Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-06-21
MOtttster 4ailg SPY
A Plain Vvoman,s story.

81 entered the drawing-room unexpectedlv
and saw 'seraphic' being boxing the ears of
its little brother"
could not help laughing and yet was
provoked. ''What dreadful sort of person
you must beE exclaimed, "to pounce so
upon people in their worser moments"
''People should not have 'worser mo-
ments !" was the reply, ''and then they would
be sure OF not being caught at disadvantage
independently of this episode, however" he
continued "Miss Masons face would never
attract from me more than passing glance.
face to interest me, must have written up
on it, in unmiStakable characters, warranted
not to fade"
SIS that to be met within anything human ?'
! asked, wondering what my companion was
thinking of.
81 think it isl was the reply; ''indeed l
have seen it; but like the ladies and their
dress goods, am generally dubious about
very bright colors. In twelve years, or So
the bright colors are usually washed out, and
like Rosamonds Purple Jar (Which | sup
pose you remember there is nothing left but
a common vessel. The man, too, who has
been taken with this brightness of coloring, as
Rosamond was taken with her jar, is very apt
to think regretfully of some palmer woman
whom he perhaps sighted in those early DAYS
when he did not think of acting for the future.
The same folly which prompts man to live
this life as though it were to last forever, is at
the bottom of his living as though each day,
week, or year, were to have no end"
This was novel conversation for party;
but could not help thinking that, were it not
SO novel, parties would not be so useless.
"That is painful sight," said my compan-
ion as lady passed us who had evidently
been washed out, but who had as evidently
resolved not to remain so as long as teeth and
hair, and complexion were to be had by pay
ing for them; ''how much better to sink down
at once into quiet, respectable middle-age,
than to spend time, money and mind on a
falsehood that deceives no one. So few wo-
men know how to grow old gracefully"
"And who are to blame for that?" l ex-
claimed, wrathfully, fully reused to take up
the gauntlet 'Who but the very men who
laugh at the folly! What respect is paid to a
+ womans mental requirements, or to her beau
ty of soul, in comparison to that which encir-
cles the chance possessor of a pretty face or
snowy accomplishments? just so long as
men bow to the gold that glitters Just so
long will women strive to obtain that gilt
ter. l do not blame poor Miss Noakes half as
much as do the greater portion of the men
In this room; they have made her and hun
dreds like her. Do not misunderstood me-"
l continued. 81 am not defending her. for l
despise weakness either in man or woman
and pitiable weakness is that which cannot
accept clearly defined position, and labor
faithfully and honestly to perform all the du-
ties contained therein"
"To do my duty in that state of life unto
which it shall please God to call me, said my
companion reverently; and my heart gave a
quick response to the familiar words.
AT this Juncture Carrie approached, with a
face brimful of something, and my new ac-
quaintance bowed and moved away.
GLOW do you like Mr.. Forsyth" whisper
ed my friend at the first opportunity.
81 have not seen him" replied Indifferent
. ly Remember, Carrie that you are not to
introduce him to me. l consider all lions the
rightful property of Ida Mason, and they will
probably consider her theirs. l have no wish
to interfere"
''Mr. Forsyth probably thinks differently"
replied Carrie, mischievously, "as he has
been talking to you for sometime past, and
has scarcely spoken to Ida Mason"
Carrie laughed, with merry malice, to my
face of dismay and my first impulse was to
take Mr.. Forsyth to task for being himself
But he did not give me the opportunity. Car
RE said he always left early, ''to make a SEN
sation, she believed;" but thought it more
probable that it was because he could not feel
one, except that Of WEAKNESS.
had said number of things to Mr.. For
syth which l would not have said had known
that he was Mr.. Forsyth; and now sat med
ltating on the wisdom of silence in general,
or at least, until you know to whom you are
talking. had supposed my casual acquaint-
ance to be a man of no particular prestige,
one whom chits in general would call, as did
the chit whom l overheard ''horribly DID," a
IF rnuub diamond tUbOsa focb and oil
ter none but myself would care to draw forth ;
and 10 and behold | had stumbled, in my
blindness, upon Mr.. Forsyth, the man who
was $50 rich, and queer, and who knew so
much" and talked to him just as though he
had been an ordinary mortal
Once, during the evening" had seen Ida
Mason throw him a look from under her long
eyelashes, that opened my eyes to the fact
that she would rather have him bending over
her than the halfdozen white-kidded youths
whom she had in tow. Mr.. Forsyth, however,
was made of different material from most
men, and would stand an unlimited quantity
of eye-shot without the slightest inconven-
fence The pretty Ida assumed a disdainful
front, but Mr.. Forsyth looked just as he did
before.
A very few evenings after the party, Carrie
made her appearance in our drawing ROOM
J
ly made his appearance alone. Carrie smiled
mischievously whenever his name was men,
toned, and, in spite of my protestations that
/ was not the least bit in love with him, anC
never should be, nor he with me, she pursued
a systematic scheme of teasing.
at is very singular thing" exclaimed
Indignantly one day, ''that man and wo-
man cannot form friendship, but that people
must Immediately talk of matrimony! l do
not consider that, by any means, the highest
rung in womans ladder Of felicity; and in
spite of peoples remarks and innuendoes,
shall continue my friendship for Mr.. Forsyth,
and show them that it is only friendship"
l thought that he understood me. When
he asked me to marry him, was surprised
and disappointed.
"Will you tell me-" said he, very gently,
"what are your reasons for refusing mel"
''The very reasons" replied, ''that would
influence forty-nine women out of fifty to
marry you. You are intellectual, fne-look-
ing, rich, and richly endowed in many ways
and people would say, at once that must
have laid plan to ensnare you, as / have SC
few recommendations in myself"
"Youp he exclaimed, in astonishment
And then followed panegyric which is moi
worth while for me to put on paper; as those
who have had similar words put to them car
comprehend its nature, and those who have
not would only say, GLOW silly"
took grim satisfaction in refusing Mr.
Forsyth and refusing to 'listen to reason
(Which, of course, meant himD and wen
vigorously about my duties, and began trying
to ''grow old gracefully" My brothers ant