Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1871-06-21

summoned me upstairs to the relief of
my good, faithful Hannah, who was
trying TO quiet the baby while her
thoughts were in the kitchen.
Pm glad you've come, Miss Barbara,
she said. I shall be only Miss Barbara
to her-the child she had loved and
tended-as long as we both live. This
boys a-teethin', just astrue as preach
in. He'd never worry so if he WANT.
But take him, child, for the bread is
riz, and it's time it was in the oven.'
It was a hot, breathless morning.
Sitting down by the window with little
Allie on my lap, I re-read Miss Delama-
ter's letter, lingering longest over this
passage:
do give my love TO your wife. I re-
member hearing the young men rave
about Barbara Wilson's grace and beau
ty years ago. Now that you have
crowned her queen of hearts, am
dOubly anxious to know her.
doubted whether the fair writer had
even so much as heard of me until the
day when, standing beneath the shad-
Ow of st. Peters, with the blue skies ol
Rome above her head, and its stOried
hills around her, news had come to her
that her old friend and companion had
taken unto himself wife. AS for the
raving about my grace and beauty,
in the quiet country home where Wal
/ ter had found me, that mode of prOce.
dure was not the fashion. Perhaps l
did my coming guest great injustice, but
1 felt as if the pretty speech was made
simply for effect; and I fear it hardened
my heart against her.
tried to feel that there was a species
of indelicacy, q lack of true wOmanly
feeling indicated by the approaching
visit. How could she thus thrust her
unwelcOme presence-unwelcOme at
least to me-intO our home? But a mo-
ment of reflection showed me the ab-
surdity of that idea. Walters father
had been her guardian. AS boy and
girl they had played together, sang to-
gether, studied together. Whether or
no any warmer feeling had ever found
lodging in her heart, there could be lit
tie doubt that she cherished for him
something closely akin to a sisterly af-
fectiOn. Itwas right that, after her five
years of travel, she should, if she wish
ed, come to his home as to a brothers.,
and find welcome there.
And as for my good, noble, true-heart-
ed husband, could 1 not trust him.
So 1 thrust the demon of jealousy. in
to my hearts darkest closet, and turned
the key upon him. No ray of light
should visit him; no breath of air should
strengthen and vivify him; no voice
should break the silence to which 1
committed him. He should die there,
Unshrined and unaneled.
Allie betook himself to his nap at last,
and then, con hospitable thoughts in
tent" I went in pursuit of Hannah.
The dark mood of the early morning
had passed, and few about my small
house only intent upon making it fair
and presentable to eyes that had seen
SO much, and a pleasant resting-place
for feet that had wandered so far. The
guest-chamber was swept and garnish-
ed, the parlOr was made fresh and sweet
with the soft, wandering airs of sum-
meT, and the breath of roses and hello
trOpes. The baby was tied into his
high-chaiT, and he pounded away upon
the kitchen table, while Hannah and l
tossed together light, golden drifts of
spOnge-cake, and moulded jellies clear
as amber. We roasted a chicken-and
ourselves as welI-that it might be ready
to slice for supper; and, through much
tribulatiOn and stress of body and mind,
1 prepared a salad after an approved
French receipt that 1 had never tried
BEFORE
Doubtless did twice as much as I
should have done that day; twice as
much as was in any way needful. But
1 was young wife, young hOusekeep-
er; and could not bear that Miriam
Delamater's critical, fastidiOus eyes
should find any lack in my home or its
appointments that fOrethOught or labor
of mine could supply.
"LOOk your prettiest tonight, Bah
ette," Walter had said, when he went
out after dinner; "PIl have Miriam here
by a quarter past five at the latest"
meant that evening, of all evenings
in the year, to leave myself ample time
to make such toilette as my husband
best liked. But the moments flew
apace, and when at last [ took Allie and
went up to my chamber it was long af-
ter four.
The child was UncomfOrtably warm |
and tired from his long confinement in
the high chair, and his little frock was
creased and sOiled, for Hannah had Civ
en- him all sorts of things to play with.
Hastily stripping him, I gave him /
bath, arrayed him in fresh garments,
and brushed the gOlden-brown hair that
cOiled about my fingers in host of tiny
cUrls. Then placed him on the bed,
to keep him out of harms way, and be-
gan my own preparations.
But Master Allie raised his voice in
wild lamentatiOn and refused to be
cOmfOrted, although gave him my
best bracelets and my watch-chain. He
had been left to his own devices long
enough, he thought, and no cOaxing or
cajOleTy suficed to restore his good
humOr.
called Hannah.
"Dear me, Miss Barbara! I'd come if
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