The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-07-09
THE DAILY EMPIRE.
A MANS CONFESSION.
fcoSrINuED.l

part OF The country. with nothing to do
after the few hours Sightseeing was cN-
hausted, and so found my way to High
land Cottage on the following afternoon.
u was very unpretcndng little place.
There was lawn, In front shaded by fruit
trees. and pretty little balcony with iiow-
cring plants, and bird-quite orthodox
and romantic. "Evldently not calculated
TO hold many brothers and sisters" was
my mental comment ~ | noticed the tiny
proportions of the cottage, and was rather
glad of the fact than otherwise. I never
could comprehend the patriarchal blessing
of a large family.
There was no drawback to the pleasure
of my reception. She met me herselfut the
door, was evidently glad 10 see me. and
there was no one In the little parlor 10 in
trude on our tete a tete. | could not help
glancing at the door uneasily now aud then,
expecting momcntarily the appearance of
mamma or elder sister. But no one came,
mud felt ! was making AN unreasonably
long call, and resolved to go many times
before did 20. liked her so much IN her
simple home dress and the low chair and
work-table in the bay window were eyi-
IDENTIFY her special property. All, me to
| think Of going back 10 chambers
But rose to take leave at last, lust then
a pretty child her curls all I'm tangle. and
q great straw hat hanging on her shoulders
by us green ribbon strings, came heated
"hN bi'htiiiiHn NI ilN EhIutn NlihE
"Oh, my darling what race! How
could you run 80 fast Yn said my companion.
Evidently her youngest sister," said To
myself. remarking the likeness between the
two-"But mamma T. said the child.
How started and felt my face flaming
and hot like the chlld's; and my heart
turned over with choking, suilocatng
pressure that almost took away my breath
| How could she look up SO quietly the
| next moment, and say, as If in explanation.
III was just going 10 explain your slight
mistake. 1t is Mrs. Dean, not Miss Green,
who owes you her thanks for your kindly
escort"
only bowed, and silently took my leave.
l could not trust myself TO speak. could
not tell what to think of her or Of myself
IL Is true conld recall nothing that SAVIOR
ed of coquetry or encouragement in the
slightest degree, except the permission to
visit her, which was certainly not quite
right without adding her husbands invita-
tion to her own. And what had suffered
myself to dream over the last twenty-four
hoursp OF time when batchelor quarters
should be things of the past with me; when
cottage like this and It's mistress. too,
nearly like her had just left should vel
come me at nghtiall | felt like one who
has suddenly been robbed of an inher-
tance. rs ] went heedlcssly on my way
under the cool shadow of the trees, and
my abstraction ] suddenly encountered
some one going IN the opposite direction.
In fact, IL was rather more than encounter
nearly "A collision. Both parties felt the
necessity of an apology
IL was Mr.. Gordon. lie remembered me
and evidently guessed my errand Ia the
neighborhOod.
Lovely little woman, Mrs Dean" he
said. noddlng In the direction of the cot
tage. "Known her long ?-before her hus-
bands deathY ?" .
An instant before had wished Mr.. Cor
don on any road he pleased SO that il was
not mine. Now, ! instantly felt con-
strained to offer him the pleasure of my
society. Obliging man! not only discreet,
but liked him all the better for assuming
nst then that was an old acquaintance of
the family.
"lIow any man could neglect such n
pretty young creature, and orphan, too. as
he did, Is past my comprehension" aid
MIR. Gordon. mo one ever knew il from
her. though; no, bless your soul. She never
talks about her own affairs, even to me,
and Pm about the nearest relation she's
got IN the world, or my wife Is, and that's
all the same thing. Now I'll bc bound she
has had many a good offer since; but Won
never would catch her breathing il.
wonder she doesn't marry; though, to be
sure her first experience was not cncour-
aging
lie might have ramblcd on all night in
THIS fashion, and should have "rambled'
beside him, hut discovered had an en-
gagcment which obliged me to bid him
good evening.
IL there was one class of persons mora
than another whom ! had always avoided
twas widows. When my friend Harris
married the relict of an eminent tllow-
chandler, we considered him--all our set
as subject for formal condolcnce and
were ever after accustomed to speak of him
as "the late lamented." When that very
Ensl ga Green had blunderingly put for
ward as relative, proposed Introducing
me TO the rich Mrs. llacklestonc who had
slgnihed her approval of my personal ap-
pcarance' avoided him as If he had pro-
posed deaths head as cheerful evening
companion.
''Widows," had been accustomed In so,,
10 my friend Nelson. "widows are thn nc:-
ticntial atmosphere of female socirty
Avoid them rs you wonld a sirocco nnrf'
cally speaking. You NAV aIwars dntcrt
them on the Instant of their apnroach
There is the nll-blown widow passing for