The Oxford intelligencer. (Oxford, Miss.) 1860-18??, 1861-05-15
A TWILIGHT WO0ING

VIII pe anNlous, II I'm not home by eight
o'clock" To tell him about the pretty girl
with the pink bonnet that you met in the stage
| yesterday, and be generally confidential, and
then hnd your tongue suddenly palsed by the
conviction that he will tell his wife every word
you have been saying. There's no use talking
about the thing-its. actually indcscribable.
DO you suppose | didn't feel jealous when
Jack Marclyffc got marriedH Do YOU suppose
the green-eyed monster didn't inspire me with
all sorts of unamiable feelings toward the little
brown-eyed beauty who had cut me out so COM
pletelyg 1t took some time to reconcile me TO
the new state Of things. But when found out
that she didn't object to my sitting on the bal
eony and smoking with Jack-nay, that she
actually lighted our cigars for us, and then
brought her little foot-stool and sat down beside
us-that she laughed like peal of merry bells
at my bachelor chances and mshaps-and that
she liked to have me come to dinner Sundays,
then thought Jacks wife wasn't so la / AN III
stitnton after all. And one day, when she
brought out her tiny wicker work basket, and
stood on tiptoe to sew the loose button upon
my coat, capitulated in good earnest
"Jack, said !, "your wife is--wcl not eX-
actly an angel for | don't believe in angels
about the hohse-but the sweetest little woman
! ever set my eyes upon. You won't be jeal-
Gus, old fellowg"
"Jeaous-nol" said Jack, stretching his
neck to look after the light, disappearing
figure. But I'll tell you what, Arthur--you
ought to see Mary's sister"
Sure enough, about two weeks aflcrward as
came in at the swcet-briar- Swallowed gate, and
paused to look at the crimson clovcpinks just
opening their fringed petals, the silver tones of
another voice sounded in the low-caved piazza,
and almost before knew it, Jack Marcyllc's
arm was through mine, and he was introducing
me to a duplicate edition of his wifc--a scarlet
Tipped, archcycd girl in white muslin, with a
coral bracelet on her arm;
From That moment | was gonc-I didn't
know whether ] sat in Jacks velvet easy chair,
on the top rail of the fcnce-I said "No, |
thank you,n when Mrs. Jack asked me how |
was-l stirred my cup of chocolate with pen
knife, and tried to put the tablc-cloth into my
pocket instead of a handkerchicf-and finally
disgraced myself irrcvocably by putting the
matchbox into the cradle and deposting the
baby on the marble tnantcl-piecc!
Good gracious, Mr.. Ardent" exclaimed Mrs.
Marclyife, "what is the matter?"
~ believe think-rve got cold in my
head" laltcrcd ], looking all the time straight
at Agnes, who was playing with her coral
bracelet, and pretending not 90 laugh
Jack" said |, that evening, as he went out
to the gale with me- "thcrc's no use trying TO
mnce mattcrs-if can't win Miss Agnes shall
take arscnic!"
Jack squeezed my hand: he had "bccn
through the mill himself
"Do YOU think she cares for me, Jack" I
asked, plaintvoIy, about a month aGcrward.
~ declare, honestly, I've the greatest mind in
the world to jump of the pier, or TO hang my
self pcaceably. Now what does she mean 1y
flirting with that rcd-whiskered Carew? Oh,
Jack, do be merciful tell me what you really
Think"
Poor Marclyiie! it was about the thirticth
time he had been asked the same question.
"Why, how can | tell, Arthur? You might
as well ask me to read the lIindoo alphabet as
to deciphcr the mysteries of woman's heart.
Why don't you ask her yourself?"
"Mc ask her!" and the cold chis ran through
me like veins of ice: "Jack, dare not, FOR my
life!"
Jack burst into laugh.
"Wcll, can't give any better advice" said
he, "only remember, my boy, faint heart never
won fair lady"
lie turned away, and left me standing in the
amber flush Uf the twilight, among the crimson
clusters Of cinnamon roses and the tall coronals
of cleaning lilies. Up in the rosy sky the new
moon hung, curved thread OF silver, and one
bright star bore its lance Of pearl against the
radiant horizon. ! looked abscntly up at the
den of flowers, thinking in the midst of my per-
plexity, how like the blue heaven was to Agnes
eyes, and marvelling that the pink roses were
so near akin to the dainty color that came and
went upor her silk-solt cheek.
Beside the low French window that opened
upon tic piazza floor, saw the flow of muslin
drapcrv through the fragrant gloonl-it was
where Mrs. MarclyiIe was wont TO sit with her
baby caught the refrain of the low, delicious
cradle song She warbled in the tiny slccpers
car A bright thought struck mel would
take womans wit into my counsel.
MARY" said |, sitting down on the piazza
step, and leaning my head against the rose
y,rpathcd pillar Just opposite the window, ~
wish you'd tell me what to do-lm desperately
in love with your sister Agnes, and-don't
laugh now-I haven't the courage to tell her
| So"
paused an instant, and then went on: N
love her better than life. No-that is not say
ing enough would die to make her happy
( Oh; Mary, can't YOU give me a word of encour-
agementg | dare not tell her my love, because
NV heart sinks so in dread from the one little
word-No! VIII she speak it, do you think :"
There was no answer still
MARY, will she break nv heart 2"
l spoke with trembling accents, fresh fro:i
the deepest rccesScs of my soul-the very air
seemed to sob around me as ceased. One in
slant of silence in the soft, pulsing fragrance
Of the midsummer twilight, and then there was
flutterng Of light, azure robes, the fall of a
fairy footstep. Ere | could look up, soft white
arm. cleaning with the clasp of blood-rcd
coral bracelet. was around my ncck-a shower
of brown curls nestled on my breast!
"She will not-she never will"
The voice was that of Agnes Day. | held the
COY, coquettish trcmber to my hearti
Life has been brimming with sweets ever
since-many golden moment has paused to
sprinkle its chalice of JOY around my footsteps,
as it passed into the world of the bygone but,
in all my existence, there never came second
time like that.
4 | had been pleading to Agnes herself; and
Mary stood smiling in the background, the
vcriest spice of roguery cleaning in her hazel
; eyes. through dim qniver of joyous tears.
So I'm really TO have brother-in-lawi
She said. putting aside the roses and coming for
ward Just as the wicket fastening clicked under
Jacks hand, and the fiery spark of his cigar
glowcd through the purple cleaning, slowly
travelling up the garden walk.
"lIallo," said he, pausing abruptly as Agnes
tried vainly TO escape from my detaining arm
''Oh. sec nowi Wsn-upon-my-wOrd
for such bashfnl ydfhg gentleman, you've
been remarkably expeditions. Accept OF my
congratulations, Aggie-ditto, Arthur"