The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-08-19

quainteu with my cousin. All that
knew of her ] knew from report.
'Too pretty Tor the place. 1 com
mented inwardly and then 1 was very
angry with myself, aRd begged Ber
nard s pardon in my heart. and could
hnd no words strong enough to con
demn my want Of faith. and tried very
hard to like my pretty cousin. Ia
fac,, she was mere $ ip of a girl, very
siis Mt aud light looking, with very un.
deuiabie eyes, and very undeniable
uourh. A little girl, with little deli
cate ears. slim fe.t, and long fingered
hands with pink palms. .g
That>night | locked long and earn.
estly at myself 10 the glass, I believe
1t is not uncommon for young ladies Sc
to do. and with me it had grown rather
a habit. I was always so anxious to
see it; haply, 1 appeared one shade
fairer, and / know that turned my
hole hair inside out, that so might
get at the lghtest tints. That night,
however. 1 played 10 such freaks. l
simply stood and examined.
saw IN the glass well shaped girl, a
brown face brilliantly coIored, plump
white neck, round plump arms decora d.
ted wi h dimples, little fat hands. also
all over dimples, but grievously brown,
and with fingers ungracefully short
| Now, looking back on what saw, I
highly approve Of the image in the
glass; but Maggie in those days was
not satisfied, ... ......
Brown ~ I sighed, discontentedly.
"Brown is no word ior it. Mahogany
is nearer the color"
Thus 1, Maggie, iIto the small
hours ; then, tired at last, I crept into
bed, acd brought my brown face into
contrast with tue sheets. .-...t
Next morning on entering the break
fast room, found Florence already
down before me, looking fresh, and
sweet. as an English girl should. at
rome thing before eight in the morn.
ing.
My father was on artist, and had a
true artists reverence for, beauty. He
louked with admiration at her elegant
little figure at her classically shaped
head with its glossy wavy hair simply
and prettily confined. Bernard was
NOT SO artistic. glanced at him over
my teacup, but his handsome blue eyes
we're bali asleep, and his face blank
wall for expression.
At length, as watched him, I saw
the man change /; his sleepy blue eyes
woke up, and some intelligence flashed
10 his lace Turning to Florence, and
for the first time addressing her, he
said:
You have just come from London,
Miss Bnrnand. Where have you lately
been visiting 2"
'.Kensingion," said Florence, stwen-
~ nine Anonymous Terrace. It's very
pretty about there
sit is So" he replied, lacoDically;
and, turning from her, he chatted gayly
to me all through breakfast.
was filled With a horrible dread
Twenty nine Anonymous Terrace
And Bernard's mother, 1 knew we'll,
lived at twenty. Could it be possible
that Florence was the lady she had Sc
lected for his wife. She bad plenty of
money, and she was aristocratic enough
for any great dame. ...- ...
Oh. dear. how I wish that Bernard
and might but run down to the sta
tion after breakfast, and see her off po-
itely by the train. Not so, however.
I see my father shut himself up in
his studio: I watch Bernard. sauuter
down the garden. waiting, as usual, for
me to join him; I wonder how on
.arth shall get rid of Miss Burnand.
1 think of papa's little hint--the
sntimncassars-but I feel intuitively
that, though a crochet-needle may be
very well in my little short fingers. Miss
Burnand's pretty hands arc not turned
70 such account. Then Bernard whis-
lies, and flush, and Florence looks
around her-a well-bred girl much
amazed, 1 feel hot and indignant.
What ridiculous lovers she must think
us ,. ..-..
fwitch my old hat from a peg. aud
half make as though would put it on
To put it on entirely, I bad not cour-.
age Florence catches the idea con
veyed by my hat.
II am going to write letters" she
says. "dun't mind me"
l place pens and ink before her with
me rapidity of an experienced clerk,
and dance out into the sunshine down
our gay little garden up to Bernard.
A long happy morning; lovers long
talk We go out of the garden, and
iato the fields. and sit on great yellow
haystack. Bernard goes up fist, and
I climb up after. Bernard talks rub
bish. and l talk rubbish after him.
He tells me where, when we are
married, he means TO take me. We
are TO touch, it would seem, at all the
Ioveliest spots o. the earth we ejust
to touch, and pass on. am very mex
perienced, and l have never been out
OF Staffordshire Still. 1 vaguely feel
that this touching and passing on may
be expensive.
THAT will require money!" 1 say !
modestly interrogative.
Beyond a doubt, Madge."
Brrnard's face clouds. feel sure |
he is filial, and thinking of his mother. |
Some subtle association of ideas places |
florence before me.
''What do you think of her, Bernard?
You admire her, Of course 2"
"Of course do" he said. "Who
could help it?'
was mortally ashamed, but little
je.luus thrills ran down my dreadlully
plump arms, and l felt myself striving
to side out of his grasp. |
Bernard would not hear of the ar
ra,.pamopt He took mn potica nf NV