Washington telegraph., 1862-02-12

to fall in torrents, yet Aline wrapped 10
shawls, was borne in the arms of the bride.
groom TO the carriage, waiting to carry
them to the laLdiug amid the blessings
aud tears of her old father md his friends
Almost every one present wished that
they could thilk him worthy Of hcr; but
there al Ell ,nsgivings as to that all
the time. The loud and piteous howliug of
t1e black setter as he stood in the door
looking after the carriage as it dashed out
of SIGHT, seemed an omiuous portcnt, and
added 10 the gloom which now sertled
over Mystic Hedge. In vain did Mis-,
Phebe and Mr.. Norton try to cons lie
themselves with the thought that she
would write every mail, and would return
1 by Christmas, Still mail after mail went
by aud no letters long and loving came to
soothe their anxious hearts, it was but
two days until Christmas. 1t was impos-
slble to tell how often Miss Phebe had
went with pleased look to see if all was
arranged to Aline's taste in her spacious
room. The grand lofty old room which
had never had other occupant but Aline
aud her mother. 1t was Christmas even.
lug c,ld aud cheerless without. O!d
Mary, Aline's faithful nurse, had watched
and waited a, the open door of her cabin,
until her eyes ached and filled with tears,
then she sought the great house hoping
to 6nd consoatiou for the disappointment,
there; but the elegant dinner viii ,h had
been prepared aud arranged with 50 much
taste aud care remained untasted The
beautiful locusts which had filed the
apartment with their rich perfume hung
whitening aud dropping in the vases. Mr.
Norton sat In his easy chair almost buried
in the folds of his dressing gown. Miss
Phebe was looking anxiorsly out Of the
window, every now and then wiping way
the tears which would silently flow down
her cheeks in spite of all her efforts to
conceal them. IL was the first Christmas
tha: they had ever passed without Aline !;
aud the sight of her old nurse who sunk
down III tue low seat by the side of her
muster, saying, the Lord has been mer-
clful To you a long time master, and
pray that he will still be as merciful aud
send onr' pet home again." aroused all
their stlfled grief Mr. Norton passed his
ingers through his thin hair anl wept
and groaned though his darling chill
had been cold and still in death before
hun Miss Phebe walked hastily up aud
Gown the apartment wrInging her hands
aud weepius bitterly, reproaching herself
ali the lime Tor her want of forethoughr
IN permliiiUg one who had been au entire
stranger only few months previous, to thus
cruelty rob them of their pet-their idol.
hen she pictured Aiine dying of some
epidemic In some obscure place neglected
aud deserted, for Miss Phebe had never
been more than forty miles from Norton
Then AlIne had taken the measles aud
whooping cough, aud Miss Fnebc tho oIght
it wo aid be impossible for one to remain
iu New Orleans for any length of time
aud u,t become the victim of some epi-
demc. Sadly indeed had ended the here
totore merry Christmas at Myrtle Hedge;
but sadder still was tae one which had
dawned aud euded on Aline in the great
city, No t-apat of tiny feet, no chubby
hands clasping we'll filled stockings. ~
gecsome voices shouting " merry Christ
mas, Miss Aline, aud displaying heaps OF
goodies which old Kris kingle, had
bought, no preparations for the gay aud
social parties that enllvened old Norton
at Chrlstmas time. No rare presents aud
praises and blessings of dear old friends,
greeted Aline vino rat alone in her room
IN her gloomy boarding house, her hot
and burning brow pressed against til,
, window pane, her heavy swollen eyes ea
gerly scanning every pass,r by, to see \
she could discover the one she had been
waiting aud watching for, all through th,
weary night. Presently an unsteady steE
Is Heard aud Malcome staggered into heI
presence, sayi"g,
Its 10 time to be simpering here
madam, the police are at my heels for al
L know. We must change our quarters
and our names too, before another hour
Now, if l had NO wife, | could take
steamer, and suap my fingers at the police
but PROMISED to take my burden back tC
the old man; but as | bave disposed .
all your friends and have not the tin a
hand now, you must fork up while watci
out for cab to take US to uukuuwn quar-
ters"
ooh Henry, what has happened! d.
not keep me iguorant OF the resi-" salt
-A''"S, A'o'oss SbC siupnS :"
well as her nervous excitement wOul,
permit
"Well, it is briefly this, l have becom
identified with pack of swindIiag vii
aius who aeeced young planter out 0
! large SUN yesterday, aud if We don
make tracks soon Ill be jail Bird" sal,
he, mailing cab and pushing Aline ant
the trunks into the street. Aiine felt |
/ little relief when she saw the land lidy
| receive her bill. and found herself wheel
lug rapidly away iu u close cab. Crouchin:
closely in the corner of the cab, she drew
thick veil over her face, aud did no
question Maiculme as to the direction
| they were taking, until the tile roofs cot
. vinced her that they we're in the olt
French part OF the city. The cab halted
before a gloomy boarding house and Nal
come had handed Aliue out aud was abou
to pay the cabman when two policemen
! caught him by the arm, aud claimed hin
as their prisoner. Aline shrieKed anc
, irnplored them to let her husband go.
. | - Nuw don't give v,,urself tirs nv I'm,