Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-07-26
M isetlla neo II s
Long Afterwards.
BY T. S. ARTHUR.

Your coldness hurt Mrs. Lincoln, said
one lady to another.
I'm sorry answered the Ia " to whom
the remark was addressed; but the admis
sion of regret was not made with any feel
ing.
Why do You treat her with distant re
serve, AIRS. Arnold I've noticed this {
nulnhcr Of times. She's an excellent lady
We all like her exceedingly.
Th" eyes of Mrs. Arnold fell to the floor
her face became grave.
i wonder that you do not fancy Mrs
Lincoln. She's lovely character-so in
tcllgcnt, so refined. and with a sweet spr
it towards every one. The fault must b,
in yourself, if there is any natural repul.
sion.
1t was anintimatc friend who spoke, and
the closing sentence was uttered With q
smile.
In that you may he right. said Mrs
Arnold. half smiling in return.
Then there is Il felt repulsion!
Yes.
call that singular. To me it seems
that YOU were born for friends. Your tastes
and svnpathits run in the same direction
and You are infested in the same general
subjects. l am sure. ifvou lincw each other
as well as inow you both, you would be
come closely knit logcther in friendship -
| must get YOU into nearer relation t.
Mrs Lincoln. ,
Il would prefer remaining at my present
distance, replied Mrs. Arnold
Why! There must be reason for
this.
i don't like her.
Mrs. Arnold. I'm surprised to hear
Won speak so decidedly. Mrs. Lincoln ad
mires YOU I've heard her say so, often
onl wants to know you more intimately
than she does now
Mrs. Arnod's brows began to gather
darklv.
What's the matter? What do vou
know about Mrs. Lincoln. that sets her be-
vond the limits of your friendly acquain
tancc :
The truth is. said Mrs. Arnold. I've
GOT an old grudge against her. There was
n time when it wonld not crafty her so
eial pride to call me her friend-and she
treated me accordingly. She was wom-
AN when | was child.
'Wcll--go on.
Mrs. Arnold had paused. for she was
conscious that her cheeks were burning
that her yuice was losing its steadiness of
tone.
perhaps had as well keep silent, she
said The subject is not a pleasant one.
Go on now You have excited my Gil
riositv. would like to know exactly how
YOU stand with Mrs. Lincoln.
There may be n pride and weakness in
the case. returacd Mrs. Arnold. but no
matter. Thus it stands was quick.
child, but very sensitive. Mrs
Lincoln visited my mother. and | often
met her in the pnrlor, when company was
present. She was beautiful tnlkcr. and
it was one of my greatest pie surcs to sit
and listen. | was really fascinated with
her and thought her the lovelirst lady
I had ever seen. One day when she was
at our honsc. sat listening to her convcr.
sation that WAS passing between her
aud some other friend OF my mothers,
in. apprehend. a great deal
more than was imagined, and drinking it
in with delight My mother had left the
room for some purpose. While she was
absent, Mrs. Lincoln in speaking of prev
alcnt human weakness, quoted Il couplet
from Pope:
.The love of Praise, howc'er concealediby art.
Iuies more OF less, and glows In everyiileart.
Now had read largely in Pope. and
held in memory great many ot his terse
maxims. Every word Of this couplet was
familiar, and my ear instantly detected one
wrong word in the quotation. In my
childest ardor and artlcssness. said, look
inr into Mrs. Liucoln's face:
II is reigns, ma'am..
Her eyes turned. flashed on me. in an
instant. and with an angry face she satd:
You've forgotten yourself, Miss Pert.
Children should lie seen, not heard.
She never saw or heard me in the par
or again Invent out with hot checks and
heart full of pain and bitterness. was
sensitive to a fault, aud this rebuke-
50 unnstly giycp-hurt me toa degree
that few would imagine. ! never men
toned it to my mather; nor, indeed to any
living soul before this time and it is over
twenty wears since the slight occurrence.
Nv pride was deeply wounded. She said
hrse cruel words before two or three 9TH
n ladies' in whose opinion wished tn stand
we'll and as child coula not look them
n the face again. From how much pleas
IRE and instruction was shut out from
hat time. Before, had been anxious to
meet my mothers intelligent friends now