The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-07-28

heard Mr.. COnynghamS steps, on Tue SUITS.
The dresser, and the table, and the range
and America, and the windows, seemed all
suddenly seized witha dancing mania they
whirled round in the giddy ci Giles. But not
wishing to meet Adolphus in the midst OF
them managed to reach the door and to
close it behind me in time. He stopped,
startled, seemingly hy my face.
/" How pale you look p he cried. "My
poor child, what is the matter with you?
The heat of the kitchen has been too much
for you. Never mind All that will be
changed very soon now"
fell upon his neck, sobbing in good earn
est.
"Oh, Dolly 1t is all right, then, is 2" |
managed to say, though l was choking
with tears and happiness. "Tm so glad
I'm so glad didn't know but she might
change her mind at the last moment. She
is so very queer, you knew dear"
"Yes. I know she is" said Dolly.
F" Perhaps she will stop being queer now,
DolIyl" said, patiently, raising my head.
" Perhaps she will,' said Dolly, making
wry face "Shc's very rich, at any rate"
Yes, so she is; and that is something"
I answered, little surprised at the remark,
however "Bnt why don't You tell me all
about it, Dolly 2"
"You are to go to her at once" said Dol
lv, holding back asI would have drawn him
forward. "She will tell you all about it
hersefn
'She! Why don't you?' cried, quite
breathless, staring at him in amazement, for
his manner was certainly strange Well,
if she is to tell me, l want you to come
too. Oh, Dolly, Dolly, what does all this
mean 2"
Dolly looked very nervous, and did not
make any answer at all. After Il minutes
hesitation, however, he put my hand in his
arm and took me up to the drawing-room
door,
Mop said 1, resolutey, when lie would
have left me there. mo, Adolphus; | tell
you solemnly, l won't go in step unless
you come too. There"
Aunt Matilda was seated at little ia
bic opposite the door. She occupied the
attitude known as "Medi:ation in all the
ANIMALS and ladies' books-in which maid
en-, with immense eyes, sits with her
finger on her check. and regards pensivelg
a curpulent dive, while her lover stands in
the background-the perspective represent
Ing him as something more than hundred
feet high. to indicate, have always sup
posed, the height of the maidcn's regard for
him.
Aunt Matilda smiled and shook her head,
and dropped her eyes several times in a
most extraordinary manner as soon as she
saw me. Before anything could be said, she
few to me and clasped me in her arms, and
wept over me- would have tried to get
away, but thinking it might injure Dolly's
prospects, bore it as well as | could, and
and only moved my face little, so that
might get my breath.
"You remember, love-" whispered aunt
Matilda agitatedly, "what | told you this
morning"
Eyes, ma'am," answered, when was no
longer sitting, "very well. You were very
kind. l cannot thank you enough, and
Dolly cannot, either, am sure"
Don't call him Dolly now, Annette"
said aunt Matilda, still clasping me dread
fully close But know you mean well.
Shall we not be happy together, love?"
"Oh, aunt Matilda" cried, DO you re-
ally mean you are going to live with us 2
That is very-very kind, certainly, but"
1t was as much as could do to keep
from pinching her or crying, or doing both
at the same time To think of it! Butt
did not think Of it long
Aunt Matilda suddenly recovered her
centre of gravity. She raised herself very
straight and stiff. and held me by both
shoulders at arms length. and gazed at me
with two eyes that went through and
through me in hundred thousand red hot
needle rays.
"What in heavens name does the girl
mean ? Am going to live with you
Will you have the distinguished kindness,
Miss to tell me if you mean to marry Mr.
Adolphus Conynham yourself2 or will you
graciously allow him to know his own mind
and choose for himself? And to choose
me-yes, even me! if he desires it."
felt cold and sick. l turned my head
slowly around and looked at Dolly. He
sucked the end of his cane and stared stead
lastly at his boots; his face was quite pale.
1 gave up every thing then, and stood quite
silent for minute, my knees shaking so that
it was quite hard to stand up.
Forgive me, dear aunt" managed to
say, "the news confused me so-that was
all l meant to ask if you Were really going
to let me live with you9 1t wonld have
been horrible if had cried then but oh ! I
was so near it
Aunt Matilda's expression softened she
embraced me again, and could hardly en-
dure it. was almost suffocatcd any how,
and the very touch of her dress seemed
almost to choke me. She kissed my fore
head.
Matter-offact little housekeeper," cried
my aunt Matilda, smiling; thinking of the
mics I warrant Confess now"
"Yes, aunt, was" l said and l hope l
may be forgiven for the falschood. "And
after have kissed you and congratulated
Mr. Conyngham l will go and sec if they lie
brown enough"
So kissed aunt Matilda and congratulate
ed Mr. Conyngham. And oh l had never
seen mis- moustachc look half so handsome
before And then went up stairs and
cried. But remembered after while that
Mr.. Carpenter was coming after dinner; so
got up and bathed my eyes and combed
my hair. 1t was curled; and remember /
wore one of the little, Marie Stuart points,
which were fashionable then, and which
were remarkably becoming to me. Mr..
Carpenter said I had never looked so pretty
before. .9.+.....
Old Mr., Carpenter Johns uncle) died soon
after, and left him quite handsome fortune.
So you seas Ioften tell John it is always
well to trust our future to Providence, with
perfect confidence, that everything happens
for the best.
l am sorry to say, Adolphus has wasted
most of my aunt's fortune, and fear they
don't get along very well. All. we always
receive our just deserts.
A Curious Casc-Poisoned by a Razor
A barber named William Brewster, doing