Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-01-07
Murtester Badly Spp.
LITTLE BROWNFACE IN THE FIRE.
Or How a Bachelor Was Won.

easy Ctlhlt " tue H6dTlil, anu looked steadily
into the glowing Goals. Presently little
brown face appeared against tie dazzling
background. 1t was very plain, but it was
crowned with smooth braids of shining hair,
and the honest countenance was lighted by
pair Of earnest, truthful eyes, which could look
through and abash falsehood, wherever il
might be met. A falling brand obscured it for
a moment, then it grew brighter than ever,
and, silently lifting itself, brought to view the
figure that belonged to it. 1t was not a stylish
one, but it was round and trim, and it was
arrayed in well-ftting robe OF simple ma
terial, edged at the neck and wrists with
collar and cuffs of glossy linen. The new
conner bore a striking resemblance to Jennie
Hamilton, and fitted about with an unembar-
raised air which bespoke her ownership of the
surroundings Smiling upon Arthur in
manner which made his heart beat as it had
never done before, she drew the sewing-chai
to his side, put the work-basket on a cricket
at her feet, and, picking up his handkerchief,
re-hemmed it, chatting the while upon such
topics as naturally presented themselves.
Never had the flight OF white and jeweled
fingers over the keys of piano or the strings
of harp bewitched Arthur like the move
ments OF those small brown ones managing
the needle with such dexterous grace and
never had he found small talk so agreeable as
that light midnight gossip. He tried to be-
guile his visitor into a prolonged stay, and
brought cut his choicest anecdotes one after
another, until she, thinking one OF them
especially picturesque, dropped the kerchief,
and, Selling pencil, illustrated it with few
rapid and graphic strokes. AS she placed
it within her desk handful of letters fell out
The superscripton was Ned Flamlinghams
A pang OF Jealousy shot through Arthurs
heart. He sprang to his feet, and, 10 the
vision had vanished, the fire was out, and he
was shaking with cold, and cramped with
his uncomfortable posture in the deep arm.
chair.
The next morning Jennie was missing, and
all life seemed to have gone from The break
fast table. She was accustomed to preside,
and beaming good humor and nice tact i'm
parted singular zest to the meal, and dismiss
ed the circle well pleased to the days duties.
Now, Mrs Hamilton took her place. but she
was infirm in health, and servant poured the
coffee so awkwardly that all the aroma seem.
ed to exhale from it, filled the bowls too full,
and let few drops fall into the saucers in
slovenly manner. Conversation tagged, and
there was no one to suggest new subjects or
to draw out the guests on the DID," Luckily
Jennie returned before the close of the break
fast hour, and the atmosphere was speedily
changed. She had watched with the sick
woman, but the crisis of the disease was
passed, and walking home in the clear, frosty
air, she had gathered a few bright thorn
leaves and some clusters of scarlet berries,
which she put in her dark hair, and which set
Off anything could be said to do so-her
Spanish complexion and happy countenance.
Arthur silently compared her appearance with
that of his sister after grand party, and gain
ed still deeper insight into the connection be.
tween labor and beauty. Suddenly everybody
wanted more coffee, which they would take
from no hand but Jennie's. Fresh mullins
and toast were ordered, eggs and anecdotes
went round and round, and the meal ended
with bursts of hearty laughter.
A party had been arranged for the evening
--one of those miscellaneous gatherings of old
and young which country people like to get
together. 1t was to be composed OF almost all
the neighb0ring acquaintance of the several
families then In the house-unces, aunts, ard
cousins, up from the city, to enjoy the pres
ent for the sake of the old times "How will
they get on without Jennie? 2" said Arthur TO
himself "she must sleep this morning at
least" He had yet to learn that Jennie was
never sefindulgent when the wishes or needs
of another called her TO activity. He had a
hint of this when. in game of romps with the
children, he permitted himself to be led inlo
the kitchen, where lie found her deep in jjelIies
and custards, cakes, and tri1es of innumerable
kinds and when, returning from the woods at
the head OF a merry train laden with ever.
greens, she planned the decorations of the
rooms, as lavish OF care and thought as if she
had spent the previous night in bed, like the
uproarious troop around her. She was absent
from the tea table, but she was ready for the
earliest Of the evening guests, dressed in one
OF those black silks with which Arthur had
made acquaintance in her closet and for orna.
ment only knot of gay ribbon and her gar.
land OF thorn.
Arthur did his best to make himself agree
able to his young hostess, but she told him
that he was at home, and must take care of
himself, or, it he would be very good, he
might help her to amuse the children. The
latter was certainly novel suggestion, but
Arthur was fast falling in love, and finding it
impossible to keep away from his charmer, he
established himself as her aid ordinary and
extraordinary. There was whole room full
of boys and girls, and Jennie and Arthur soon
found themselves busy enough. They danced
with the little people until the elders wanted
the large parlors, and then played games of
every kind, served them with refreshments
that no shy one should be overlooked, shawl
ed, and bonneted, and hated them, and fairly
saw them into the carriage and out of the
grounds.
BY some unknown process one of the guest
chambers had been vaclted for Arthur, who
tHOFtu uuWlluBly HOLn MS Fascinating quar-
tiers. He grumbled about it to himself in
manner which the arrangement by no means
justified. He said that he hated guest cham
bers-they always had an uninhabitable as.
pect and then he smiled as he remembered
that Mr.. Hamiltons were seldom empty. He
fancied it was chilly-but the Thermometer
stood at eighty. 1t was on the cold side of
the house, he argued, but the curtain of Grim.
son damask effectually shut out the north star
and its circling consultations, and he smiled a
second time at his folly. IT'S the books thai
are wanted, he suggested but moving unea
silly in his char, he belleld glass door clos
ing recess in the WALL and ranged behind il
were most OF his favorlte authors, from Chau
Ger TO Hawthorne. He reluctantly confessed
that he needed only an atmosphere warmed
and vitalized by Jennie's presence to make
everything else delightful.
The period appointed tor Arthur's visit
passed but TOO quickly, and his return home
was anything but peasurable. He found
Adolphe no longer amusing, and Pierre's dis
honesty uncomfortable. His beautiful apart
ments looked cheerless lie wanted the bas-
ket and sewing chair more than ever. He
bore it awhile, and then wrote to Mr.. Hamil.
tor that he was lonely and blue and that he
longed to get back to the cheerful country
house.
"Poor fellow" said Mr.. Hamilton, at is
shocking dull, this living in chambers ! tried
it myself once, and came near hanging my
self. And it is very cheerful here, as Arthur
says. He may c0me-mayn't he, mother
and stay as long as he likes 2"
Mrs. Hamilton who never differed from her
husband in hospitabe intentions, answered
Eyes; = and the return mail carried nm inf,