The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-10-21
IN THE TWEEIsAHT.

MS suggestive Ol OF TlUcODSj lsf>
stead of having him all to yourself, day in
and day QUITO know that the blue breathed
evening cigar will inevitably be abbreviated
bv 50 Oh! my wife will be anxious if | am
not at home at eight O'Clock TO tell him
about the pink bonnet you met in the cars,
and be generally confidential, and then find
your tongue suddenly palsied by the convic>
tion that he will tell his wife every word you
have been saying. There Is no use in talk
ing about the thing-it is actually indescriba-
BILE.
Do you suppose l did not feel Jealous when
Jack Mayclifie got married? DO you suP>
pose the green eyed monkey did not inspire
me with all sorts of unamiable feelings TO-
wards the little brown eyed beauty who had
cut Tie out completely? 1t toJk me some
time to get reconciled to the new state of
things. But when found she did not object
TO my sitting on the balcony and smoking
with Jack-nay, that she actually lighted our
cigars Tor us, and then brought her little foot
stool aud sat down beside us-that she
laughed like peal of merry bells-that she
liked TO have me come to dinner or SUNDAYS
then L thought that Jacks wife was not so
bad institution after all. And, one day,
when she brought her tiny wicker work
basket and stood on tip-toe to sew the loose
buttons on my coat, | capitulated in good
earnest.
Jack said !, "your wife is-well, not
exactly an angel, for dom. believe in angels
aboat the house-but the sweetest little wo-
nan | ever set my eyes on. Ion wont be
jealous. old tellow?' --.
JeaIous-no.' said Jack. stretching his
ne.s so as to look after the light disappear
ing figure. But I'll tell you what, Arthur,
YOU ought to see Nettie's sister,
Sure enough, about two weeks afterward,
as | came i'll at the sweet-briar Swallowed
gate and pa used TO look at the crimson Glove
pinks just opening their tangled petals, the
sill .er tones Of another voice sounded in the
low-eaved piazza, and, aiucst before / knew
it, Jacks arm was throught mine. and he was
introducing TO me duplicate edition Of his
wife-a scarlei-lipped, arch,eyed girl in white
mu,n, with a coral bra ~elet on her arm.
From that moment l YVES gone. ] did not
know whether | sat in Jacks big arm chair
or on the top rail of lis fence. | said, : No,
j thank YOU when Mrs. Jack asked me how
was. / stirred mi cup of chocolate with
my knife tried to prt the tablecloth into
my pocket irsteal OF i handkerchief, End
finally disgraced myself irrevocably by de-
posting the baby on the mantIepiece and
putting the match box il: the cradle
- Good gracious Mr.. Arden :" e%'i 'inleG &c:
Mrs Jack what's the r..lier with you
Il belieye-I th;~A-lve got a cold in my
had :. faI,c.ed !. looking all the time at
Aores. who was playing with her bracelet,
and pretending not to laugh.
Jack said /, that evening, as he went
ont to the gate with me, there is 30 use IN
trying to mince mattr:s--lf | can: win Miss
Agnes, ! shall take arsenic
Jack squeezed my hand-he had been
through the mill himself.
I. Il, o. j 4 r
asked plaiutivey, about a ,sonth afterwards,
81 declare. honestly, I've the greatest mind
in the world to Jump off the pier, or hang
-nxself peaceablv Now, what does she mean
nv Hiring with that greaI red-whIskered
Carew! Oh Jack. 90 be merciul and tell
me what you do really think 2
Poor MaycIiae! 1t .as the tLirtieth time
had asked him the +ame question.
WHY. how car l tell, Arthur You
might as well az me 10 read the Hindoo
alphabet rs to 4eclpher the mysteries OF a
woman's hear. Why don't you ask her
yourse.f?"
tbrcueh re like veins of ice. Jack, | dare
rot do for my life"
:. WdI, can't give any better advice" said
bo OILY remember my boy, faint heart
-er.r ven a fair lady
He turned away ard left me standing in
the amber blush of twilight, among clusters
of cinnamon roses and the tall coronals of
scanning lilies. Up the sky the new moon
nung. a carved thread Of silver, and one
bright star bore its lance of pearl against the
radiant horison. 1 looked absentlv up at the
fair atmosphere-down at the blossomir &
garden OF flowers thinking, in my perpexiiy.
how like the blue heaven is Agnes ewes, and
marveiing that the pink rose was so akin 10
4 4 IL. 4
soft cheek. Beside the low French window
that looked out upon the piazza saw the
fragrant bloom-ir was there that Mrs May
.clifie was wont to sit with her baby.
l caught the refrain of the low. delicious
cradle song she warbled in the tiny sleeper
ears. bright thought struck me. ! would
take woman wit into my counsel.
- Nettie." said /, sitting down on the piazza
step, and leaning my head against tie rose
entwined pillar just opposite the window, +" |
wish you'd tell me what 20 do. am de :
pcrately in love with your sister; and don't
laugh now-I haven't the courage to tell
her So,
I psused an instant and then went on
IL love her better than my life. No
that is not saying enough would die TO
make her happy. Oh Nettie. can't you give
q word Of encouragement / dare not tell
her of nv love. because my heart shrinks so
in dread from the little word nor Will she
speak it, do you think? Nettie, will she
break nay heart 2
srake with trembling accents, fresh from
the deep recasses OF my soul. The very ali
seemed 20 sob around me as i ce ,sed. One
instant Of s,lenee in the soft pulsIng fragrance
of the midsgraRiey twilight. and then there was
futier of light azure robes ald the fall of
fairy foot>tep. Ere coaid look up, a soft
bright ara, cleaning With the clasp of g
blood red coral bracelet, was around my
neck, and shower of brown cnrls nestled ir
my breast.
She will not, she will negery'
The voice was that of Agnes Day held
the coy. coquettish trembler to my heart.
Life has been brimming with sweets eve,
SINCE Many golden moment has pauset
to sprinkle his chalice of Joy around my foot
steps as it Fnssed into the world of the by
gone; but ia all my existence there never
came a second fine like that / had hser
pleading to Aggie herself while Nettie stoof
smiling in the back ground, the veriest
rosuery glea ming in her hazel eyes, through
the dim culver of joyous fears. ~
9 So I'm ready to have a brother in law'
she SAID, putting aside the roses, and coming
forward just as the wicket fastening clicked
Under Jacks hand, and the fiery spark Of hi.