The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-02-06
"Why, the one who is to be Mrs. Az

| "S0meumes The lovely brunette en-
chains me--what splendid creature she
is Harry, such soft, gentle manners. of
all things, sweet temper, submissive wo-
man is the most charming"
That's Miss Isabel" said Harry de-
murely. I'D.
"And her blue>eyed sister. whose hair
always makes me think of sunshine, and
whose voice. if 50 exqu:silely sweet--"
"rhAts little Alice. Great pity can't
marry 'em both, isn't 1t? viii you call
with me this EVENING" You know you
have never met them except 10 the glare
of bathrooms and evening assemblies
with pleasure. l shall drive into
town at about seven o'clock, and will call
Il for you"
Ii isn't particularly pleasant to be uu
decided about tie color ofa cravat. or the
shape Of a cigar case, much less about 80
important a thing as a wile-and so Gilt
ford Avenel found it out, The unaps wer-
ed question followed him every where
through all the bright long hours Of the
August afternoon, like restless ghost
circumstances is an Glipus that svlyes
deeper riddles than this. I'll leave 1t 10
the care of fate, he exclaimed at length.
"John. bring up the horses Immediately
let me see whether l can't reach town in
advance Of FOUNDER threatening mass Of
thunder clouds"
But either Mr.. Avenel's calculations as
to time proved incorrect, or bis feet hors.
es were slower than their wont, for he
was scarcely within the city limits. when
the gloomy twilight and The deluging rain
descended together, accompanied with re.
verberaling bolts of thunder and forged
flashes of vivid lightning. Mr., Ayenel
could scarcely see beyond the head oFtbe
animals he drove, when there was sud
den check iL their career. a check, and q
gathering crowd. An infrm old woman,
bewildered BY the storm, had endeavorcd
to cross the street almost under the horses
feet she had been .hrow II down, OF course,
and considerably, though not seriously
injured. '..'t" t..'
Avenel, sprang from his carriage, and
threw the reins 10 byslander, while he
gently supported the lalering figure of
the poor creature who had BEEN hurt.
"Whero shall / take you?" he asked
kindly. "Do you live near here?"
"Only little way off, sir-down that
alley-but it's poor place."
"Neyer mind, wo'll soon be there, said
be cheerfully. "Lean on me, and dom!
be alarmed-you shall have every care.
But when they reached the miserable
tenement house, in the narrow, reeking
court. matters seemed to grow more COM
plcated. Avenel had supposed that she
had some relative or connection, who
would have taken charge of her, but she
dwelt entirely alone and the poor have few
friends on whom they can call in such au
extremity as this. .,... r
sis there no one you can send for?" he
asked.
At first she shook her head mournful.
| ls. hut presently she seemed to recollsct,
"Stay, though-therc is one family
they have been kind to me many times.
and if they knOwei the old creature was
in troublc-here's tile place, sir, wrote on
this card, The young lady lett it helc
herself"
Avenel took the card, and glanced at
the address it was street about half a
mile di,tant. His horses had been taken
10 a neighboring shelter, and he did not
want to have them brought ont, but set of
at brisk walk, through the streaming
sire cts.
"Are the young ladies at home?" he
asked, as the servant answered his ring al
the door indicated by the card.
. "Yes; what do you want with them?'
! was the maids reply, as she eyed the
dripping and mucbpspl plashed figure, whose
! outline was scarcely discernable in the
darkness
Clifford briefly announced his business
I, and announced that he was waiting tC
, conduct them 10 the old womsn's dwell
: ing, where they were much needed.
y The servant withdrew, and Cl!fforC
q leaning up against the doorpost, could no
: avoid hearing her tones within, as shC
told her story, adding one or two spicy
:, comments on his own personal appearance
!, which made himself smile, even in tb,
dalk .t .l....,
"Why, i. must be poor Becky" ex
A claimed voice, whose accents thrillet
- him with sudden surprise, III 60 imme
! diatey. Bring my shawl an hood. Mary
y Either l am dreaming. or that is Alic
9 Neville's tone" said Clifford to himself
= but the next moment all doubt was dis
! PEELED by Isabel's voice, pitched in
:. sharp discordant key, of which be ha
: , scarcely deemed it capable ..
,l "Alice are you mad? Can't you le
/. that .troub lssome old creature take car
Of herself, without your going tliroug
|, such a shower as this to the miserabl
g, hole where she lives. Surely. you wi
ID not venture out!'' .n. I'D. 81,
ID "Certainly, if she needs. See, Bell,
don't rain very hard; and shall not dil
a solve ifit does" f" "
IN "And Mr.. Avenal will call to. night. too
t. What do you suppose he will Think"
a. "He can not think any thing very tel
ul rible. Poor old Becky is SO wea
st and feeble. Dearest Bell, won't you az
: company me?-she may require the al
re sistauce of both, and it is merely doing
" you would be done BY"
&c II shall stay where l am--foltunatel
!. | never was infected by the charitab