The Portland daily press., 1862-10-28
MISCELLANY.
sThe Old Man of Forty"
BY MARY e. CLARKE.

herself down upon a sofa in a little tavern.
.Tired of travel, Kitty?" said her father,
looking up from his newspaper.
I'm tired OF railroad cars and taverns, at
any rate"
Il was thinking to stay here few weeks"
"Here?" Kitty sat bolt upright in the ex-
cess of her astonshment.
"Not in the tavern. You like stories, come
here and will tell you one"
"Tossing aside her bonnet ana CLOAK, Kitty
complied with the request; ana wllie her Ia
ther softly stroked and petted her long curls
he said:
..Wben | was in college, Kitty, l had room
mate TO whom | was warmly attached He
was a shy silent, young man, very studious,
rather good-ooking. and with love for quaint
out OF the way books and pursuits. My dear,
to make loag story short, we both fell IN love,
and unfortunately with the same lady. He
was SO quiet. 50 reserved. while / WAS so i'm
pet,tous and hot-headed. that never dreamed
of his passion, til | told him, one evening,
that was an accepted suitor. and then his
cret came out. IL was painful TO me to he the
rival of my warmest friend; but your mother
loved m.. aud did not dream OF Eioens pas
sion and he begged me to keep his secret
He left college to return home, and We did
not meet again. When you were born he
wrote mea congratulatory letter; and two
wears later. when lost your mother he wrote
again, but that was ALL Being very rich he
never had any business or profession, but lives
bachelor in his old shy, quiet way. To-day
met him, he resides near here, and he begs
me TO pass few weeks with him."
"How old is he ~
"Let me see, Eben was nearly two years
my junior; he must be about forty. Heigno!
how time flies. Well, little Kitty, shall we
pay this visit?"
81 suppose we must
"How stupid soliioquzed Kitty, drum
man OF iorty in country town. HsOctober,
too and 1 haven't siugle thing tit to wear
this winter. wonder now long pa will stay.
NY first winter in society, and auntic promis-
es an unlimited amount ol parties.
Things looked brighter the next morning,
for the drive to Mr.. Scull's sresdence was thro'
lovely part OF the country, and when they
stopped Kitty could not repress an exclama-
tion of delight. The house. Il large, beaut-
fully built mansion, was nestled at the end of
beautifully wooded hill which rose behind it.
On the porch stood their most, still hand
some man, but with the shy looks OF a stu
dent
"This is kind" he said, eraspng Mr.. How
ellis hand; "aud this" he stopped, and
looked at Kitty, saying softly. Very like, very
like. | am glad to see you, my child"
"Kitty in all her life, had never heard
sweeter voice than the one that welcomed
her, and she followed the fat, good-natured
shousekeeper, to her room, thinking the visit
might not prove so great a bore after all. The
two gentlemen stood on the porch looking ai
ter her.
.'Kitty You. called her after her then,"
said Mr., Scull, in low tone.
"Yes, she is very like, is she not?'
"Exactlyr
"Just the age. eighteen, poor Kitty was when
We We're married. We are old boys now,
Eben."
Kitty was soon at home at Moorsville Now
in her pretty habit and hat, securing over the
country on horseback, or riding demurely be-
side her father through the town; now knock
ing at the library door, where Mr., Scul spent
most of his time, and under pretence OF find
ing book, winning her host from his studies
to explain to her the bits of stone on the man
tlepiece, or the shells on the table.
"Do | bother you very much coming in
here n she said, one day, looking up from her
low seat to the kind face bending over her.
Bother me? No. | am glad to have you"
Il like to come in, and it is so cosy and
holnelike, and-don't be angry-l think you
stay here alone too much. You are so wise
and good, why do you shut yourself up so?"
He made no answer. but his pale cheek flush
ed; and here the conversation stopped.
= They had been at Moorsville nearly six
weeks when this conversation took place, aud
Kitty had been the object OF the most tender
care during all that time But the pleasant
visit was destined to come to sudden end.
That evening her father told her that Mr..
Scull had made her an oiier of marriage.
"Wny he's old enough TO be my grandfath-
er.'
"Not quite SO bad as that, seeing he's young
er than lam. And he's very wealthy"
But you wouldn't have me marry ior mon
N
W, uea' ou' ~ oliis iisht " 'en you an
'ns uu' 'ai,''ses. .ou 'e oeel, happy mere. :
ies ou' ! gan, marry Nii''t oiu mah vi
IoiN. IN so.,y nc asheo me, iot we must
nom sa - no,ie;
NJ conrse-
:. ihaI hiSni' hi'ty went up STAIRS, leeiihg as
she shouia IKE 10 cry. sun she rather pfid-
ea hersem upon rejecting tle rleh owner OF
Moorsviiie. Like all other gifis OF her age,
sue hau her urea'iis Vi true io'e Win an I'M
,h'cuaie nero, young anu handsome, poor per
maps, oat perfect certainty; 1et Nifty spite
vi al inns. erieo helseil 70 sieep;
Tue parting next aay was prlel. but as
hiity stoou on the steps waiting Tor the trunks
!" oe suappeu " Tue eailIage,a nana zen gent
~ on her shoulder, ana Mr. ocul sala kihqiy:
am sorry paiheu you, my enild' But
rememDer, you ever want friend. call on
me. hnty ourst lhlo TEARS LOT reply, ana ran
hurrieaIy down the steps.
II the whiri ana tnhuit OF gay winter,
ni.ly iooheu III VAN ior ner oedu tdedt
oeauA tnefe were III plenty, lor MI; HoWeil
was wealthy, ana hitty was ms only chiid'
Dut no one was exactly what she wanted.