The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-08-13

rolled over on mattresses; made nests 10
curl myself up in among heaps of blank
| cts; revealed in hidden relics brought TO
| light; perched myself on cupboard
| shelves; read Gulliver's Travels un-
| disturbed in the pantry by jar of
| sweetmeats; and a dozen times nearly
tripped up our portly butler as he was
| carrying loaded trays up stairs. When
the raid extended to the sitting rooms,
found unanticipated pleasure. The stat
| uettes of bronze and marble had always
looked at each other so unmoved
| from their different corners that it
a German story of house where the
China figures of a shepherdess and
| chimney-swecp made love to each other
when no one was in the room, and finally
| ran off together l was always hoping
something of the kind might happen in
our art collection, and now, when all the
casts and figures were sat down in q crowd
on the great comfortable, it really seemed
as if they could not keep silence. At
night, when every one had gone to their
rooms, a within seized me to creep softly
down stairs, and peep into the drawing
room to see what was going on among the
bronzes and marbles. The moonlight lay
across the table, and Clytie unchanged
never breathed or moved, though bronze
| Pan made mute music on his pipes before
her, as motionless as she. Faust did not
kiss Marguerite; and Mercury, poised on
one toe, did not catch at the chance to
substitute the other foot. Altogether the
assemblage was a failure Have the
fairies, then, never yet crossed the ocean
from Germany?
There was a low hum of voices in the
kitchen below; so, disappointed in my
miracle seeking, l thought l would slip
down stairs, and see what was going on
so late. The butler, the cook, and the
chamber maid, each stood, candle in hand
lingering over some dispute.
"Well leastways," said the butler, miss
Emily have very sweet manner, and
that's all know"
"She have her own way, that's what
she haver said the cook.
"Humw interrupted Kitty, "she makes
cod chills run over me. She's winding
'em all about her two little fingers, and
she has the evil eye for certain. Mind you,
she brings no good!'
Next morning as met Emily on the
staircase, | stopped her and looked straight
up at her face.
whats the matter now, Charlie?" she
asked, with toss of her yellow curls
81 want to see your eyes; please look at
me-"
"What fors" she demanded, without
meeting my glance.
|, kitty says you have the evil eye for
certain. What does she mean, Emily?"
asked mischievously.
al should think, Charlie, you might
know by this time that what servants
mean is not of the slightest Importance u
And she moved haughtily by me.
J A week after Kitty was dismissed.
!, Louise pleaded for her in vain She had
lived with us for six years, and | asked
my mother what fault she had commit
, ted
Emily has discovered her in some dis
J honesty" mother said, quietly al don't
: know what should do without Emily"
Evidently Emily was quite usurping
Louise's place, but Lou didn't seem to
J mind, and loved her just as we'll One
, day asked Lou if she wasn't jealous. She
blushed brightly, and said, with a shy
smile, "Why, Charlie, if 1 should ever be
leaving home, you know, l should feel so
much better to have my place filled, so
that they would not miss mer'
; II should miss you! I should miss
/ you'll" | exclaimed, clinging to her, and
half crying. She bent and kissed me-
my darling boy, do you think should
not take you with me? We will never be
, parted, Charlie could not bear any one
to take my place in your hearth"
suppose when she spoke of leaving
, home, she was thinking fPhilip Rayburn,
for had heard several little hints and
whispers lately, which made me pretty
!, sure that some things were settled between
, them and he came to the house oftener
, than ever.
When the reception-rooms were all ar
ranged again, my mother disposed the fur
/ niture differently, moving chairs and tables
Emily advising her One great, richly
} carved sofa, with a high, antique back,
she insisted should be placed transversely
across o corner.
at looks so much easier than to have it
: stiff and straight by the side of the wall,
she said. / chuckled to myself for fore
saw rare hiding place, which might re-
main unsupported for long time i'll We're
careful; and the next chance had, when
no one was in the room, collected a few
things in that corner for private delecta-
ton. put the softest hassock there and
Scotch plaid to lie on, one of my little
chloroform bottles which l keep to smell
: at when l am nervous, and some of my
favorite books. OF course ! could not
: read in there, but just the laying my hand
: or my cheek on a volume makes it seem
like companion, and brings its contents
all into my mind. Such a snug little tri-
, angle as made of it, shaded and secluded
entirely by the high back of ancient cary
ing, and the only light which could reach
me there, must crawl along the carpet
, under the damask and fringe 1t was very
| az, ~ Ill
Emily began to Je invited everywhere!
under mammals chaperonage society re.
ceived her with open arms; bouquets and
! cards of invitation kept our little waitress
doing duty at all hours, and gentlemen
, made calls of an evening, inquiring espe-
cially for Miss Grey. My mother scolded
r her for receiving them so coolly, bnt, de-
spite the GOODNESS, Emily infused some
nameless charm into her manner which
made them call again and again.
r 1t was during these days that Louise
and Philip had a falling out; why, / did
rot know, but some trouble there evident
S ly was. Louise grew sad and constrained
e but made no confidant of any one unless
it was Emily. i would have cut my right
hand off at any time to serve Louise, but
she never asked me to serve her.
One day l heard her say to Emily
You must see him when he comes this
afternoon. I cannot. And o make him
understand that | never could have writ
, ten those dreadful letters, and tell him
that | cannot see him till he has faith in
2 me again. 1t would break my heart to
7 see distrust in his eyes. o Emilyr' And
my bonnie Louise bowed her head and
| wept
1t cut me to the heart, and l was SO
| helpless to aid herl For the first time
: in my life l regretted my peculiar physique
/ for other brothers were expected to de.
fend their sisters, and did it but what
could /, poer dwarf, do to bold, athletic,
handsome Philip Rayburn? felt very ig.
nominious and crept away to my corner
3 and my chloroform behind the sofa for
| consolation, and there fell asleep in my
misery.
/ awoke suddenly at last, hearing
voices l am always on the alert, and
J never startled into making noise, so /
lay perfectly still and quiet to hear what
was going on. Emily Grey was talking to
, Philip Rayburn in her characteristic, low,
sweet voice, and could imagine just how
her lovely pale face looked with its great,
sad blue eyes, and her yellow curls floating
over her shoulders.
at puzzles me So" she said, hesitatingly
al cannot bear to believe that Louise
wrote them and yet-what can believe,