The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-04-01

As his eyes met hers he started eagerly
forward, opened his lips as though to speak,
hesitated a moment, and then abruptly
left the room.
" The man mnst be insane!" exclaimed
Mrs. Grey ~ hope my cousin has not
all these years been in love with luna
tic!" and laughing merrily at the idea she
arose to leave the loom. At that moment
her hostess entered the library leaning
upon the arm of the object of her mirth,
and presented him to her as +" Mr.. Aus
tir, F." and after few courteous sentences
left them together.
6 must beg your pardon, Mrs. Grey, -
said Mr.. Austin when they were alone,
I" You must have thought me very rude,
but you SO strongly resemble once dear
friend Of mine, that thought for me-
ment it must be she:"' p&
Miss Fenton's name trembled upon her
cousins lips, but for once love lent wisdom
to the Ii; tie lady, and in its place she spoke
some kindly words about the pleasure of
reminding one of absent friends.
| The geDtleman's handsome face cl0uded
over a. the words, and he said sadly 81
lost her many years since"
| Curiosity grew strong in the heart of
the lady as she wondered of the reason of
that loss; but the gentleman anxious to
retrieve his character in the eyes of his
very pretty companion, assayed to render
himself entertaining "a thing in which he
seldom failed) to her, and with such sue
cess that when some time later he handed
her to her carriage, all fears as to the
sanity of her cousins lover were entirely
dissipated. -
One week after the evening of the par
ty just mentioned, and day after the re-
turn Of Mrs Grey, who had been tempor-
arily absent from the city, as that gentle
man was about taking leave for the day of
his wife and cousin, be asked,
"Any engagements for this evening,
Matte ~
Mot one," she answered laughingly,
"Are you not glad?"
Every" was the reply, "for l want to
bring up to dinner with rse to-day one of
your many admirers. Su, order up the
best dinner yOa can command, and deck
yourself in your most gorgeous array, little
woman, for want You to look your very
prettiest -
"One of my admirers ?" echoed his
wife why, Edward, am ashamed of
you."
"Oh! you needn't blush, Miss Mattie,"
cried her husband, "and appear SO very
innocent You know you're a shocking
little coquette, and are always adding to
your list OF admirers! Five years of mar
riage, cousin, u" he added, addressing Miss
Fenton, "and the responsibility of three
babies, have not succeeded in subduing her
in the least
{" think" replied Miss F, "that you
are not very jealous Oihello, or y.
would not bid her adorn herself for the
benefit of your rival"
"JealOus ?" said Mr.. Grey, taking bis
wife's face between the palms of his hands,
and looking in her eyes with fond atfec-
ton. '' No, do not think that l am
| Jealous"
"Do tell me, Edward, who Is the pre-
sent victim of my charms ?" she asked
"Oh he is a new conquest" was ths
reply, g wealthy handsome and agreeable;
just returned from prolonged tour of
Europe You know the rest of the quote
ton, Matte ?".
"Oh, yes. Spare me the rest and
come punctually at six"
Mr.. Grey promised and departed. His
wife summoned her cook for consulta-
tion upon the subject of the projected din
ner; and Miss FentOn strayed away to the
music room. But not on this morning was
the piano destined to give forth beneath
her fingers the sublime strains of Handel
or Mozart. or her voice to gush forth in
| such bu. sts of melody as was its won't.
She seemed to have gone back in memory
to earlier days, and her sweet voice fall
tered al she breathed forth some old
time melodies which she had learned
in early youth. Gradually the tones
changed and heightened, until almost
impercept;bly they glided into the plain
tive measure of that exquisite "Last
Waltz" of Weber's There was something
in the face of the player, as the sweet
notes gathered softly upon the air, which
seemed to tell that it had in days long
past been listened to by some loved one,
who had cared to hear it performed in the
inartistic school girl manner into which
the fingers of this accomplished musician
had for the moment unconsciously wan
dered.
At length the tears, which had for some
time been gathering in the dark eyes, fell
hot and fast, and bowling her head upon
the music-rack before her, she yielded
herself up to bitter memories. In this
posture her cousin found her, when some
time, afterward she entered the music
room seeking her, and stealing softly to
her side knelt upon the floor beside her,
and throwing her arms around her whis-
pered, 81 have waited q whole week,
Caro-, darling; have not been good
girl2 Now tell me-"
Miss Fenton raised her head slowly, an
expression of acute pain passed over her
! face; then she said, with strong effort,