Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1868-01-30
THELITTLE OLD MAID.

"Oh, Aunt Fanny, how lovely
Are they for Laura, or for me?''
The speaker, q pretty, but rather
an insipid-l looking blonde held up,
as she spoke, cluster of fine gold
ornaments for the hair, sprig of
wheat and striped grass, very
graceful and pretty. "Where have
you kept them hidden 2"
"They are a keepsake from an
old friend, and have been among
my treasures for thirteen years,
Bertha" was the reply.
"And now they are for me,
said the young girl caressingly'
'They will be so lovely for to-
morrow evening, and / must look
my best; for the girlswill all don
their most fascinating attire in hon,
or OF the occasion"
'Is it not rather marked to be
so very anxious 2" inquired her
aunt. "In my young days, ladies
waited to be sought and courted
but, to judge from what you have
told me, this hero of yours may
have any one in Silverdale for ask
ing"
"Well, he won't know it." re.
piled Bertha; sand, Aunt Fanny,
he really is worth courting: he is
so very rich"
''Is that all which is required,
Bertha, in husband?" said her
aunt, seriously.
"Well, it is the main thing, now
a-days," replied Bertha. "But
Lawrence Lane has more than
riches. Before he went abroad,
report says, he was one of the
most talented men of the day !;
and that old Methodist, Lucy Har-
ding, always speaks of him as a
true christian gentleman so |
suppose he adds charity to the
best of attractions, for she is not
lavish of praise except on those
who are willing to assist her"
"a true christian gentleman p
Aunt Fanny repeated the phrase
in musing tone, while soft light
came into her dark eyes and a
smile hovered over her lips. Ber-
tha, seeing that the gold ornaments
were not to decorate her hair,
went off singing, while with ten
der touch, Aunt Fanny replaced
her treasures in her jewel-case.
The next evening, Laura and
Bertha, in aeecy white blush ros-
es and other delicate flowers in
their hair, and looping the lace
folds here and there, stood before
the long mirror in the drawing
room, pouting.
Il can't see what she wants to
go for" said Laura, pettishly.-
"She hasn't been to a party since
ma died, and that s ten years ago
the little old maid"
81 wonder if she's husband
hunting at her age?' said Bertha.
"Why she is thirty if she's a day"
and the beauty of eighteen shook
her curls contemptuously at the
idea of such an advanced age being
attractive.
In the meantime the object of
their ill-natured remarks, the gen.
tie aunt, who for ten years had
filled a mothers place to these,
her sisters children, waited in
her own room for her nieces. She
had clad her small, slight figure In
a black silk, the severe simplicity
of which was relieved by rich
falls of black lace, delicately EN-,
broidered with golden clusters of
wheat. Her round white arms
and throat were not decked with
i Jewels, but in the braids of black
hair cleaned the golden orna.
ments which the little old maid
had cherished for thirteen years
! She was not beautiful, yet there
was a charm in her sweet face, 9
grace in her gentle movements,
and O music in her voice that were
sought in vain in her more dash.
ing nieces. AS she waited, hel
ewes rested upon aletter, discolor'
ed and worn, which had beer
long hidden under her treasured
ornaments, and she read:
"DEAR FRANoEs:-Since you
will not disobey your father, and
I cannot command the sum ht
demands to pay my fathers deb
Ito him, we must part-part tor 8