Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-07-09

~ nAAG AAA AN9N $500 -
4 friend, and that friend 6
was no less a parsonage than Mr.
She was much surprised one 1
day on opening the front door in
answer to the summons Of the c
great brass knocker to behold e
him standing on the steps, and his
paving at the gate-abotA s
as much surprised as you would
be IL the statue Of Washington
should dismount from Its ram.
pant steed and pay you a visit
He extended his hand smilingly,
and inquired for her father and
mother, upon which Sallie invited
him in. He said he had been try
ing to obtain some Of the old Eng.
lish strawberry plants. He had
the Hovey Seeding and the Bart
lett an in fact almost every other
variety, but the old English had
become very rare, and he was told
that Mr.. bearing had it.
Upon which Mr. bearing said
that he had, and that Mr., Burch
was welcome to some, And then
they fell into a long conversation
about horticulture in general, and
Mrs. bearing treated him to a
glass Of elderberry wine. SO he
stayed an hour or more. and
though he addressed but few words
to Sallle, his hazel eyes were upon
her even while he talked to her
father. And so, upon one pretext
or another be continued to come,
until at last he came without any
pretext at all.
The old people valued his so
ciety ON their own account not 4
little, but more because, as they
said, the companionship Of a gen.
tleman like Mr.. Burch was such
an advantage to a young girl like
their daughter. As for Sallie, she
regarded him rs dear brother, OF
at least she thought she did, unit
her old friend, Mrs. Burdock-thC
same who was so scandalized by
the "pink ribbons'-destroyed thu
Illusion.
1t was one afternoon in early
June, when Mr., bearing slept il
his arm chair, his wife darning hi.
stockings, and Sallie stitching
away upon some pretty piece o
nonscnse-which, truth to tell, sh,
was much addicted to doing-tha
Mrs. Burdock stalked in like som,
gaunt and grizzly Fate. Ate
discoursing a short time about tn
lateness of the season, the pros
pect for crops-Mrs. Black.
J rheumatic" and Mr., Brown
broken leg-she came at last t
!, the subject uppermost in he
! mind, and which had been the rea
' motive OF her call.
|. $50 Mr.. Burch is going to b
marriedy" she remarked, loOkinI
i, keenly at Sallie. That younI
, woman gave a little start whic
caused her to prick her finger an.
stain her work with blood ant
; let us hope che derived n moment
AIRY satisfaction from the fame
that the cambria was Mrs. Bul
dock, and the needle a dagger
She did not, however, look up no
make any reply, but her mothe
: said, in the most commonplace
way in the world,-
. as he? Who is the lady {"
THAT I haln't found out, bu
hes fixing up his house with til
; beautifullest new things, / mad
, an arrant there and saw 'em my
self. 1t must he the Queen Z
Shelby at least and Mrs, Burdoc
u, cackled at her own wit. "He'
been down to Boston three time
|, in one week-only think of it,
she added.
4, What followed Sallie did nc
hear; she felt confused and bcwi
, dcred, and was thankful when sh
= could steal away to her chamber
Then she reproached herself fo
feeling distressed at the new,
what is it to me- thought sht
"whether he is married or not
He has been the kindest and deal
, est Of friends, and l hoped thing
: might continue as they were, bu
!. | had no right to expect it Wei
whatever happens, | shall Away
reverence him rs the noblest ma.
> In the world-nobody can depriv
me of the comfort"
Like many other young ladies
! Sallie was q little given to super
~latives, as may be seen.
! The next day Mr.. Burch called
milling, rs handsome as ever. H
confirmed the truth Of Mrs. Bur
: docks statement with regard t
. refi,ting his house, and paid Salli
: the compliment of asking the Der
eft of her taste in completing til
arrangements,
=. "Will you put on your hat an
60 with me nowg' he asked.
Certainly" she said, and trie
to add, "with pleasure" but th
| words got no further than he
= throat.
e She remembered how she ha
p once gone over another hons