The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-09-25


the lady with smile. ,,i''iNow /, see why
age. My niece was lat. D'Artier's this
morning, and SAN how particular You were
| in the selection Of a certain article
| Befoi could explain this piece of cir
cumstantial evidence, there was a break in
the lock of carriages which caused the, de-
tention OF my fair friend, and her equipage
rolled away With a wave OF the pretty
hand ard the archest of smiles. i.',-'"
/ stood looking after her with an odd
sort of impression that, / should wake up
presently to- find .myselr married t. some
body, whether or no; indeed, | was not
altogether certain whether Mrs Code was
rot waiting Tor Inc at home. .Fn @ nuo
! How brilliantly the freight and gas
| light Illuminated that cosy little room at
Lee Worcester's, with pipk-tinted walls,
and cr ms med carpet, sprihkled with small
White uds. The piano was open, strewn
with sheets of music, just asit had been
left, its pearl keys glimmering softly in
the subdued radiance of one jet Of light
that glowed through the frosted shade
above The tea-table was all set-I had
often dreamed of a home OF my own that
should be something like Lee Worcerter's
in his snug evening comfort, and some
how that tea-table always formed part of
the phanlasln. There was something so,
bright and cheerful in the snowy damask,
and the sparkling glass and gittering
china. Old bachelor as | was, the golden
blocks of cake and tiny wlite mullins,
breaking into crisp fakes that melted in
ones mouth, and amber jelies, quivering
like gigantic jewels through their crystal
prison walls, produced wonderfully agree
able effect in my epicurean sight. And l
could imagi'te no prettier vision to crown
it all than Mary Worcester, in her crimson
merino dress, edged round the throat with
delicate lace, presiding at the silver tea
urn. Except, pcrtaps-but that is neither
here nor there. -,f .y ,.- . ,aa-:.
| l was little disappointed on entering,
beauty, with brown ripping hair, and vel
vety eyes, somewhere between the hazel
and black, but did not like to ask any
questions, and consequently remained in
ignorance, until Mary casually remarked:
| "Nettie is very low spirited this even
ing, perhaps she will come down stairs by
and by."Ie !., ~ r1a .9e.t.f. ,r1
How l longed to ask what the matter
was Perhaps she had received i'll news
perhaps she was not well. would have
given my two ears to know, but didn't
dare to inquire. pl .-Y- a.r ..'..'..-
$50 you're going to be married, eh,
Tracy, my boy" said Lee as we sat in
front of the bright fire. "Well you can't
do better A bachelor at forty is mere
fraction of society" ..=
I started up, annoyed beyond all en-
durance.
"For mercy's sake, dear Lee, do tell
me where you picked up that ridiculous
reports"
"Ridiculous report! that's pretty cool,
upon my honor" exclaimed Worcester
"Now, Mr. Golde," said Mary, laugh
ing, "don't deny the soft impeachment.
l am sure you would enjoy home of your
own better than that noisy hotel. There
is no charm against a sad heart like do
mestic bliss
There was radiant softness in her own
tender eyes as she spoke, that penetrated
me with the sudden conviction that had
been exceedingly foolish to remain single
all these years.
"Do confess" she added gaily
"But | have nothing on earth to con-
fess.' -..y s ...-.'
Nonsense said Mary, holding up a
pretty warning finger. "What were you
buying this morning at D DArtier's?"
I turned scarlet; here was that ever
lasting wedding cake again!
Fo. tunately my inquisition was termi-
mated for moment by the entrance of
Lee'' sister in-law, looking lovelier than
had ever seen her befOre-alit little pale, per-
haps, however, and her sickly eye-lashes
heavy with what could almost have fan
cied the traces of recent tears, were it not
that she seemed in extrayagantly gay
spirits. The soft fushes of color came and
went like pink shadows across her cheeks,
and her coral lips were dimpled with the
brightest of smiles yet all the while l
could not divest myself of the old impress
sion that she was ready to melt into an
April shower of tears at any moment.
She lightly rendered me her congratula-
tions upon the approaching 8, 6 happy
event, =" holding out a small, snowy hand,
loaded with sparkling rings, as she did'so
GU speak Ill iluoleS, MISS NetIle.
"Don't pretend that you have not the
key to them," she said, little tremu-
lously. 5laaiE rT2D Ia-,.L-.
81 cannot comprehend what you mean, :"
answered, sturdily. M sr
She said no more, but sat quietly down,
and shaded her eyes with her hand, as
though the fire dazzled them. Mrs.
Worcester. however, still pursued the OBJ
noxious topic. nTGS ateit
"Then how do you explain the wedding
cake at D'Artier's?" bJ sA4
g Is that the only testimony upon which
am tried and convicted of q willful inten-
tion of matrimony ~