Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-01-18
(NOrtester Badly Syn.
LIFE AS IT Is.

and plain-sitting at or near the windows /
was five o'clock-the fashionable dinner honr
Already the public drawing rooms and III
private parlors were filled with youth am
beauty. In one bevy Of fair women wer
grouped together, talking rapidly and excited
ly.
Il tell you it is mighty strange. Jane saw
him come out OF her room twice to-day, an,
last night after the southern train came in. a
one o'clock, he went straight to her ROOM"
"Are you sure you can rely on James word
Clara am sure should not trust my mai,
in similar case. They are all fond of til,
marvellous"
you are really complimentary, Miss Brad
ley. If you keep servants whose word vol
cannot trust l do not"
"The halls are dimly lighted at that hour,
said another kind voice 'perhaps it was Mr.
Leeds she saw"
"No--Nr. Leeds has dark hair and eyes
this man had lair hair and blue eyes-rea ar
istocratic looking, Jane said"
For pity sake, do let that poor Mrs Leeds
alone. OF course it was some relative, or lie
would not be going to wake her up at that
time of night. AS tor being in her room in day
time, that is nothing strange-if he had gone
thirty times. AT hotel, ones room is ones
home, and who wants to run to the drawing
room TO see every one that calls g"
DWELL, | agree with Clara Wilbur" said
another voice. 81 do not think we should no
tice Mrs Leeds any more. shan't Tor one.
She is too secretive and mysterious"
81 shan't notice her either"
'Nor Nor |, said one and another.
"Wel, ladies', am very sorry for the course
you have taken-for my part, condemn it, |
cannot blame Mrs Leeds if she is not disposed
to be communicative regarding her family af-
fairs. l believe she has some sorrow that we
do not know of. am interested in her-her
pale sweet face touches me. l for one, shall
treat her politely, having seen nothing to cause
me to do otherwise. We, none OF us, have
more than speaking acquaintance with her,
at any rate. 1t is not at all likely she would
contide her troubles, or the motives for her ac-
tons, to almost strangers" and the lady pass.
ed into an adjoining ronm.
Dear me, how independent we are. 1t
seems to me, Mary Bradley plumes herself
great deal upon her wealth"
go Clara, how can you say so 2" said the
kind voice before mentioned. "Mary has less
pride and cares less for money than any one of
US"
"Well, she needn't be SO wonderful straight
laced-but girls, there comes Gen. Lane. Let
us get up our very prettiest smiles"
a tall, noble form, in full regimenlals-c
pedu, epaulettes, &c., entered the ROOM He
was Il handsome man of fifty, dark eyed and
olived skinned, the beau CT the house. Though
fifty years had passed over his head, his lofty
form was yet unbent and his heart as young
as it was twenty years ago. He was a noble
specimen OF manhood, and, Notwithstanding
lis half century, not one OF the fair beauties
round him would have refused him her lilly |
land - for was he not handsome and wealthy. !
And, although he had seen many bloody field
lis deep voice almost gentle, ana an al
most womanl7 tenderness brooded in his eyes.
As he approached the ladies he said:
Good evening, fair danes. What is the
news 90
General, you have just missed rare dish
If scandal. Mrs Leeds was done TO turn,
am sorry you missed it."
''No need for sorrow, my dear young lady
Is was sitting out on the verandah, enjoying
my cigar, heard it all. l suppose | should
have moved, but l was too lazy, and you were
talking so loud did not suppose it was a Sc
cret."
Clara Wilbur "wilted down" considerably
for it was her custom to "do" the soft and gen
tie before the general.
"What do you think of Mrs. Leeds 2" said
gentle Maud Miller.
"WeH, Miss Maud, L think she is beautiful,
graceful, and perfect lady. If she were a
" idow, tomorrow, would try to win her"
AS he finished speaking two persons came
pacing slowly down the broad hail. The wom-
nm was slight and graceful, with dark hair and
eyes. She wore a robe of black velvet-her
only ornaments being coral brooch, clasping
4 collar of rice lace around her white throat,
and the coral comb that confined her leity
curls. The gentleman was "tall and aristocrat'
rneD -hnifn
doubtless, the identical man that Jane had
seen enter Mr.. Leeds room the night before.
While they watched the graceful movements
of the two the gong sounded, and the entire
passed into the brilliantly lighted
1t SO CHANGED that General
Lanes rooms adloined those of Mrs. Leeds.
He had only returned TO the city fortnight
before, after an absence of several weeks, dur-
ing which time the stranger-Mrs. Leeds
had come among them. Immediately alter
dinner he had retired to his room, much TO
the discontinue of the ladies. AS he sat read
ing in his room-Mrs. Leeds and the world
forgotten-he heard a knock at the lady S door,
and, as it was opened, heard womans voice
exclaim -
"Oh. dear Charlie, is it you! Come in;
YOU look tired and worn out. Come III ana
lie down on my comfortable lounge and rest,
winnie we have lSai CIV" WV
talk"
The general was surprised to find how plain
lie could hear, till lie remembered the uooi Ue
tween the rooms.
GLOW long can you stay Charlie 2"
"Only till ten, Carrie l have an engage
ment at ten to meet Lace Canterbury. But,
Carrie, you too 1ook tired and worn out
What is wrong my PETE"
Nothing, Charley; you only fancy So"
"You cannot deceive me, Carrie-you are
changed Something is missing from your
eyes and the rare old gladness OF spirit that
was my pride, is gone now.
Then, ere she could reply, he added -
"Where is Harry TO night 2"
The clear voice was unfaltering that re-
plied:-
ale has business out tonight"
ale was out last night, when came, at one
o,clork Is it his custom to leave you thus
alone at night Carrie 2"
"Oh. no, indeed 1t just happened So
"Come into the inner room, dear; l have
much to say to you: it is now home'like.
Their voices only reached the generals ear,
now, in kind OF subdued murmurlng' let
he could not read The spell seemed broken
For an hour he alternately paced the moor anu
tried to read. He was just about recurring,
when voices from the next room reached nun
again. an, ,,,o
$50 you must, Charlie l dislike TO nave
YOU 20, but i must not be selfish
"And dislike to leave you, sister mine, but
il must be. 10 morrow / will spend with you,
day and evening too look in yonder mirror
CaIrie-see what tiny thing you are VINO
would imagine we were children of the same
parents ?-you with your dark hair and eyes,
and mine both light 1t is too bad. l should
have had the dark hair and eyes, Carrie.
Eyes, Charles, but then, you know, We
Canterbury says fair hair and eyes are SO arls'