Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-05-12

green material. There were a number OF
incongruous arm-chairs and asy-lounges
about, some covered with rose-and- gold
colored satin, some worked in wool, and
some modestly clothed in brown holland.
And these all stood out in clear relief on a
dark polished floor, for economy and taste
had combined to make us adopt the for
eign custom of dispensing with carpet.
There were several quaint and beautiful
cabinets, filled with old china and glass.
and one that we called 1.-THE chi1dren's
cabinet" in which were displayed the sill
yer goblets, and ivory-bound books, and
other pretty things that had been given TO
our babies. And the walls were hung
with five rare old Venetian mirrors, a few.
good photographs and engravings,G and
several good specimens Of Oriental and
old French china plates and dishes, that
were fastened up in peculiar way with
fine wire, making spots of "color" on the
delicately-tinted paper that were delicious
to my eyes. Additionally, there were
large and admirable copies of the Venus
de Medici, the Venus of Milo, the Apollo
Belvidere, the Clytie, the Ariadne Damp.
lier 81, and other masterpieces of ancient
and modern art, disposed about the room
on pedestals. And there was one magnii-
cent bronze-the pride of my heart
standing on handsome marble pedestal
in corner that was sacred to herself
The Abandoned Ariadne,n marvel Of
Barbidienne's-th glorified the room to
my mind. IS as9as asa
Scattered about, in profusion that had
too correct an eye to suffer to degenerate
into muddle, were Chelsea china-figures
of good period, old German and Italian
glass jugs, and vases, and goblets an In
dian casket, in ebony, wonderfully carved,
little tables of various shapes, ivory orna-
ments, feather fans, crosses on brackets in
white and colored marbles, from which
were suspended silver crucifixes and rosa
ries, and fiowers-flowers everywhere!
In pots on the piano and the cabinets,
on big old china plates on the polished
| floor in baskets suspended from wire over
the square opening that was made BY the
taking down of the double doors, in slen-
der glasses-wherever, in fact, could
find resting place for them, my love of
flowers induced me to put them. My room,
as will be gathered from this description
of it, was very pretty and very artistic,
and it must be owned that was justified
in anticipating that it would strike the
young lady who wanted a home very fa-
volably.
What pains took with the bedroom that
was to be assigned to Miss Cleveland! 1t
was splendidly- -proporlioned room with
matchless views from both its windows,
and it was furnished comfortably as well
as elegantly. With my own hands / re-
moved every particle of dust that had
been left on the furniture by my less OBJ
servant housemaid. Carefully and
| thoughtfully dressed the two vases with
1 60. ~ Il Al
other for the mantel-piece. Hopefully
arranged the minuti@ of the dressing
table, SO that the girl who wanted home
might feel that her comfort was studied in
the one she had chosen stae
The day appointed for her arrival came,
and could not settle to my usual work at
all, so impatient was to see her. A dozen
times placed myself before my easel, and
feebly essayed few strokes with my
brush. A dozen times l gathered my
babies about me, and strove to amuse them
and failed; for my heart was not in my
task this day, and children are SO quick to
discover that fact / dispensed with luncE-
con altogether, in order that my cook
might devote all her energies to the ele-
giant little dinner had ordered for seven
that night. And, as may be supposed,
my unusual excitement, idleness, and
abstinence, made me feel very tired and
low-spirited and nervous before Miss
| Cleveland arrived.
| She came at last-about three o'clock in
| the afternoon. "a horrible time TOR any
one to choose" thought, discontentedly,
| as news of her advent was brought to me;
| and then. before had time to do more
than feel that was touch less we'll dress
ed, a trifle less composed, shade less
well-prepared in body and mind tor her
than l would like to have been.
| confess to having been staggered
out of these feelings most abruptly when
she came into the room. In place OF the
fragile, shrinking, rather sorrowful-look-
ing girl whom had pictured to myself as
wanting home, l saw fine, splendidly-
arrayed woman, year or two my senior.
| rose to greet her with Il grasp. and she
advanced to meet me with a sweeping
courtesy, that made me feel very much at
disadvantage, although / was planted
securely on my own domestic heights.
Il hope that we shall get on well to-
gether, and soon become very good friends
| Mrs. Forester" she began at once, and
| felt that | ought to have said that, and
that she was robbing me of my preroga-
tive of giving the initiative.
"You seem to have q very nice place
here" she added, graciously, and then
she threw off her hat and cloak and saw
her assshe wasAone of the prettiest women
| ever saw in my lite.
Pretty in such thoroughly comfortable
way, ii may be allowed the expression.
Plump and comely, this young lady who
wanted home'' had assuredly never
wanted anything in her life, without hav-
ing it immediately. A fair embodiment
OF success and satisfaction; and yet. for
all that, woman with "a story" was
certain-a woman who was not quite
what she seemed on the surface. A yell
low haired woman with brown eyes, and
perfectly-clear complexion, with some
thing not anxious but interrogatory in the
brown eyes though, and with something
that was not quite suspicion. but that might
possibly develop into it, in the rapid
glance and turn of the head. AS look
ed at her, became feverishly anxious to
have my husbands Judgment upon her,