Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-07-17

teDplatiDg the propriety of an Act of ParIia
ment to limit the duration of sermons, making
it penal offence for any clergyman to bt
longer than ten minutes in the pulpit But o
course | was relieved at last aud waiting a.
the church door, and removing a very shiny
hat, in series of my best bows to Mrs
LiPpeslev and the four Miss Lippeseys -
How very singular !" they all said and soor
l found myself walking towards their house
aud carrying all their church services for them
and still more desperately in love, as thought
with pretty Louisa Lppesley
| must do Lousa's sisters the justice of say.
ing, that from the very first moment they quite
understood that my addresses were paid 10 her
and not to any of them. Perhaps my feelings
while they did not admit of much ncealment,
were not, on the other hand, liable to much
misapprehension. The sisters at once made
| way tor NE, at once permitted me to walk by
the side of my Louisa: and were fond even of
obtruding opportunities for my conversing with
her. Probably, as the recognized beauty of
the family she must, they felt, in the first in
stance, attract far more attention and admra.
! tion than they could ever hope for. | think
her superiority was so thoroughly acknowl-
edged, that they put away from themselves
all notion Of jealousy or annoyance that she,
younger sister, should be preferred to them
They couldn't resist teasing her, however, a
little now and then on the subject. | remem-
Der noticing that occasionally great Cea of
nudgIng and whispering end giggling would 90
on among the young ladies and sometimes
my Louisa hurt by too much of this conduct,
would look rather as though she was going to
ciy, and would CXclaim. in panied voice,
perhaps peeviSh voice, Don't Jane Ami
wish you wouldn't = or, " BE qaet, Charlotte
how can you p or, Have done, Amelia,
do, or I'll tel! ma. | won't be teased won't -
TDen, if any of these remonStrances came to
the ear of Mrs Lippesley. she would cry out,
in rather a loud, glowing, | may even say a
gnrgliEg, cOntralto voice, accompanied bv
much eXub, rance of gesticulation, What are
they doing 10 You, my pet, my treasure, my
own sweet lamb? Come to me, then, Louey
darling. Did they tease it-bIess it-a sweet
child come to its poor fond mother, and so
on. In this way it soon became evident to
me that my Louisa was her mammals favorite
child, and that the mamma was not lady of
any extraordinary strength OF intellect
Mrs Lippesley was widow, and had been
in that :orlorn condition, believe, for con.
siderable number of Years. She had long ago
given over weeds, it seemed, though indeed
al the time had the pleasure OF her acqnaint-
auce, it might he said hat she had decidedly
taken to flow rs instead She affected very
decorated style of head dress ard looked some
times as though she had been in sort of
floral shower bath, aud while some of the
plants in their descent had lodged upou her
head, others were dangling down her back or
streaming about all parts OF her dress Ere
Quently she would mix straw with her flowers,
aud look for all the world like a very mature
Ophelia, rather over made up for her mad
scene while now and then she would abanGon
flowers in favor Of feathers. | have known
her also to have made diversions at times in
the direction Of velvet spangles, steel beads,
aud gold taS>els. She was partial to color,
a did not care for inSinuations or hints or
| :houd say, perhaps, lintS-so much as solid
downright assertions of it in the most positive
way She thought verm:!!ion very far above
pink aud would not hear of pale primrose
while there existed possibility of procuring
brilliant orange.
Concerning the late Mr.. Lippesley. was
able to arrive at no certain information
FROM the young ladies | could only obtain
tie vague statement, that their Papa had
been something in the city > which did not
afford me any very dfnite idea as TO bis oc.
cupation. To Mrs L!ppesley did not dare
to put any question or offer any suggestion on
the subject. She always produced her hand
kerchiet, and betrayed symptoms Of extreme
emotion whenever allu>ion to her late husband
had been made !: and as | was quite sure that
she was capable of having tantiug fit, or
even of surrenderng herself to an attack Of
Mysteries, [ shrunk from all attempt at dwell
lug upon a matter likely to produce such ter
rible consequences. She was woman rather
proud OF her weak nerves and her sensiollitieS,
and of her liability to agitation upOn light
provocation. She abandoned herself to her
feelings, aud seemed happest when gasping
and choking, waving her white laced hand
kerchef, tears in her eyes, and thoroughly
surrendered to nervous excitement. " Bless
you my darling boy" she cried TO me once,
very shortly after my first introduction, |
feel towards you as you were my own-own
SON." And she kissed ne on the forehead, al
most violently, aud shook hands with me with
exaggregate cordality. Her hands were very
fat, and felt rather like pincushions. 10 my
most friendly moments / always had the idea
in connection with Mrs. Lippesley's hands -
Au reste, [ may say, that she was fond of read
ing three volume novels. of reclining on the
soia,and of wearing carpet slippers. VI course,
| soon informed Fiukewood of the footing np-
on which [ stood with reference to the Lppes
ley family. He exhibited some surprise, fol-
lowed, as it seemed to me,by certain feeling
of grati6cation He simply said, however,
" You've got into good thing old fellow.
| congratulate yon, and wish you well out of
it. You'll save me some trouble, that's one
thing"
| afterwards ascertained the value of the
last part of bis remark.
Certainly the course of the untrue love
subsisting between me and my Louisa appear,
ed to ruu very smooth No obstacle were in