The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-07-01

were chanRlng into the dry and scared
leaves Of winter.
My husband was q merchant, aud rs
We had returned from the South at the
close Of the war, Of course he had very
recently commenced business. We had
sufficient for ourselves and children, and
my husband was beginning to do very
fair business, with every prospect ofsuc-
cess, without an unforeseen accident
We were very happy in our little home
circle. We had formed the acquaintance
ofa few pleasant friends, and our even
ings were spent in intellectual CONVERSE.
ton, or cheerful, social, fireside amuse.
mcnts, in which our children could Join;
and fastening home from school, they
found here their happiest, truest, and
purest enjoyment.
CHAPTER ".
One morning, early in October, had
been out on little shopping expedition,
when upon returning and entering my par.
lor, Mrs. Selby rushed forward and nearly
smothered me in one of her original EN-
braces. Said she was overjoyed to see me,
hnd not written wanted to take me by sur.
prise. | saw she was amused about some.
thing, and was laughing and rolling her
eyes in u very peculiar manner, at last,
turning towards the back paror, saw q
pair of large black eyes pecping at me from
behind the door.
"You are CAUGHT cried Mrs. Selby
"come out, my dears - and out bounded
Ellen, followed by Fannie.
"Oh! dear Mrs. May, we thought we
would never get here ; it seems an age since
we saw you last would have been here be.
tore, but Auntie said well girls. let's get
through with all our picking and preserving
and fall work, and when we do go we can
stay just rs long as we please : so Uncle
said pack of and don let me see you again
till spring. Auntie, | am sorry to say,
will have to return in few weeks, but
expect she will be down again before the
spring, won't you, Auntie?'
al don't know, girls; it will all depend
upon circumstances you will not be lone.
some, though, for you know next week
Mollie and Susan Hunter and Sallie Dash
will be down, and expect you will have a
merry time"
The closing speech feel upon me like q
thunderbolt, and as left the room they
were chatting and looking out of the win.
dow, making remarks and pointing their
fingers ut every well dressed man or woman
that passed. Tottering rather than walking
up TO my room, felt like onein dream.
had not realized that all these people, the
acquaintances of day, could have the as.
surance to flock down on me like swarm
of locusts. felt under some obligations to
the Selbys, but the Hunters and the Dash s
had no claims on me whatever.
My husband looked astonished rs he came
in, to see the curtains drawn up so high,
and so many strange faces at the window
| introduced him to the ladies', and they
were all soon chatting merrily. They ''took
to him." as they called it, as readily as they
had to me; asked him about the various
| places of amusements, what was being play.
ed now, and said they were dying to go.
Ellen asked if ! had picked out beau
for her?
Ny husband playfally remarked, that he
would bring her up halt.a dozen.
This set her all in tlutter; she giggled,
shook her horrid waterfall, and glanced into
the opposite mirror, until my husband was
ready to explode with laughter. Seeing
him look SO merry, my spirits rose to their
usual tone, and we all went gaily down to
dinner.
In the evening my husband, true to his
promise, brought up couple of young
clerks from the store, and the young ladies'
were invited to go to the theatre. Fannie
declared she could not 60; no indeed, she
would much rather go to u prayer meeting,
if knew Of any near by. | knew of none,
and finally she was persuaded to go TO the
theatre with young Morton, handsome,
dashing young fellow, just from New York,
full of fun and mischief, and great ladies'
man. The gay experiences he gave Of life
in that great city filed the ladies' with wonder
and astonishment. ado tell laws sakes
is that so who would a thought it ~ were
among the interjections that fell from their
lips, and when young Morton saw how easily
they were brought to believe all his wonder.
ful stories, he piled it on, as he afterwards
said, until they must have thought them
selves in the iabled lands Of the East.
When they went up stairs to prepare for
the theatre, they said ''their bonnets did
not look nice or fashionable, like mine ;
could | not find them something that looked
better F' replied that my new black vel
vet bonnet had just been sent home, end |
had never worn it yet, but you arc welcome
TO the one you saw me were to-day y very
pretty bonnet that had gotten for my sec.
ond best.
.Ohi what love of bounet,r said
Ellen, seizing my new one; 'just let me
try it on"
In moment she had it on her head, and
was admiring herself in the glass.
at does not suit your WATERFALL" sug.
gested. ''Thcy are worn very high now."
"0h think anything looks well in this
charming bonnet" she answered so she
tied the strings and put on her shawl.
Hurry, Fannie, we will be late; you
can wear Mrs. Nays other bonnet, and you
will look very well, indeed
was perfectly dumbfounded by her cool
audacity.
Miss Ellen" said, 81 have really never
worn that bonnet, and it being very fragile,
| would not like TO wear il myself, at night. u
"Oh, you would not make me take it OF
now2 Just let me wear it tonight; III
christen i for you" and away she sailed
down stairs.
followed, my cheeks burning like ERE.
/ ocald not say anything, as the gentlemen
were present, and as ii was late they left
Immediately for the theatre. | sat down
with my sewing, very quietly, vainly endeav.
oring TO steady my trembling fingers and
control my feelings.
Mrs. Selby chartered upon various topics
with my husband in her most winning man.
ner. Finally, throwing herself back in the
| chair, she said
"By.the bye, Mrs. May, does Farmer still
keep his delicious creams? Oh, / remem.
Der how delightful they were last season,
and my friends the Adams, where was
staying, used to take me nearly every
|