Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-11-28

3 The afternoon wore slowlysway, and Mrs.
jenkins led her guests out. 70 the supper ta.
ble, whose beautifully spread board seemed
TO have a benign effect upon those for whom
1t was provided. 9di nI u t77aI ltp { Wi'F
And1as they seated themselves around il,
aud slipped the fragrant nectar,4 ,4ulgarly call.
ed tea, their hearts began ID expand under
its genial influences. aud they al commenced
with one accord, 10 praise tke likht aud crisp
biscuits, the spicy loaf,cako,f che delicious
icustards and preserves, &c. fkc, which d,ey
severaly declared were the }best that they
had ever tasted. All llof - were made
by the small, white hands 0fttheira hostess,
who was d notable Iitth holsekeepef and
though she kepcone servant, ltnerally spent
part Of each inoruing 10 tf,elE Eifcherf. i'1f
1.-The prs6ty wid0pb bOss 4 3,lnnehsJ very
meekly; I though she did hol, M accordance
with time honofed icustonsa declare, sthat
there rewasnothiBg on the table fit to eat, and
that she was realty afraid that none Of them
would be abie 10 make out supper 'na4 -i
sniBut the supper, like all isubiuuary Joys,
'oame toIaDfeud ut last ahdlthe whole party
adjourned to tho parlor. aQAs soon as they
bad seated themselves, deep silence reigned.
for they perceived by the widow louk and
manner that she We about TO speak. E9fi
I This time Mrs. ,Jenkensi did not disar-
point them. Ladies'" si,e said, in a tone
that instantly secured their attention, Il
have understood that you are all very anx.
ious to know why haveu't married DR..
Wells. Have been correctly informed ?"
.a'sYes, my dear Mrs. Jenkens, said Miss
Dorothy Wormwood, who being President
Of the "society," and accustomed to speak
ing in public" volunteered to become
spokeswoman for the rest, fyou are. Not
from motives of curiosity, oh no we are
above such feelings, but because we are
anxious that the villain should be unmasked
who has so hasely deceivtH ~. That in
case he should return, which God forbid, he
should not be allowed TO dssecrate with his
unholy presence our virtuops and peaceful
homes II J,l d g1L .fy W - -.".,H
Having given vent to this burst of
eloquonce, the amiable spinster settled back
into her chair, and subsidized into solemn
silence. whose dignity struggled unsuccess-
fully with theimpaticnce distinctly visible
in every glance Of the keen, restless eyes,
andLin each line of tho sharp. angular face
Mrs. Jenkens continued, ''In order that
may relieve the disinterested. and highly
conlmendable anxiety which has so distract.
ed your minds for some weeks past, and ii.
lehce the many runors to which II mas given
rise, 1 have concluded to answer that I'M.
portart question: to the best OF my ability,
upon two conditions. The first one is. that
the secret, which | shall unfold to you. be
strictly confined to your own bosoms !''|lfIf
This was said with look and tone of
great solemnity, and. as tho reader will read
iy Imagine ifl produce,l o Sarespondin 10.
crease Of curiosity and excitement in those
who heard it. ani, irr s''ha -fi aTr'!
They all, individually and collectively,
began Immediately to declare, that they
wOnld never breathe syllable Of it to any
living beingl" Miss Wormwood heroically
addings ''No, not If she was to be stretched
on tho rack u Which, as there was little
danger Of the occurrence Of that rather
unpleasant alternative, se6sxed to be some
what superhuous Fgd ~. He Ha
''My other condition, y resumed Mrs. Jen-
kens, lis. that none Of yoa ask me another
question concerning it." efhi ~ a4
The last condition was harder to be COM
piled with; but, as the widow declined to
proceed without it, they gave their assent
to that also. j.. - 's q.
''Then. ladies' said Mrs. Jenkens, speak
ing slowly and distinctly, ~ will inform you
that the reason why haven't married DIR.
Wells, is--because he has neuer dslced me p
So completely absorbed were these ladies
in this anxiously expected revelation, they
had not observed that they had an addition
to their number, in the form of a tall, fine
looking gentleman, who had stood for the
last few minutes, upon the threshold of the
half open door; evidently uncertain as to
whether he had better advance or retreat.
Neither did the widow observe it, until, at
the conclusion of her sentence, she raised
her eyes, and met the gaze Of the dark and
handsome pair that were fixed upon her
countehance, in which there was a singular
blending OF mirthfulness and wonder. b0rcd.
The Consciousness that he had heard what
she had said sent tho warm blood to her
cheeks, but .shc did mot ilose otherwise, the
quiet self possession that characterized her
usual manner. on bHa Igs.
.nDr. Wells,i for II was he, had already re.
ceved an inkling of the rumors that were
afloat concerning him, 10 he was atno los
to understand the present stateUf affairs,
But without appearing to notice the eviden,
consternation Of the company at his unex
pected entrance, he turned to the widow, and
said quietly, "Gdod eyenIBg, Mrs Jenkens
rang twice at the door, 1bptsreceiving no at
tention, aud hearing the sound Of voice.
within, / ventured to enter unannounced.' y
Then, without waiting for reply he turn
ed to the rest OF the company, and inclinins
his head remarked, 81 believe that j owl
an apology to some of my good friends pres
entfor my departure. But the sudden ant
alarming illpess of near relative will prove
| an confident, to such kind and charitabL
hearts, u sufficient excuse. " ~ ul7as1{
IA deep silence followed these words, which