Maryland free press., 1862-12-12
BIDDY's MISTAKE.

trippcd into her friends private dressing-room
and Pumping carelcssly~iSto a great, dreamy
rocking-chair, exclaimed: ...si u, ISL. af
ado, Aurelia, just smooth my hair and ar
range these buds a little, before you glow
yourself. Thomas, stupid fellow, has driver
me here at such a terrific rate, over the rough,
est way imaginable, that | believe. i must bs
quite shaken to pieces" .ha's ,i.Hu
,2And SO you want to spoil yourself still fur.
ther by tumbling that elegant dress--you are
surely demented, to bury such beautiful dra'
perry in the arms of lolling-chair- up inn
inediately and let me make you fit to appear
in the parlors, for how prepare for eonquest!)
my gallant cousin Orpheus is beow-arriyed
only an hour ago from Boston, very .unexpees
tedly, and i am impatient to introduce you.
"Thcre,p as she disposed the delicate white
buds to droop gracefully among the rich braids,
'.you are quite bewitching nowa But don't
admire yourself too n1uch," laughed her gay
friend, as Miss Fanny glanced into an opposite
mirror and tossed playful kiss tothe brilliant
image which it reflected. HCome, come, fair
loiterer, mama and Nora will never forgiurme
ifI leave them to do all the honors alone be-
sides, am in haste to dazzle my ainiablc cou-
sin with the jewel / have SO long had in re-
serve for him--ah ma belief no incredulity, if
you please, but prepare to be carried of. in
spite of yotirself!' .,.s.r.Gri,..s.
"How irresistiblohe mast be-" said Fanny
in a tone of grave acquiescence.
And soy indeed, The provedo We're there cv-
or such superb eyes as gazed admiringly into
Fanny's that might? Was there ever so fault
less an address, or so graceful a blending of
dignity and ease? Fanny was charmed, and
she owned to herself, with smile, as she sank
complaccptly back among the cushions of her
carriage, to Which she had been handed with
the. most delicate courtesy, and a low and
somewhat ,protraeted good night" that she
had never passed so delightful an evening, or
chanced upon so agreeable a companion,
Equally attracted and fascinated was the
fastidious Mr. 0rpleus aDammet himself
Never, as he thought had he beheldso ,bewil-
dering wonan--so sprghtly and sparkling,
and withal so encl'antingly fair: never before
had he listened to so delicious a voice, melting.
in liquid dreaminess upon the ear-and never,
surely, had he looked upon SO. divine face, so
beautiful in the perfect oval Of its outline, the
rich, varying color Of the soft check, the ten
aderness of the exquisite mouth, and the sweet,
starry hazel of the bewitcfing eyes. 4 %.
Inwardly fattering ahis Cousins amiability
and eleverness, in leading him to,so lovely "a
shrine-an feeling Chat in the lady of his adj
miration he had at FAST found his destiny, he
retired to rest, resolving to c5ll at an early
hour in the morning and follow up the good
impression which he could not doubt he had
thai evening been. SO happy as to produce
i. The pleasing image; fingered even upon his
sleeping fancy, and in, his dreams he still adj
mired the sweet repose of the quiet. forehead
the satin gloss of the smooth hair-and, above
ALL tho unrivalled charm of the dainty lips,
which %, ecstacyN parted falteringly with the
rapturous ''yes" which nG,de him, in his own
estimation Of felicity, equal with the angels!
o, treacherous dream! The morning broke
in uncloudcd splendor, seeming to our sanguine
hero suggestive of his dawning happiness. He
breakfasted in a rose-colored mist, through
which his cousin Aurelia (whom he did not
seem TO recollect had always sustained the rep
utaton of 4 psttte beauty and a blonde) ap-
pearcd tall and graceful, with the darkest of
hair end the most brilliant of eyes, and to
whom he twice repeated, in assisting her to
steak and toast, "Allow me, my dear Miss
Barron!" 20 s-'a.--1 1853 ui s- rs tt
Aurelia smiled as he consulted his watch
and then walked up stairs, first inquirng the
earliest hour which the etiquette of Derwent
permitted to callers. Mr.. 0rpheus Dammet
though gentleman of faultless exterior whose
propriety and elegance of attire was every
where noted and 2admircd--was, nevertheless,
a Jealous advocate of despatch at the toilet,
usually bestowing period ofa little less than.
ten minutes upon his attractive person, yet
upon this particular morning he fingered long
ut his dressing-glass, unable to decide upon a
choice Of waiStcoats, and alternating between
a faint shade of purple and delicate lilac, in
the selection Of his cravat. t,
But at length most captivating toilet was
completed, and the perfumed fps of his Paris
kids waited a beniglrant, almost exultant fare
well to Aurelia, as hethrew a hurried glance
upward to her favoritei iwindow-seat and then
took his way, withan elasticity of tread, which
Remembered vaguely MS an clement pecu-
liar to his boyhood, towards the aristocratic
dwelling of Judge Barron, outside whose lofty
granite walls he was not at that moment con-
scious ofhasing single hope or interest in the
whole world. ''''o. p. l-'.r' ''|-t . .-..t F..
Mounting the steps confidently, our impa-
tient hero touched the bell With little of the
hesitation which marks the feeble summons of
the diffident or distrustfu1 lover, but with
hearty, vigorouspullindicatiyo Of the highest
assurance ofwelcorne in the mihdof theringer.
1t was answered promptly by yarespectab!e
IRISH dhdisci, who impaired tlic gratifying in
tcllionncn thof bcy p,iSfrnss s,,,aaN ~ bo,no