The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-03-10

Precisely" returned her brother : sand
such trust you will find your future sister
in-law." EHF'
Miss Middleton mid no more-not that
she was satisfied with her brothers choice,
but because she saw II was too late to op.
pose Ii. She was clever woman herself
had come Of clever rnce, and was not in.
cliued to underrate the gifts bestowed upon
her name and although she know that her
brother was Of hasty and decided temper
yet she could not but think that woman OF
sense, in appreciatiug his intellect and valu-
ing his requirements, would have been quite
rs we'll inclined to bear with his inequalities
Of disposition as one " could only feel the
latter without understanding the former.
The thing. however. was done, the engage
ment proclaimed, and Middleton now talked
fully and freely to his sister Of his bride elect
and dwelt much upon the simplicity and
naipefe, and "that transparency Of charac
ter" which. as he said, were her chief
charms. Miss. Middleton sometimes smiled
and sometimes sighed, as she listened, for the
simplicity which so captivated him struck
her az very closely resembling folly, and shc
suspected that so, too, 1t would have struck
him had il not been allied to the most trans
parent skin. the bluest eyes, and pretticst
little rose bud of mouth ever seen; and
thought Allen must rouse from his infatua-
tion and see the truth as she saw it. Now,
IN this she was mistaken-not that her BROTH
er was inclined to overrate Laura's UNDER
standing. but she suited him the better, per-
haps, for the very deficiency that shocked
his sister. He had been accustomed to clev.
erness all his life. His mother was clever,
and so were his sisters, and therefore, there
was novelty aud freshness in the naipefe,
or folly. whichever it was, Of Laura. that
amused him and, moreover, the truth must
be told. he had some of the defects often ac-
companying superiority Of intellcct-he was
arrogant and fond Of having his own way
Now, he had feeling that IL he married a
sensible woman he must treat her rs such,
but he felt that he could treat Laura just rs
he pleased. She was "simple and childlike"
in short, just the creature he thought "to
love, honor and obey him."
When II was announced that Allan Mid.
dleton was engaged to Laura Crawford. il
excited some surprised and many comments
in the gay circle Of which they were mem
bers. Some wondered that 80 clever man
Us Middleton should marry such little sim
pleton as Laura, and Others thought her
youth and beauty quite an Offset to his tai.
ents, and all, ut any rate, agreed that 1t was
a brilliant match for her. To DO sure, some
spoke Of his temper rs not being Of the
pleasantest, and others said there was dis
parity Of age as we'll as intellect; |; but then
he was rich and she was one Of large and
not wealthy family, and that settled the
question OF oil inequalities Us decidedly in
her favor. The engagement that satisfied
society was welcomed with delight BY the
CrAwfords. The connection grati6ed their
pride as much as it surpassed their expecta.
tions.
Mr.. Crawford's affection for Laura seemed
to kuow no bounds, and even her father
treated her with unusual respect and in
deed, the import nee she suddenly acquired
with the whole family was truly amusing.
From being "only Laura" she rose at once
into being the principal person in the dOmes.
tic circle.
CHAPTER SECOND.
Laura had been hitherto but a pretty little
nobody in society, and merely one Of a large
family a: home; but now, as the young and
lovely wife OF the rich and influential Allen
Middleton, she stepped at once into con.
sideration abroad and consequence at home
Of which she never dreamed.
The sudden transition from "nobody" in
to "somebody" has turned wiser heads than
hers, not to speak Of the wedding parapher.
MALTA, which, Of itself, would have been
enough at any time to set her wild with joy
and what with aattcry and 6nery, happier
or more radiant creature than the youthful
bride can scarcely be imagined. Middleton
amused by the childles raptures and graft
fed by the perfect happiness Of his little
vile, and, perhaps, not less aattered than
herself at the sensation she produced abroad,
which, in fact, was but reflection Of his
own consequence, was scarce less pleased with
his "experiment' than Laura. and thus the
honeymoon glided away to the perfect satis-
faction oi them both.
The wedding festivities having ceased and
spring coming on, the gay season was over,
and Laura was released from its exciting
pleasures. ar .3 p
"You must rejoice that the parties are ov-
or, Mrs. Middleton" observed Mrs. Harris.
q friend Of Middlston's; "ior think you
must be quite worn out with gaysty and be
glad Of respite Of q little while"
"No, indeed" answered Laura; al never
was 50 happy in my life Is during the last
three months. And Il 10 90 dull now-you
can't think. Oh. the evenings are 10 long