The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-07-28
SELECTED STORY.
Nettie's Gouetshtp.

-----gNGeeg0 = SSGGeSeeVtye
Nv aunt Matilda was very religious lady
of a certain age, unmarried and immensely
rich. She was not good looking, being of
vinegar aspect as to expression, and as to
contour, outrageously regardless of the flow
ing curves of beauty. lived with her.
had not penny, but was of the opinion
that my face was fortune. To tell The
truth, was decidedly pretty, and knew it.
My aunt Matilda knew it tso, and Ito re-
press my vanity, she saidD allowed me a ten
inch looking glass, which elevated one eye
brow and twisted my nose, and pulled down
the corners of my mouth in way that might
have moved Spanish inquisitor to COM
passion, and that did move me to much
inward wrath, and many emphatic gestures
with my, doubled fists when aunt Matilda
was looking the other way.
G saved the wages of tile housemaid.
attended to Aunt Matilda's room, and swept
and busted the parlors. and kept my aunt's
clothes in order, and darned iiiier stockings.
and-if it is not wicked to say it-darned
her, too, mentally. And on washing days |
assisted with the cooking, and always made
the pastry. Aunt Matilda said she permit
ted me to do those things with an eye to my
future interest only; and she added that if
ever was foolish enough to get married,
would look back upon these happy days
and deplore the fate that had taken me
from such friend. Considering all the
circumstances thought aunt Matilda was
mistaken.
As for being ''silly enough to get mar
ned," had made up my mind to that long
ago. 1 had never said anything about it
to aunt Matilda, however, for had an idea
that it would vex her dreadfully; and, as
Adolphus was poor, l thought it as well not
to startle her with sudden announcement,
but let her gradually wake to a perception
; of the true state of things. Besides, we
were not positively engaged; and, to be ex-
act, Adolphus had, then, never said in so
many words that he loved me. But every
body knows in such cases words are often
quite superhuous, and l was well aware of
Z Adolphus' intention as if the engagement
ring was already sparkling on my finger.
You observe I say Sparkling" had
quite made up my mind that it should be a
diamond when it did come-for though
Adolphus was far from rich, supposed he
could mortgage something or other, or pawn
his watch, or get it on what be called
"tick"-whatever it may be. And having
read great many novels. l knew perfectly
we'll there was nothing he would refuse to
do to crafty me-until we were married, l
mean, of course. 1t had often pleased me,
too, to see that OF all the young gentlemen
p who came to visit me, Adolphus stood best
in my aunt Matilda's kind opinion. 1
only feared that she might not like him so
well wher she discovered all that could
have told her. An opportunity TO do this
offered itself much sooner than l anticipa-
ted.
While was sitting near her with bas-
ket of her stockings in my lap, one morn
ing, l reflected seriously if it was correct
for me to continue silent. Aunt Matilda
was my nearest relative. and had right to
my confidence; and any heroine of whom l
had ever read would have been ready to
sacrifice her life's happiness to the fulfill
ment of a duty so obviously imperative.
Cogitating thus, and influenced by such
weighty reasons, l had almost made up nv
mind TO speak Gndeed, had almost con-
cluded to do so hundred times before).
when aunt Matilda opened the converse
ton herself, and by a wonderful coincidence
she touched upon the very subject that had
been agitating my thoughts
"Annette," said my aunt, with great alb
ruptness, "Adolphus Conyngham is an ex-
tremely agreeable young man"
My aunt did not look at me while she
spoke. was very much startled. and
blushed of course. and dropped my ball of
darning cotton. l could not think of any
2 thing better to say than, do you think so
aunt Matlldaf' so l said it rather timidIy.
. = My aunt turned sharply toward me. =,
d : Do you think $50, aunt Matilda indeed!"
she cried; II warrant that if it was that
{ worthless John Carpenter. we should have
some fine rhapsodies- quite fluent
praises But because happened to com
mend gentleman" said my aunt with
dreadful severity, sits a milk and water
DO you think so, aunt Matild ?? forsooth.
And pray what fault may you have to find
I with Mr.. Adolphus Conyngham, my fastid-
{ ious young lady 20
ANone, am sure. aunt Matilda" an
swered, trembling with confusion and trou-
bied happiness. Just as you spoke was
about to say how glad was that YOU liked
him SO much.n f,
: =, Oh, you were, were you, indeedp cried
my aunt, with fine accent of sarcasm ooh.
dare say. Just going is very convenient
to be sure, but, just done is much more to
the purpose, let me tell you." III.
went on with my stocking. much abash.
10 ed and puzzled. and aunt Matilda picked mn
her book, and recommended its perusal with
2 significant and somewhat fierce absorb.
ton, She had a distressing way of drawing
her breath aubibly throug h her nose shae'
king her head with short quick Jerks when
eshe was yexed, that alwagys made me trem.
BILE: She didso now; but in the course Of
an hour or so she quieted dewn pradpallv
and appeared to regain her usual eouanim;''
ty. The conversation was again resumed
with almost the same preliminaries that had
preceded it before. First, my aunt's book
trembled a little in her fingers. and then Il
3 dropped and reminded her that it had been
forgotten. This was repeated once or twice.
and presently, when it slipped quietly into
her lap, she let it be there. and fixed ber
{ small gray eyes, (my eyes were laroe and md
hazeD upon the cherry tree, as betore--not
at all as if she saw what she was looking Of
She spoke in calm, reflective tome 90 ;f
7 the conversation had never been broken off
= g Yes, Annettep said my aunt. II feel ot
las, that I have been mistaken in NV theory
of life, Accept my experience, nv dear
u It is not best for woman to isolate her I;fo
as have done miae" ~ INV