Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-12-17

I
reposed an unmistakable cap and cane.
1 ttErastus - we exclaimed. The next
| minute he came out to meet US, be-
1 slowed the most business-l like of sa-
| lutes upon his cousin, and favored me
I with brief grip of three of my fin
/ gers in his extended palm.
Cordial way you have of welcoming
a fellow he said. tfHere have I been
two mortal hours without a soul to
speak to, have looked through all the
books, examined the music, and
studied each specimen critically. If
you had not come just as you did, I
should have left in disgust, marched
to the station, and been off without let
ting you see me-"
''Oh, you couldn't have been so
cruel - observed Julia. How could
you expect me to be looking for you
again so soon You We're here for a
week, you know, in April"
9sThat visit was to you; now l have
journeyed hither entirely on Helen's
account. Somebody told me she was
here. so packed my valise and came
along"
Is had pleased Mr.. Bolton to estab-
Iish between himself and me tone of
perfect unreserVe as regarded the eX-
preston of his opinions concerning
me or to me. He called me Helen
Invariably, and criticised my speech,
dress and actions, in a way that made
Julia terribly jealous, she declared,
she having been hitherto the sole OBJ
ject of his zeal in these particulars. 1t
would have seemed absurd to take Of
tense at any of his brusQueries and I
considered him, as I we'll might, a
rather bearish relation, who was fond
Of me at heart.
''What color you have, Helen :" he
said, surveying me attentiVely, after
the first greetings were over. Upon
my conscience, you are growing a re-
markably fine girl. You've never got
over those eyebrows, though, and
never will"
I studied the decried eyebrows care
fully as dressed for dinner. / had
been disposed to admire them myself,
though 1 knew they were peculiar
| black, slender, and almost horizontal.
| Candidly, I could see no reason for al
| tering my opinion now, and wondered
what were the grounds of Mr.. Bottoms
| condemnation. However, L did not
| choose to ask him, and so remained IN
| ignorance.
| His stav was protracted to a consId-
| erable length, his time devoted to
Julia and myself. Mr.. Fairleigh re-
| ceived but little of his notice, state
of things borne philosophically. He
1 rode out with US, made calls about the
| country, and patrOnized tea-Visits. 1t
| was change viewed with wonder by
| his cousin, who had never before
/
| of DANES. She persisted in attribut1ng
the metamorphosis to my influence,
| No doubt I served as we'll as any girl
I I said the purpose of the hour. was
| some one to be attentive to, some one
| to look at, talk to. Any young lady
staying in the house would have been
| the same.
one morning was kneeling in FROM
of a book case, arranging some vol
umes on the lower shelves, when
| heard a voice behind me, saying,
s'satan trembIes when he sees
! The weakest saint upon her knees"
/ I rose quickly, and looked at him
| with disapproval. Il don't like thai
| sort of testing" :" I remarked.
! ''Well, don't often sin in such 9
manner; you must forgive the one of
/ fense. And now hold out your hand
I want to see if this hts"
| He had been very much engaged fol
about week in the manufacture o.
/ coeoa-nut rings, and had donated them
/ very freely about the country among
i the ladies of his acquaintance. One o.
these rings was now rendered to my
ssReaI1y, I am obliged to you,''
/ said, 'tthough my gift comes rather late
in the day. I suppose your calcula
tions were not quite exact, and yoI
had one more than you knew how t.
dispose of. Or, perhaps, Miss Ray
mond refused to take 1t.
''She was not asked"
'iI thought you were carving you
best for her. But, I presume you arr
intending to offer her a ring of NOR,
costly material" +"
s'Perhaps I am" he replied. "Iisi
Raymond is by no means an unfavora
BILE specimen of her sex. She is strong
er in vanity than in intellect, it is true
her soul, if she has one, must be o
| microscopic Dimensions but she il
good-natured, and dresses well. On
might do worse"
'fErastus," I said, laughing, yet a lit
tie vexed withal, chow it would de
light me to see you in love Thor
oughly, Enthusiastically, yf0OJiSbty il
love ~
ssNTv dear girl, that is a sight vol
, will never enjoy. went through witt
. that years ago, as with chicken-po-
and other infant disorders, and an
proof for evermore. I don't mean t
saw" he continued, after pause, 'tha
I can never EoVe any body again. but
, only, that shall never exhibit to tn
r world that sheepish, mOnstrous cOndi
tion known as being i71 lore. I couI
entertain very tender though ration
al affection for woman who wa
worthy of it,
'"There is the difficulty" I said
''With your opinion of our sex, I fea
= you will not very soon find herr
Erastus had been very busily occu
pied in polishing my cocoa-nut ring u
: to the present moment he now laid
a down. and at the same time remove
/ his spectacles. His eyes, not accus
: toned to the unobstructed 1ight
a Winked little as he looked at me.
, stI hare found her" he announced.
''Indeed! And what sort of perso
> is she ?'
I L. -
= shouldn't like to walk through gal
o den and not pluck rose for myself.
e s'Is that her only merit ~
ssBy no means. She has a quic
e though not very we'll regulated minC
: So far as I can judge, her principles al
: correct, her heart warm, her tempe
T amiable.''
e "a pretty good account, y 1 said.
believe you are, as you state, not IN toU
e You analyze your charmer quite to
t coldIy. But, does she return your SCI
J. timents? And who can she be? Neitl
e er Julia nor suspected any thing
It the kind"
zone question at a time. IF she r
/ turns my sentiments, is just what
i wish to know. And as for who she i
she is here-she stands before me-hC
IS name is Helen-it is you ~
sfMr. Erastus - cried, in unqual
- fed amazement.
D 'sYes," !" he said, with little no
ssYou''
stErastus," I exclaimed, in a pr
y voked tone, "this is too bad. thougl
= = you were really going to tell me abOl
- - some one. supposed you were
- earnest"
y sfAnd. so I am, my dear Helen,"
y said, very gravelY.
: This was certainly new. So absul
= and unnatural did it seem that coul
" hardly persuade myself to give him &
~ answer. He sat while in silence, al
- then remarked:
N sWelI, I am waiting"
e 'sMy dear friend, replied, ''if "
3; really mean what you say, am vel
sorry. like you very much-but tn
Is is all"
% Erastus put on his spectacles al
10 took up the ring again.
~ "Confess, y I said, speaking out Il
3 belief of my heart, "that this was on
,e an accident you just happened
think of it as you sat here"
10 ''Not at ALL" he answered quietl
= =