Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-08-11

did not wait to shut the door,. but gave 1t q
push, the current from which sent cloud Of
delicate muslin into dangerous proximity to
the msntel lamp. A new temptation beset
Arthur. Doubtless he should have turned his
head aside when he replaced the feecy folds,
entrance to the closet, and feasted upon its
contents- A dozen cambric skirts, white as
snow, and without any Establishment than q
broad hem at the bottom. and q half dozen
prettily stitched white flannel ones, boldly.
confronted him. Across the end hung two
black dresses, lhe preferred black silk dresses,
70 any other kind) Maxsrine blue and
dark brown one. Opposite there hung mar
row thibet, and gay cashmere morning robe,
with buttons and lsces, and tasseled cords,
contrasted with the soft fall of the summer
apparel, 10 protect which was his ostensible
business at the press. Beneath were boxes
large and small, but closely shut, and q mar
roy shelf covered with pretty slippers, jaunty
CATERS, walking boots, snow shoes, rubbers-
IN short, with samples of all the sccep ted
styles OF protection for the foot In all seasons
Of weather. Not speck Of dust was seen,
nothing was awry, and regard was had, CON.
sciously or urconsciously, to the general har-,
monious combination of colors. Even the
minutest details indicated thorough self.re-
spect For years Arthur had enjoyed nsthing
more than that long gaze into Jennies closet,
hslf-spoilsd though it was by the ill-brseding
Of the act.
His survey was not yet complete He scan-
ned the bookcase narrowly, and carefully
noted the volumes which it contained All
were in plain covers except few presenta-
tion copies, holiday gifts, and illustrated
works. There were many poets, English and
American, with India ink illustrations more
or less finished up, placed between the leaves
There were translations also from the Greek
and Roman authors, a few standard histories
and choice criticisms, and studies in art, some
Of the best manuals Of natural science, and
many religious writings Of different erss and
various creeds.
Arthur nodded approval to each, rolled an
easy chair to the hearth, and locked steadily
into the glowing Goals. Presently, little
brown face appeared against the 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 it
might be met. A falling brand obscured it
for a moment, than it grew brighter than ever,
and silently lifting itself, brought to view the
figure that belonged to it. 1t was not q styl-
ish one, but it was round and trim, and it was
arrsyed in well-ftting robe Of simple mate
rial, edged at the neck and wrists with collar
and cuffs of glossy linen. The new conner bore
q striking resemblance to Jennie Hamilton,
and fitted about with an unembarrassed air
which bespoke her Ownership Of the surround
ings. Smiling upon Arthur in a manner which
made his heart beat as it had never done be-
fore, she drew the sewing chair to his side,
put the work basket on q cricket at her feet,
and picking up his handkerchief, re-hemned
1t, chatting the while upon such topics as
naturally presented themselves. Never had
the fight Of white and jeweled fingers over the
keys Of q piano, or the strings Of q harp, be-
wit had Arth ia ha Of thn
small brown ones managing the needles with
sach dexterous grace; and never had he found
small talk 50 agreeable as that light midnight
gossip. He tried to beguile his visitor into Q
prolonged stay, and brought out his choicest
anecdotes one after another until she, thinking
one Of them especially picturesque, dropped
her handkerchief, and seizlng pencil, Illus
trated 1t with few graphic and rapid strokes.
As she placed it within her desk, handful Of
letters fell out. The superscription was Ned
Farmingham's A pang Of Jealousy shot
through Arthur's 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 her besming good humsr and nice taot
impaired q singular Sest to the meal, and dis
missed the circle well pleased to the days du-
ties. Now Mrs. Hamilton took her place, but
she was infrm in health, and servant poured
the coffee SO swkwardly that all the aroma
seemed to exhsle from 1t, filed the bowls too
full, and let few drops fall into the saucer IN
sloVenly manner. Conversation tagged and
there was no one to suggest new subjects, or
to draw out the guests on the old. luckily,
Jennie returned before the close of the break
fast hour, and the atmosphere speedily chang
al kA hoI AhAI 81 H. osnlx
but the crisis Of the disease was passed, and,
walking home in the clear, frosty air, she had
gathered few bright thorn leaves and some
clusters of scarlet berries, which she put in
her brown hair, and which set Off nything
esuld be said to do so-her Spanish complex
ion and happy countenance. Arthur silently
compared her appearance with that Of his Sis
ter after grand party and gained still
deeper insight into the connection between
labor and beauty. Suddenly everybody want
ed moro coffee, which they would take from
no hand but Jennie's. Fresh mullins were
ordered, eggs and anecdotes went round and
round, and the meal ended with bursts of
hearty laughter. ,a.- -
A party hiss been arranged for the evening !;
one Of those miscellaneous gatherings Of old
and young, which country peopled like 70 get
togsth or. 1t was composed Of almost an the
neighbOring acquaintances of the several fam
lilies then in the house-uncles, aunts and cous.
ins, up from the city, to enjoy the present for
the sake Of the old times. "How viii they get
on without Jennie ?" said Arthur to himself,
''she must sleep this morning at leastn He
had yet to learn that Jennie was never self in
dulgent, when the wishes or needs of another
called her to activity. He had hint Of this
when, in game Of ronps with the children.
he petmitbsd himself to be led into the kitch-
en-, where he found her deep in jellies and
custards, cakes, and tribes of innumerable
kinds, and when returning from the woods at
the head OF merry train, laden with. ever
green's, she planned the decorations, of the
room, as lavish Of care and thought as If she
had spent the previous night in bed, like the
uproarious party about her. She was absent
from tea table, but was ready for the earliest
of the evening guests, dressed in one of those
black silks with which Arthur had made 90
quaintance in her closet, and for ornament,
only knot Of gay ribbon, and her garland Of
thorn. ~ t-
Arthur did his best to make himself agrees.
BILE to his young hostess, but she told him he
was at home and must take care Of himself, or,
II he would be very good, he might help her
to amuse the children. The latter was certain
ly novel suggestion, but Arthur was fast
falling in love, and finding II impossibls to
keen Rwav from his oharmer he ertahlisha