The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-03-04
ntine, for an unexpected call detained

All, you naughty girl" said Mrs
Collins, playfully. :" How can you per
sist in calling me Clemenline, when tha
name sounds so stiff and formal
must repeat that to you l am always
Tina
"Well, Tina, then," returned Miss
Marion, seating herself on the piano
stool, with her back towards the instru-
ment and smoothing her hair with her
graceful little hands.
All this time she had not noticed me-
but now she nodded, and spoke, care
lessly Good afternoon, Miss Wea-
ver."
Mrs. Collins interrupted my reply by
asking her ifthe weather was not delight
full.
Very" was Miss Marion's laconc
reply.
Minnie, dear, is there one particle of
news around town ?" inquired Mrs. Col
Inns. =" shall die of ennui il you do
not think Of something to interest one"
" don't know as there is anything
afioat of the least importance. You
know, Tina, our village is so dull that
we hear nothing now only politics and
war news. | believe the latest telegraph
is report estate that Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Indiana and Illinois have all seced-
ed"
oh, horrible !" calculated Mrs. Col
Inns; " but have expected it this long
time. knew that Gen. Mcclellan was
not fit TO manage such an army as ours.
They ought TO put Fremont or Blair in
his place"
The soldiers are all getting tired of
camp life," continued Miss Marion,
"and declare they will desert within
three weeks"
Well, | 90 not wonder" said Mrs.
Collins. This war was made for the
benefit Of officers, and the poverty &C.
priyaies."
My surprise had kept me silent till
now, but spoke with some warmth
a." Is it possible, Mrs. Collins, that you
are i'll earnest ?"
Oh, don't look at me so savagelv.
Miss Weaver. | assure You | am all
Union in sentiment. You see. Minnie,
that Miss katherine is something of
strong minded woman, and | do not want
to commence discussion with her.
Have YOU seen your cousin Edward late
ly ?"
Oh, yes" returned Marion. He
took dinner with us to day, and gave YOU
quite a compliment. too. Said you did
not look one day older than |, and | am
only seventeen"
The conversation was becoming abso.
lutely tedious TO me, and arising from
my seat | bade both the ladies adieu.
and made my exit. In the hall | met
little Carrie, who flung her white arms
around my neck, as | stopped to kiss her,
and said F.:
4" | want TO go home with you, Miss
kathie, and stay little while ill Miss
Moore goes away; Aunt Susie said
might"
And who is Aunt Susie - | asked.
as she took my hand, aud skipped down
to the gate by my side
" Mammals sister. See, there she is,
looking out of the chamber window"
| turned, and saw the girl who had
acted as waiting maid when Miss Moore
rang the door bell.
i" She lives with u.s." continued Car
lie, :" and does lots of work, because she
has one blind eye and can't see 10 study
or read much"
She went on much further, with her
childish prattle, but my mind was SO
completely engrossed with what | had
already learned, that | paid little heed TO
it. From that moment date my preiu
dice against Mrs. Collins, and it has in
creased during the months that have
since ensued. She continues 10 call here,
and when the wealthy Marion Moore is
not by, is very profuse with compliments
and demonstrations of regard But |
think Of the young sister who labors day
after day, that Mrs Collins NAV make a
fashionable appearance in the world |
remember my cold reception when |
made my first call at that lady's resi-.
dence; and | am satisfied 10 stand afar-
off without being one Of her dear friends.
never express my opinion Of Mrs. Col
Inns to any one. | do not say she annoys
me daily by entering the house without
a warning knock, asking the price Of ey-
cry new article OF dress | wear, and the
names and histories of my correspond
ents, as well as expressing n desire 10
hear me read their letters. No. | dopot