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

with hands that trembIed so that could
not perform my task. Braids would
not stay iu place, and the curls were
ineOrrigibIe.
1t was just ten minutes past five, and
l was still in my dressing-sack, with
my hair upon my shoulders, after a
third attempt to put up the heavy mass,
when I heard the sound of wheels. A
moment more, and there were footsteps
in the hall below, and my husbands
voice called,
Barbara! Barbaraw
Allie screamed louder than ever, and
L answered as well as 1 could from out
the din,
81 will come presently-as soon as !
can"
heard the two walk into the parlor,
and in another minute Walter came
bounding upstairs two steps at time.
His cheeks were flushed, and his eyes
bright as with some hidden joy.
"Why, what's the matter?" he asked,
as his eye took in the state of the case;
''anybOdy sick? Is Hannah dead? or
what's up?"
al am tired to DEATH" L answered,
land Allie is cross as the mischief, and
Hannah's busy, and-I am not dressed.
$50 1 see" he said curtly. You ought
to have begun earlier, instead OF fussing
so long in that confounded Kitchen
Now knew this as well as he did;
but did not care to be told of it just
then. So, wOman-like, l began to
weep little weep
There, thereu exclaimed Walter,
don't go to crying now, and spoil your
eyes. I wanted you to look your very
best tonight, and am so disappointed,
Barbara. I'lI go down town tomorrow
morning and get and get another girl, if
things go on at this rate
This was Walters standing threat;
while at the same time he knew, and 1
knew, that one servant was all we could
afford. And one would have been
enough, even in this emergency, if I
had not been too ambitious. His words
stung me to the quick.
Go back to Miss Delamater,' 1 said,
'and have Hannah show her to her
room. Supper will be ready by the time
she is dressed-and so will I. am sorry
I was not ready to receive your friend,
Walter; but by the time she has been
married two or three years, and has a
fretful baby on her hands, she will have
learned to make allowances
Diverted by his fathers entrance, AL
lie stopped crying. Pride and little
splicing of anger gave me strength and
calmness, and was soon dressed.
Miss Delamater accepted my apollo
gies with gracious sweetness, praised
the house and baby, and the beauty of
the little village nesting among the
hills. She congratulated Walter upon
his patriarchal dignity, and told him
that he wore his new honOrs as if 'to the
manner born.' Then we went out to
supper; and while she did full justice to
the biscuits and cold chicken, she re
marked to him that she perceived he
had done wisely in choosing wife from
the country. Country girls devoted
themselves so much more exclusively to
domestic affairs that it could not be
doubted that they made better house
keepers than those who had been taught
TO regard literary and social culture as
the 'One thing needful.'
Was there latent sarcasm underlying
her soft words? I could not tell. But 1
felt shy and i'll at ease, and 1 was glad
when 1 could rise from the table and
lead the way back to the parlOr. My
good Hannah came for Allie presently
and 1 was at liberty to devote myself to
my guest.
had often heard that Miriam Della
mater was beautifuI-that there was
some rare, subtle charm about her by
which mems hearts were lured from out
their bosoms almost without their
knowledge or consent. But 1 was not
prepared for all that was revealed to me
that night. It was not the beauty of
girlhOOd, but that of complete, superb
wOmanhOod. She was full five years
older than myself; nearly as old as Wal
ter, in fact. I seemed to myself a mere
child beside her-a child physically, in
and spiritually.
To be concluded neIt UeeE.