Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-12-20
A CHARMING STORY.
Paul BrOwnell's Little sister.
[ Concluded ]
BY META VICTORIA VICTOR.

Concluded
| saw q carriage pause before the door;
a lady leaned out whom | recognized
Miss Theresa Tallmadge, and a white-glOved |
foo,man .sprang to the ground with cards |
in his hand. Presently he thundered al my
door; the cards were wedding cards of in
vitation Miss Tallmadge was to be married
t he following week, and she had remem-
bered me both Florence and l were hidden
to the festival. thought would accept, if
only for the privilege of making myself dis
contented and miserable. Doubtless ! should
see her there, by this time a wife. ] would
see her once more, happy with her husband,
and would come home, and take my re-
veDge upon fate by painting great pictures
. Mrs Chester kindly superintended the
toilet of my little companion, and at the ap-
pointed day and hour we arrived in o hired
carriage, at the stately residence of the
Tallmadges'. Even in the blaze of beauty
and splendor which surrounded us upon en-
tering | was proud Of my sister. l heard
many murmurs of admiration, saw many
eyes turned pleasantly TO her sweet face.
The little witch said afterward that she was
proud of me, that she was certain 1 was the
best-looking man in the company; but she
loved me, and that must be the excuse for
her weakness.
Presently l forgot every thing even
Florence. | was wondering where Marion
was, and when she would make her appear
ance. Then there was rustic and stir in
the courtly crowd-the bridalA party were
descending the stairs-they had entered the
room-I looked and saw Miss Tallmadge,
pale, superb, beautiful, and by her side the
man whom l had so unceremoniously given
to Marion-the bridegroom, looking more
triumphantly satisfied with himself and his
fortune than ever. Marion was first brides
maid, and a young gentleman whom l rec
ognized as Theresas brother was her as
sistant. There was a train of youthful at
tendants but for q few moments saw only
these. There was such a rushing of blood
through my veins that l heard nothing dis
tinctly until the ceremony was over, and the
friends pressed forward to congratulate the
happy couple. Last amid the groups came
Florence and l. The bride kissed the beau
tiful child so did Marion, and as she
raised her head, our eyes met. What emo
ton was it which sent that divine flush
surging up in rosy waves from bosom to
brow? My eyes must have asked the eager
question, for her own dropped.
If blind man should have the sense of
sight fully and suddenly developed in the
midst Of earh's enchanting beauty, he
would not experience more rapid joy than
did /. In the course of the brief festivity
which preceded the departure of the newly
married pair, Marion sought out Florence,
the most delicate hattery she could pay to
me.
81 knew your sister at Mrs. Chesters,"
she said to me. 81 believe she stole the
place in our teachers heart which l used to
occupy. This interested me in her-her
beautiful voice, too; and so, and so it was
that we CHANGED to hear about you"-and
again that fitting blush and glance.
OF course we called upon the bridal party
after its return. 1t was no presumption in
me to follow up an acquaintance so encour-
aged. False pride melted away before the
real appreciation and sympathy of most
delightful family, among whom Marion re-
mained guest all that auspicious winter.
That she should be rich and poor was
reason for the most maidenly encourage
ment which she gave me; it was sufficient
to induce me, in an hour of love and hope,
to put into language the dream which had
grown into reality.
have come to the conclusion that / am
more of a lover than an artist, after ALL 1t
was severe shock to my artistic vanity
when l visited the home of my sweet wife,
Marion, to find there in her fathers gal
lery, all those various works of mine which
had been so gratifed to find meeting with
such rapid appreciation and sale. "Miss
Smith had been only the assumed name by
which my modest patron had covered up
her good deeds her father and friends had
also assisted her in the good work.
"Dont think it was because | admired
your pictures so much, Paul" she said,
while little lurking smile flashed through
her tears with the most piquant effect; sit
was because Mrs. Chester told me of your
noble devotion to your little sister. 1t was
that which first interested me in you. in
duced my cousin TO make your acquaint-
ance, thinking it would do no harm for you
to receive o little Of the praise and encour
agement which you deserved. Your love
for your sister gave us all confidence in your
goodness. Though won't say that sisters,
or pictures, or any thing else, had influence
after l had once met and spoken to yon il
was pure affinity, then, Paul; we loved
each other because we were born toj oul
marriage was made in heavenP"
Yes, it was indeed made in heaven
"But we shall love little Florence none
the less for her part in the natter" added
Marion, as the child came huttering into
our presence, gay as the birds of morning
brother"
"YOu know. little one, you didn't want me
to marry wife2 said to her.
"Ah, but if had known it was she YOU
were thinking Of that evening y answered
our darling. And by the happy smile on
her face, it was plain that she also was
contented with the arrangement Gode,' !
LaGy's Book, January, 1852. -.