The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-05-20

could not disguise the latent sheepishness
of my aspect as sauntered up to the
counter.
Chow can serve you sir3" inquired
the trim damsel who presided over the
saccharine treasures.
muttered something under my NOUS
tache, feeling hot blush sufuse my coun-
ten nee. Why would not the inquisitive
womankind attend to their ice creams
"Cake, sirY Certainly For party,
sir Pound cake, lemon and almond"
"No, mo-" bawled; want wedding
cake"
I "Oh, beg your pardon, sir" Uttered
the atrocious shop woman. Was it a re-
ality or did only fancy that the litter
was echoed among the bonnets and furs'
| beyond. However that.might have been,
the mere apprehension was enough to
throw me into cold perspiration.
The next moment, however, the coun-
ter was heaped with various temples of
glistening white sugar, some wreathed
with make-belieye roses, some surmounted
with candy cupids, others with pure'white
masses of icing surveyed them in
state of hopeless bewilderment.
"Perhaps, sir, it would be better if the
lady should come with you to select," haz-
arded nv enemy behind the counter.
l could endure this badgering no long
er, but pounced upon a gigantic pyramid
of sugar lilies, from which peeped up an
alAbaster cupid.
81 will take this-what is the price r.
"Fifteen dollars, sir p
Laid domt {ba ,oopau and never pXOp-
renced So delicious a sensation Of relef
as at the moment when | thrust the cur?d,
packed in round wooden box under my
arm, and rushed out OF the establishment.
How gladly l delivered it to the express
agent, who tossed it on one side as if the
transmission Of wedding cakes was mat
ter of every day occurrence.
Chow dye do, Golde. When is it to
come off ?"
"When is what to come off?" queried I,
considerably puzzled at my friend Ather-
toms address.
%Your wed ling, to be sure All, you
are sly dog, to keep us in the dark so
long /"
''You can't have been much more in
the dark than am at this moment, Ath.
erton. What Oh earth do you mean?"
But Atherton only wagged his head know.
iagly, ana rushed off in pursuit Of a st age
saying something of which only caught
and disconnected fragments, 'my wife
and "D'Artier's."
Hang that wedding cake p was my
internal ejaculation.
AS pursued my speculative way tiny
eloved hand was held out from passing
carriage.
"Ah, Mrs. Evcrleigh, excuse me for no
seeing you before y
"We I'll know that love is blind, saif
the lady, with smile. "Now see why
you haven't been to see me in such an age
My niece was at D'Artiers this morning
and saw how particular you were IL th
selection of certain article J"
Before could explain this piece of cir
cumstantial evidence, there was breal
in the lock of carriages, which had cause'
the detention OF nay fair friend, and he
= squpage rolled away with wave of tn
pretty hand and the archest smiles.
= stood looking after her with an cd
sort of impression that Bshould wake u
presently to find myself married to some
body, whether or no; indeed was not a.
nd together certain whether Mrs. Golde wa
not waiting forme at home.
nd How brilliantly the freight and gas
h light illuminated that cozy little room a
cd Lee Worcsster's, with pink-tinted wall
as and crimsoned carpet, sprinkled with sma
nd white buds. The piano was open, strew
he with sheets of music, just as it had bee
ng left, its pearl keys glimmerihg softly j
al the subdued radianc. of one jet of high
De- that glowed through the frosted shad
nd above. The tea-table was all set ha
ial often dreamed of a home of my own thu
.ss should be something like Lee Worcester
nv in its snug evening comfort, and someho
Of that tea-table formed half of the phaI
tasm.
an Tkere was something so bright an
rse Cheerful. in the snowy damask. and th
nd sparkling glass and gllttering china, Oh
ih- bachelor as was, the golden blocks {
is. cake and tiny white mufhns, breaking int
ed crisp fakes that melted in ones moutl
ly. and amber jellies, quivering like gigant
in jewels through their crystal prison wall
mt produced Wonderfully agreeable effect
he my epcurean sight. And could imagir
no prettier vision to crown it ali tina
IS. Mary Worcester in her crimson mel in
lu- dress, edged round the throat with deiicat
ms lace, presiding AT the silver tea urn, E,
5he cept, perhaps-but that is neither hel
ed or there
or was little disappointed on enterin
he not to see Lees sister-in-law, trim lit
Ar beauty, with brown rippling hair and We
vety eyes, somewhere between hazel an
1t black, but do not like to ask any que
ad, tions, and consequently remained in il
1 norance, until Mary casually remarked;
md ''Nettie is very low spirited this eve
va ing, perhaps she will come down stairs
and and by"
ms How l longed to ask what the matt
led was. Perhaps she had received III new
er- perhaps she was not well. would ha'
given my two ears to know, but l didn
low dare to inquire.
ril- "Sosyou're going to be married, e
'se Tracy, my boy" said Lee as we sat
II I front Of the bright fire. "Well, you car
7 do hatfar ha oh alnr of hast iR n ma