The Portland daily press., 1864-12-29

The Little Old Maid.
BY MARY B. CLARKE.


"Oh! aunt Fanny, how loyelyl Are they
for Laura, or for me 2" The speaker, a pretty,
but rather insipid. looking blonde, held up as
she spoke, cluster OF fine gold ornaments for
the hair, a sprig of wheat and striped grass,
very graceful and pretty tWhere have you
kept them hidden?" a. asA. .4aaaau3
W .They were keepsake from an old friend,
teen years, Bertha
"But now they are for me-" said the young
girl, caressingly. They will be so lovely for
Tomorrow evening, and must look my best,
for the girls win all don their most fascinating
attire in honor of the occasion" y aa ia VI VI
is it not rather marked to be so very anx-
ious In my young days, ladies waited to be
sought and courted, but, to judge from what
you have told me, this hero Of yours may have
any one in Silverdale for asking" tssN
swell, he won't knoWit. And, aunt Fanny,
he is really worth counting. He is SO very
rich" ai, asss3 s 81 3sf isis 1900 ~
Is that all that is required, Bertha, in a
husband ?" ~ ~
% swell, it is the main thing, anyhow, now-a-
days. But Lawrence Lane has more than
riches. Before he went to Australia, report
says, he was one OF the most talented men Of
the day, and you know he has spent the last
three years in Europe. That old Methodist,
Lou Hardingyalways blesses him for true
Christian gentleman so suppose he adds
charity to the best Of attractions, for she is
not lavish of praise unless one is willing to as
sist her. afs
"a true Christian gentleman!p ~ Aunt Fan
ny repeated the phrase in a inusing tone,
while soft light came into her dark eyes,
and smile lowered over her lips. Bertha,
seeing that the gold ornaments were not to
decorate her hair, went off singing, while,
with tender touch, aunt Fanny replaced her
treasures in her Jewel case.
The next evening, Laura aud Bertha, in
heecy white robes. with the blush roses and
other delicate flowers in their hair and loop
Ing the lace folds, here and there, stood before
the long mirror in the drawing-room pout-
ing go.
Laura. pettishly, ''she hasn't been to party
before since ma died, and that's ten years ago.
Little dried up old maidp ~
II wonder if she's going husband-hu
at her age~ said Bertha. "Why she'e thirty,
If she's day. and the beauty of ofeighteen
shook her curls contemptuously at the idea OF
such an advanced age beiAg attractive. is'
~ And In the meantime the object of their ILL
natured remarks, the gentle aunt, who for ten
years had filled a mothers place to these, her
sisters children, waited in her room for the
carriage. She had clad her small, slight fig
ure in black silk, whose severe simplicity
was relieved by rich falls of black lace deli
eately embroidered with golden clusters of
wheat. The round, white arms were not
decked with Jewels, but in the braids of black
hair CLEANED the golden ornaments which the
little old maid had cherished for thirteen
years. She was not beautiful, yet there was
charm in her sweet face, a grace In her gen
tie movements, and music In her voice that
was sought in vain in her more dashing
neices. As she waited, her eyes rested upon
letter, yellow and worn, which had long
been hidden under her treasured ornaments,
and she read: 1880 - IS.
sSince you will not dIsobey your father, and
cannot command the sum he demand to pay
my dead fathers debt to him, we must part.
Part for time only, for though seas may roll
between and we may not write, your heart
and mine can never be wholly severed. Trust
mel trust me darling, for, though years may
elapse, will return, true to nay pledge to you.
Will you keep the little gold sprigs / dared to
offer on your birthday, that something of
mine may be yours? Oil my darling, how
linger, dreading to write farewell, but it must
be done. Your resolution never to marry,
clandestinely, commands my respect, as your
gentle sweetness has long ago won my love-
God guard you and keep you from further
sorrow. Till we meet, pray for
tf