Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-18

hope you won't get impatient" she giggled;
"Hetty will be down in a minutew
"IVAo will be down. inquired Colonel
Redcliffe, looking up from the book which he
was carelessly turning over with some aston
ishment expressed in his fine features
"Hetty-my daughter"
"I beg your pardon" said the Colonel
quietly, "there is some mistake here. called
to see your daughter-in-law, Mrs. Tompkins!"
'Harry's wife," gaspedthe mamma-in-law.
"And," added Colonel Redcliffe, las you
are the nearest relative and guardian at pres
ent, it may be well for me to mention to you
that / intend making her an offer of mar
riage. Her beauty and grace render her fit
wife for any man, and am proud to think
that | have won her affections. OF course,
may reckon upon your sanction and APPROVAL
"Yes, yesw suffered Mrs. Tompkins, who
was completely taken aback by the sudden
overthrow of her Aladdin visions concerning
her red-haired daughter Hetty. However,
even if Col. Radclifie's palatial establishment
wasn't for ''daughter Hetty," still it was some
thing to keep so much wealth in the family.
"Pll call her." she said, humidity, slipping
out of the room just in time to arrest the tri-
umphant entry of Miss Hetty, with her curls
all in quiver of hair oil and cologne.
go back, Hettyw she exclaimed in a
strange whisper; "you're not the one that's
wanted It's Harry's wifey'
And she shot down stairs as fast as possible.
MARY, dearl" she said, in the softest of
tones, you're not peeling potatoes! Well,
you always were so obligingl Give me a kiss
love-I always did say Harry's wife was just
like my own daughterl Now, run up stairs
into the parlor, and see what Colonel Red
cliffe has to say to you"
Mrs. Harry Tompkins was uncertain at first
whether her respectable mother-in-law was not
little demented. Never before had she lis
tened to such softly affectionate syllables from
the old lady, and she went up stairs like one
in dream.
"And when may / call you mine, dearcstw
was the parting question of Colonel Redcliffe,
as he held that fair young widow to his heart.
Poor Maryl 1t was so long since she had
heard the accents OF love and kindness, and
now to be chosen bride of one to whom the
world looked in admiration-ahl it seemed
too much happinessl
Remember, | shall not wait longw he added,
caressingly smoothing down the jetty tresses.
"The sooner take you away from this vulgar
and uncongenial atmosphere, the better"
Vulgar and uncongenial!" gasped Mrs.
Tompkins, who was listening at the keyhole
"Well, never"
"Mary, DEAR" she said that evening, Il
shall be very sorry to lose you You've al
ways been just like my own child, haven't
YOU. Come and kiss me, there's love-and
be sure you don't forget your poor dear ma
in-law, when you are married to Colonel Red
cliffel Hetty, come here and congratulate
your dear sister! | wouldn't have gwen you
up to anybody else, but Colonel Redciffe is
man that deserves you.'
Mary smiled quietly-she was of too gentle
and torgiying nature to resent even the hy-
pocrisy of her mother-in-law-and III the
bright future opening before her, she had
forgiveness for all.
"Harry's wife is going to be married" ld
Mrs. Tomphins to one of her gossips, =oon
after.
"What! that lazy, indolent, good-lor-noth-
ing"
Hush-sh-shw cried the old lady, clappng
her hand over Mrs. Sykes mouth. That was
all a mistake. She's dear, sweet love!'
"Oh" said Mrs. Syke, "then l conclude
she's going to marry rich"
"Yes," said Mrs. Tompkins, complacently,
at will be such trial to part with herr"
And such is the weakness of poor human
nature that the good old lady had actually be-
Geved what she said.