The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-08-29
From the Sunday Magazine.
LAURA RICHMOND.
BY JEAN INGELow.
CHAPTER ".

amusement. 1t appears to me, he
said, that through a mistake and
damaging frankness, / have thrown
| away the advantage that man usually
| has in talking to al unmarr ed lady,
and you are revenging your self on
me-"
You mean, perhaps, that | am
using the privilege of friend, and
limiting at som thing in you that may
not be.quite ! rfect. l think 1t was a
friend that you wished to be consider
ed, wasn't it?"
Il mean nothing of the kind, my
fair enemy. [ mean that girls in gen.
eral have fancy, a sort of way of re-
garding all bachelors as possible suit
ors."
Have they?'' said Laura, demurely.
"They have"
sAnd that is an advantage to the
bachelor?' s
Unless with the best and kindest of
motives, and with certain manly pity
in his mind for any particular young
lady, he comes and sets matters in a
different light. In such case, you
think he makes over the advantage to
her. Yes, / agree with you, / think
be does In fact, / now feel that /
can talk to you as. freely as if / were
your grandmother
Freely" repeated Dick, Il hope
you consider that you have done that
already. I never felt so helplessly
under the lash of the feminine tongue
II have heard of a prize fighter"
observed Laura, who, when he was
asked why he allowed his little daugh-
ter to beat him: replied, 1t pleases her,
and it doesn't hurt me. "
ut does hurt me, " said Dick, laugh
ing; "it hurts very much; L feel quite
sore (when [ heard the story though,
it was his wife who beat him; you
know best, being my grandmother,
why you altered it, And why do you
assume that you know my motives,
and iusinuate that pay attention to
the old ladies' in order to escape"
WHAT" asked Laura.
''Ohp' said Die, snow think of
it, I am privileged to be as frank as
you are; / acknowledge 3 therefore,
that [ did it in order to escape from
the attentions Of the young, ones.ps
Hio was d otAOhO VI II OnQb
Laura was not prepared for, and she
blushed ia, spite ofherselff i U92
My sisters are exceptions Of
course?" she presently said.
.,'''Decidedlyl and yourselfl How
pleasant it is to speak freely! Yes,
there are at least three exceptions.
One exception is going to marry young
Philpott; another exception is afraid
of Grace, and can't bear me either;
the third exception is my excellent
grandmother Laura, do you know
that you have a most sweet and musi-
cal little laugh?'
Laura looked up.
Il meant that for reciprocity" con-
tinued Dick. II have been thinking
how | could return your compliment
your compliment that you afterwards
completely explained away. Now we
are quits. And | wish to know what
you meant by telling me so many un-
pleasant truths, and making me sit on
this window sill to be lectured?"
Laura had finished clearing her
silver. and had put it in a basket and
risen.
Perhaps I meant it for your good"
she said; but now | think of it, that
is rather an uncomfortable seat. Sol
will let you go now. Goodyear
She came towards him and held out
her hand 1855
But suppose I don't wish to go
just yet, " said the inconsistent visitor. |
In that case, Of course you can
stay; only, as am going, if leave
you here you must promise to shut |
down the window when you do 60
You are going?"
Yes
He took her hand for an instant:
then she turned and left the room.
He was surprised, and sat cogitating
for full five minutes; then he rose and
pulled down the window, going down
the garden to the river, not. half
pleased with himself, and not sure
whether, on the whole, he was pleased
with her. Why did I let her go?"
he thought never met with that
kind o. girl before. How vivid her
sensations are-how shamefaced she
was at first, and how completely my
little mistake gave her courage! She
enjoyed making game of me. | rather
admire that pretty little sauoy smile
Another motive bad she for staying
away from those stupid parties? I +
wonder What that motive is .
Pecuniary losses. press far less heay- {
ily on some people than on Others.
Some people say, How much better
not to have possessed riches. or even
an easy competence. than to have had
such blessings and then lost .er,iH
This is one of the common mistakes
of an un0bservaDt or distrustful mind.
It is best surely, to have every blessing !
it is withdrawn. Still as said before,