiyalrv, and with Quixotic valor
..6shed it cut Of the obstinate mire, with
the ivory eagle beak that tips nv walking
stick, END Proceeded to wipe away the dis
fgurir5 marks of its dishonor with my un-
'resd morning paper.
| suppose had passed this old mill score
CT times during the past three weeks, and
yet had never given it more than a careless
glance until this very serene and sultry
August morning, when the cool even sounds
of dropping water invited closer investiga-
tion of its peculiar beauties. The great
mill-wheel was tulted with yellow moss it
rat up and down the rough boards it peered
rom between crevices it overhung the roof
It twined itself around the stump of an aged
elm, plAyfally determined to get the upper
hand of everything unsightly, and to cover
the traces of decay with its ten Ter fingers.
There was also an abundance of dropping
yellow blossoms, lady's ear-drop5 the chill
dren call then, and long line of stately
cardinal flowers, magnificent in their robes
OF bright crimson. | am neither artist nor
poet, and yet experienced very agreeable
sensation Of inward satisfaction as | surveyed
the dropping water, the huge mill-wheel,
She cfnging moss, the gay flowers, and the
slipper in my hand. | am somewhat given
TO dreaming, in moments of idleness, and so,
as turned the latter article over and over it
Brought forth from some inner shrine Of my
heart certain ideal woman, Of whom | had
been long enamored, aud slipped it on her
foot. 1t fitted to I. Ny lady-tde ideal
vas small creature, a Titania in fact,
crowned with sunny hair that rippled and
foated over her dimpled cheeks and fair
shoulders she had the softest OF blue ewes,
the dewiest of lips, the loveliest of hands
and pictured her standing beside the old
mill wheel, her hat hanging by its azure
strings, her hair in beautiful confusion, her
hands full of blossoms (i0r of course the
cardinal flowers had lured her hither,) her
cheeks fushed-not bloWzed-her lips pout-
ing with vexation as the mad-em bedded
slipper refused to return to It's allegiance
and SO vivid was my fancy was on the point
of leaping across the stream to her rescue,
when a Shiny, shining, villainous snake
wriggled out from the tall grass close to my
feet and restored my scattered senses. | put
an untirlely end to his existence, tucked the
slipper into the breast pocket of my coat,
and gathering bunch of cardinal flowers,
made my way back to my lodging at the
village inn.
Hitherto my observations at the table had
been confined to my Immediate neighbors. |
knew that the man on my right was yell
l. H. L ,,,I
ate stale bread my r,s-G-ris was fussy,
feshy woman, with an immense quantity OF
snowy jewelry, while the neiGhbor on my
left was an elderly young lady in false curls
and gold bowed spectacles. Further than
these my eyes had not wandered, but now |
had an object. Perhaps my "Cinderella'
was dwelling under the same roof, partaking
of the same fare and at the same table with
me and had not beheld her | walked
homeward in a contemplatIye yet exalted
frame of mind, assembled to my room on the
second floor, deposited my boquet in the yel-
low and green earthen mug that ornamented
the wash stand, and was proceeding to ex-
anime my person in the seven by nine lnch
docking glass, when there fell a hasty rap on
the door, followed by the intrusion ol a
black lace cap. trimmed with snuff colored
-ibbens, which ! recognized as the property
Of my landlords good wife. She was in a
huff Of excitement, and burst forth with,
There! | anu glad to see you, Doctor. "
She was always particular to call me Doctor
"Come right along to No. 3, and see to that
poor Miss What's her name. Don't stop to
pink, for she'll never know whether you
are black or gray,-She's in such pain.
"Cholera morbus? | suggested
Lord no, child-ankle - with disagreed
be emphasis on the "OhIld.
followed Mrs. Keyes across the entry, and
was met on the threshold of No. ) by Miss
What's-her-name's maternal relative IN
tears. She had put her daughter to bed,
drawn down the scant curtains OF sixpenny
match. and filed the room with spirits OF
camphor and hartshorn. "Georgianne is
always in trouble" she sighed, she is SC
daring and now she has spralned her-her
do look at it, Doctor.
In moment the delicate ankle was shrinking
and trembling in my hand, sadly intamed
and rapidly swelling. | dispatched MIS-
Keyes for wormwood and vinegar, and ven
tured glance at the pillow ; but there was
visible only veil Of long, rich, black hair
escaped from fillet and comb, and running
vide over Miss Georgianne's face and the rec
and green bed-spread. | confess to the secre
hone that this lady might not prove TN
" Cinderella - for the midnight halr coult
belong to none other than brunette, VIII
wide-onen. mischieyous, tormentlng, olaci
eyes. and pumberless coquettish airs ant
graces-the exact opposite to my delicl0n
Hebe. Nevertheless, | had the curlolty t
examine the hotel book when at liberty, an'
and there learned that No. was occupie
by Mrs. Ward Efingham and dau .htcr, q
Albany
That evening. according to my established
habit, lounged out upon the balcony IN m
dressing gown, to enjoy cigar and the star
light, and dream of the possibilities arising
from the bit of a slipper that lay helpless Il
nv pocket. am ready 10 affirm that tn
thought of open windows or the vicinity
No. 5 did not occur to my mind until Mrs
Efhngham's voice smote upon my innoeer
ear.
"Psha that disgusting cigar George
love, does it make you faint
q" Not in the least, mamma IKE 1t.
"It must be that young Stebbins. 1
worried to death lest he shouldn pursue tn
proper treatment with your ankle. don
believe he ever had patient before"
% lie was gentle enough" in sleepy tof
from Miss Georgianne.
' Hum don't like his brusque manner
evidently unused 10 society; came IN tn
morning in linen blouse and no neckerchle
and his hair all over his ears.
"Then shall just like him, mamma
never could endure your prlrs men. To-mo
row shall look at him-but am going
sleep now Ard as she drowsed of | retire
to my room to muse on the shock my vani
had received.
Georgianne Efingham was beautif
young woman; but having admitted tina;
am neither artist nor poet, no one VIII an
cipate minute description oil her charms
]. .suficieut to say, that at the hrst glance
had of her face. | struck my cJlors biz
eyed Hebe vanished. and graceful. iivir
breathing Diana hoated into her niche.
Mrs. bingham would, hencesertn, h'
made q capital chairman Of Vigilance 20
Mite. She was bland as June mornir
uuruffied as pond by moonlight, soft q
zephyr. but neither motion, glance nor WI
per escaped her twinkilns green eyes:
becin with, she wasn't half pleased W
Dick Stebbins, ride colloquy with Georgian
above mentioned but when she found