The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-08-04

"Well, then, will, Benjamin. Why are
we put into this world together, II not to
help each other9" said she, us with an AR
of virtuous responsibility she threw little
maize colored rigolette over her weather.
beaten curls. and a white breakfast shawl
over her shoulders. Then putting on her
gloves with the air of q circumnavlgator,
she started across the street.
One might fancy she would pick up the
pillow upon the way but no. hope she
was above meddling with her neighbor's
tbinusl Certainly She walked impressive
ly to the door, and rang the bell, winch was
Immediately answered by Mr.. Whiting him
self, with carpet-bag in his hand, anti his
hat upon his head.
"Going away, are you 2 sad MISS DIS.
brow, diverted for the time from her"riginal
GRAND, by this opportunity OF inserting the
wedge of inquiry.
.Ah! Miss Disbrow. Yes, / am going to
Chicago ON little business trip. Won't you
come in2n
"Thank you, Mr.. Whiting, not this
morning Does your wife accompany youT
No, she doesn't. She is gong to Gin
cinna,i Tor few days." replied Mr. Whiting,
who was as guilcless as II spring chicken,
and not much more of a mouthiull Tor the
manpuvring black fox, who was always
found a great deal more flavor in anything
she had at first unearthcd by skillful digging
"You had better come II" continued he cor
daily. 'Mrs. Whiting is busy packing, but
she will be glad to see you" And the delu-
ded man really believed so; for although he
had lived IN such close relation with Mrs
Whiting for five years, he was only man
after all.
But Miss Disbrow was woman, ana SO
she knew a great better than to be persuad-
ed that a person is glad to see callers when
packing.
"Oh, no, indeed, Mr.. Whiting. Thank
YOU but Just ran over in nelghborly
way to tell YOU of little accident hap
pened to observe from my window. A pill
low fell from the balustradc where your
chamhermaid very careiessly left it, and is
is now lying on the sidewalk. l was fear
full it might come to grief before any of
the family missed 1t. Good morning" And
so speaking Miss Disbrow bowed and rustled
away.
Benjamin." said she mysteriously, when
she reached her own rocking chair again.
II cannot see why Mrs. Whiting takes the
time to 90 to Cincinnati when her husband
is away. 1t would be my choice not to
leave the house with that tidgetty Bryan
Geoakes Or then. why not Mrs Whiting
60 to day, while her husband is here to see
her off? 1 can't understand it,
And with this, Miss Disbrow fell into a
fit of musing, and unused so long and silent
ly that Benjamin fell asleep and dreamed he
knew where there was q wOodcock'S hole,
and the woodcock in it.
Meantime Mr.. Whiting kissed his wife
(probably,) took his valise and went on,
happily unconscious of il cloud no bigger
than mans hand already coming up in his
domestic sky. He thought of no shadow
darker than the bank of heavy dampness
hanging above his head in the heavens.
And that very evening those vaporous
clouds, having sulked long enough over the
wretched condition of muddy streets, made
up their mind, and expressed it by coming
down in an emphatic fall of snow, that gil
ded from umbrellas and dritted against win
dows, like a slipping off of great white
blankets By daydawn the streets and roofs
and stceples were white as a miler's cat,
and the air rang with the scraping of shov-
els and the jingling of sleigh bells.
"Of course Mrs. Whiting won't think of
starting after such snow storm, with every
prospect of the roads being blocked. OF
course not, Benjamin." said Miss Disbrow,
seating herself to the occupation of look
ing upon the things of her neighbor with
all the eyes of her own and all the eyes of
her glasses-watching them so intently that
actually a pair of pigeons flew into the
belfry of the church. and pair of ragged
boys peeped into the vestry windows with
out her Knowing it. But her watch was re-
warded, for at precisely quarter past eleven
a close carriage came up to Mrs. Writings
door.
{" As sure as you are born Benjamin, she
is going! !" exclaimed Miss Disbrow, appa-
rently as violently astonished as ii she had
not been looking all the morning for a sight
What can the woman want of two trunks
just going down to Cincinnati for few
days?" and she continued, appearing to sus-
pect the tricks of the Trojan horse.
"Well, now, can't see why she takes so
much baggage. And as sure as you're made
Benjamin she has new travelling suit
throughout, hat and all. A suit of silver
gray popln, with muff and collar Of Astrac-
han wool, and an Alaska hat. She looks as
girlish as you please, added Miss Disbow,
bringing her opera glass. which always lay
conveniently near on teapot, to bear upon
the small figure of her neighbor. who was
turning back at the door for last word to
Bridget Geoakes; seeming, as she stood
there to the untried eye, as cheerful and in
nocent as Burgundy rose. But alas, things
are not what they seem.
eff that woman is ever dssccted I want
to see her heart, Benjamin. 1 believe she
has no more than you could put on the point
of Il needle. | do So" resumed Miss Dis
brow, putting Down her glass as the carriage
slowly plowed its way along the snowy
street, and taking up the book-mark she
was embroidering for the pulpit Bible
The sun shone, the pigeons whirred past
the windows, the school boys snow-balled,
the engine screamed, and the cars rumbled
and grumbled glided out from the depot,
disappearing around the long curve, out be-
hind the city limits and so far away into the
limitless somewhere in the wide world.
And with them went little Mrs Whiting,
blithe as a blueja and charming as June
if, after all she is not supplemented as a
daisy9
4" Did you know Mrs. Whiting over here
had gone away, Aunt Alma ?" cried out her
neice Moraretta, bursting into the room that
afternoon in her usual abrupt way.
Certainly, niece. Take care, child
don't upset that pot of pl'imroses.
Miss Disbrow always enjoyed call from
Moraretta, something as one would to see a
calf taking his msrnlng walk among ones
Verbenas.
Moraretta. little more. and you would
have thrown down the shade over my wax
flowers Did you want anything2"