, 1861-10-17

commence. She meant to "do up the natter
very delicately, and in 80 roundabout o way,
that the lady should not suspect her Of curiosi-
y. So she began by praising Mrs. E---s
dress.
get it ?"
ii bought it" was the quick reply.
"HereF"
"No"
"Where, thenP"
"In New York, last Spring"
80, you did, did your but I thought you
were never going to wear anything but black
againP"
Every eye scrutnzed the lady's face in search
Of blush, but It continued as pale as usual, as
she answered.
al did say so once, but have finally changed
my mind"
"The gentleman who was with me on Sunday
last, )" was the reply.
lie didn't stay very long did hef"
mot SO long as wished he had" was the
emphatic answer.
And how the ladies' looked at each other. II
was as good as q confession.
"When did he GOMEZ"
Saturday evening"
"Was you looking for himH"
81 had been expecting him for fortnight or
more"
"Why, du tell If you had then, and you never
told on'tneither. Had be any business in the
place?"
"He had"
"What was Il 2"
This was rather more direct and blunt than
the old lady had meant to put, and she forthwith
apologized by saying:
81 didn't mean t6at-I-T-I only thought
80, have good reasons"
Here the hearers and lockers on winked and
blinked, and looked very expressively at each
other.
"But you did not spoil your beautiful white
dress on Sunday night, wearing it up to the
burying groundH"
81 did not wear it"
Here was damper to the old lady. She had
such long lecture to read on extravaganza, and
she was determined to read It, too, when, unfor-
tunately for her eloquent strain, Mrs. E--s
dress had hung up in her wardrobe all the time,
and she had worn an old black silk.
After while the old lady took fresh start
She would not be so bafIled again. She inten-
ded and would find out all about her beau before
she went home, that she would. So she began
by saying;
.YOuF company went away this morning,
| didn't -"
80, I'd as lief you'd know as not; he came
to see me-"
o, widow E., how did your name go
down, thenl Be careful what you say, or you
will only have remnant Of character TO 60 home
With-and remnants 60 very cheap.
He did, did her and he didn't come for
anything else, thene But was you glad to see
himi"
&Indeed l was. II was one Of the happiest
| moments Of nv existence"
swell, WELL" said the old lady, hardly know
ing how TO frame tho next question =" we'll
well, he is q real gOOd-lOOking man, any way"
al think 50, too; and he Is not only good
looking, but he is gOOd-hearted -One Of the best
men ever knew"
"You don't say so but is he richf"
"Worth . thousand or *" /" said the lady care.
lessly.
like q lady, won't youi But what is bis namei'
"Henry Macon"
"Macon-MacOni Why that was your name
before you were marriedp
ait was.n
"Then he is q connection, Is he4"
ale is"
ado tell If he Is, then. Not q cousin hope
never did think much Of marriages between
cousins"
Henry is not my cousin"
"He isn'tI Not your cousinl But what con.
nection is he, du tell, now ?" q
He is my youngest brother"
If ever there was q rapid progress made in
sewing and knitting BY any circle Of ladies, 4
was those composing this society for the next
fifteen minutes. Not word was uttered, moi
an eye was raised. Had the latter been done,
the roguish and expressive glances which passed
between Mrs. E- and the minister, who, un-
observed, had stood upon the threshold silent
spectator and curious hearer, perhaps (mind you,
we only say perhaps) they might have guessed
more correctly the name, character, standing and
profession Of the widows beau.