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

SrleVeS, mo, thOu8n, that you suou'o h''o
learned what true happiness is only through
its absence and that, being yourself too
old to marry, you mean that l shall not
make the same mistake-though you per-
haps never had such an opportunity as now
offers itself to me- or you would" asils
Just then looked up and my voice froze
on my lips Aunt Matida's book slid from
her knees and fel. ON the floor with crash
that sounded tllunderous in the dreadful ST.
lencc that she maintained. Her eyes opened
until they were quite round, emitted green,
wrathful rays that pierced me like so many
lances. Her face was ominously white, like
the sea-line before II tornado; her lips work
ed silently. 1t was good thing for me,
suppose, that she could not find her voice
She only pointed to the door, but l shivered
and did not move.
Leave the room p she finally calculated;
and, though her voice was hoarsc and sti-
fled, felt it quivering then in every fibre OF
my frame.
"Oh, aunt Matilda p l exclaimed, trem-
bling all over and beginning to cry; in
deed, indeed l did not mean anything.
meant--I only meant-I mean thought
that is, l think"
room y she repeated
was too much frightened to stir. stood
with my mouth open and wrung my hands,
and stared at her, as / would a snake that
had charmed me, though that was TAR from
the case with aunt Matilda.
But Just then, in at the corner OF my eye
my face was toward my aunt, and my pro-
file toward the window-there crept
vision of some one coming quickly up the
walk Even under those confusing circum-
stances l recognized the jaunty grace of the
manner in which Adulphus swung his cane,
and l believe in a way that might have JUS
titled my aunt in the belief that l was lu-
matte. l shrieked II little and left off wiring
ing my hands and staring, and darted, bare
headed, out of the room. Adolphus had
then turned the corner of the house, so
that she could not see us, and knew she
had not been aware OF his coming. | flew
to him, and put my hands on his shoulders
tn stop him.
"Oh dear, DolIy!" cried, breathless with
haste and agitation, half laughing and half
weeping at the same time, " Aunt Matilda is
in the queerest mode this morning! don't
know whatever can be the matter with her.
raised myself on tiptnes and whispered in
his ear, holding by his left curl to support
myself-rve found out that she likes you
very much, and that-and that and here
let myself down, and looked timidly at the
ground, and blushed-" that you may ask
her-whatever you wish, Dolly, and have no
fear of the result"
As Dolly did not answer me, glanced up
into his face. 1t was very much flushed,
either with excess Of happiness, or because l
had pulled his curl harder than l had inten-
ded.
"Why don't you say something, Dolly 2"
asked, holding my head on one side, arch
ly. Dolly took both my hands in both his.
He stammered and seemed troubled.
Annette, you understand me, don't your
said he.
made some tiny marks in the tiny sand
with the tiny toe of my boot had very
pretty ioot-and regarded them fxedly. l
said nothing. Dolly raised my right hand
and kissed it.
Don't you," little one? Answer me !"
The tears came into my eyes. You need
not say that was absurd, for l knew it per-
fectly well; but it's all the same-I could
not help it.
"Yes, dear Dolly" whispered; and felt
afraid my face would take fire and blaze up
before his eyes.
"And are you content, little pet 2"
could not speak very clearly. "Any-
thing that contents you will make me happy
murtnured as well as l could.
"You are good little girl, Annette"
said Dolly. And are you sure your aunt is
favorably disposed toward 2"
"Oh, perfectly !" cried, treasured by the
commonplace tone, which knew he used to
put me at my ease again. "She even scold.
ed me just now because she said | did not
praise you as much as you deserve. Think
OF that, Dolly
Dolly laughed.
run along" he said; 81 will go in and
speak to her at once and then come and tell
you all about it. Where shall 1 find you,
Nettie 2"
I'm going into the kitchen to make the
pastry for dinner" said, full of happiness
But perhaps L shall lie through by the
time you are ready for me, and if am l
will be in the library waiting for you. But
if I'm not, you won't mind coming into the
kitchen, Dolly2"
"To find my famous little housekeeper
that is to be9 No, think not, indeed 2"
He kissed my hand again, and turned
away.
ran into the kitchen, then, and began my
pastry making. 1t was well that America
1.-The colored cook-was there, or l don't
know whether or not my aunt Matilda would
have been poisoned. It's very wicked, l
suppose, but, in that view of the case, |
almost wish America had not been there
The flour was already in the tray. Irolled
up my sleeves and plunged my lands into
it, and began to knead it vigorously, though
there was nothing but -four America stared
and remembered there ought to be some
thing else-some eggs! So 1 got some
eggs, and broke them altogethe, whites and
yolks, and split half on my dress and the
rest into the flour without whipping them,
and kneaded away for dear life. Americas
eyes were round as saucers by that time, and
half as large. She set her arms akimbo,
and regarded me serenely.
"What's the matter, America 2" said l.
Don't stare at me SO; l can't work if you
do, and Pm in a hurry to be through. Mr..
Conyngham wants me, you see."
'Thats what's the matter, then!" cried
America with intense disgust, falling to rub
bling the kitchen table as ii she meant to go
through it in five minutes. Its a blessed
sight of pastry he'll have to eat if he gets
you. That's all I've got to say.
America scrubbed on the table, and 1 re-
membered the milk and poured some in;
and put in some salt and some sugar, and
some pepper, and don't know what else,
for was determined to git it right this
time. l saw America looking at me out of
the corner of her eye, and wished she
would not, though she pretended to be
struggling to remove the mountains of dirt