The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-06-26
From Godey's Lady's Book for July.
Splitting the Difference.
BY s. ANNIE FROST.

Coming to day ?"
eyes"
"Why can't she stay at school a year
or two lOnger?"
"Because she is getting too old.
She is now eighteen, and her father
wishes her to come here for year be-
fore she joins him at Paris. We must
submit, ! think, Walter, though l dread
the visit as much as you do"
1t is horrid bOre!"
And having arrived at this sage con.
clnsion, Walter Hart turned his head
YEARLY on the sofa cushion aud went
to sleep. His mother sat sewing for q
few moments, and then Quilted the
room, closing the door after her softly
that she might not disturb her. sons
Who are they? Yes, to be sure
forget that you do not know them as
well as do. Mrs. Hart was the widow
of retired banker, who, after squarina
mp his money matters SD as to insure
his family handsome fortune, retired
finally from worldly cares, leaving III,
wife, handsome and rich, with one
child, the hero of our story. Devoted
to her husband through his lite, Mrs
Hart would have been incOnsOlatle TO,
his loss, had not the child filled up the
gap in her affections.
From his early childhood Walter
had been very delicate. Without any
chronic disease, he inherited from hi,
father tendency To troubles with his
lungs, and disposition t" severe head
aches. Living secluded from her neigh
bors, i'm a lovely country seat near Phil
adeli.hia, Mrs. Hart had given he'
whole life to her son. Every pain he
suffered was the subject of the most
anxious solicitude, and questions were
put every moment till the boy really
sought for symptoms till he fancied he
felt them. He had gone through schoo
life and college with a fair amount o
credit but, never exerting his really
fine intellect to its full capacity, he had
done no more than pass his examina
tion creditably. never making any mark
among his classmates. Once home
again, the anxious maternal care, and 2
dawdling, lazy disposition, made him Il,
first imagine, then really suffer from il
health.
Let me daguerrcotype him as he lay
upon the sofa on the day my stor,
opens. A tall, well developed figure
with broad shoulders, small, well-shaped
feet, and hands white and delicate as 3
Iady's; face with woll.cut regular
features, shaded by curling dark brow,
hair; pale. rather sallow complexion
heavy brown m"ustache, and long
black eyelashes. His eyes, when open
are large, dark hazel, with dreamy
listless expression, in perfect keeping
with his languid movements and low
towned, drawling voice.
The room was still only the sof
June air sometimes lifted the lace cur
tains or stirred the leaves of the Gle
mats that hung over the window. The
house was still the servants were sit
ting idly in the kitchen, and Mrs. Har
was lying down in her own room.
carriage drove mp to the door slowl,
and almost noiselessly on the we'll KEEP
gravclled road.
"Open the door !"-and an impa
tient hand ratified the carriage doc
handle. "Mercy on me !"-and ou
sprang the occupant Of the carriage
say" she said, turning to the driver
"if you ever want situation as drive
of a hearse, send to me and III recon
mend you. Shameful, too, to drive tn
way you do with sucI, team as that.
And, jerking off her gloves, she begal
to pat the horse nearest her on th
neck. "Soh, pet! See, he likes it
Soh! easy! easy J"
"Mrs. Hart is lying down. Will Yo
walk in ?'' said the girl who had opene
the door.
Lying down? Is there anybod
else al home %
A. - -