Smyrna times., 1871-04-05

' Prlry I?
No, don't, said the old bachelor, decid. |
edly.
lie was something of bear to answer so
cruStliy when Barbara Smith stood in the
doorway, with the shadOwy lashes drooping
over the soft brown eyes, and roses melting
into deep ernlne on her rosy cheeks until her
muslin dress was plain in comparison. Such
pretty, bg-eyed, loving little Barbara as she
was, III all the blonde freshness of her eigh-
teen summers, and the soft sigh that huttered
from her lips, as the One-horse carriage drove
away. was checked instantly Barbara had
no idea OF becoming victim to unrcquited
love, though she had rather fancied Mr.. Yer
ley during his brief sojourn at her fathers
house.
Mr.. Verley drove through the rustling green
draperies OF summer lanes, whistling sadly as
he drove.
" shall be in very good time for the u. 30
train, he meditated to himself "Punctual-
ity is the soul of business, and never was one
OF the behind hand tribe, thank Providence.
Besides, think it was becoming dangerous to
remain in that place any longer. | am thirty
nine tomorrow, and that is just twenty years
too old for me to go making tool of myself
Fancy me getting married No you don't t,
Joseph NerIey, my frieud!"
As he settled himself comfortably in the
crowded railway Car ard opened the letter, the
subject again occurred to his mind with curious
! lersStence
THE letter of my poor brothers executor
came just IN time, or | should certainly have
fooled away more time than would have been
sensible or profitable. Poor dear Harold
don't see what on earth possessed him to fall
sick and die on his way home from Venice.
and leaye his daughter on my hands too Why
could he not have left a son, instead Of daugh
ter? never did understand woman ways,
and what's more, | don I Want to. | am to
meet her at Speedville, and take her home with
me. q! y grOaned Mr. Verey, referring de-
sparingy to his letter. And what I'm 60
ing to do with her when get there I'd like to
know! L suppose she S "a great creature, with
rlnglets and ribbons, and just as likely as not
an Italian lover talking sentiment to her-a
creature that reads Byron and keeps an album
and eats slate pencils and chalk. Ill send heI
to boarding school, that's what I'll do with
my niece and perhaps when she has gradual
ed there the SchOO'master can suggest some
means of getting rid of her. OF course she !
have dozen large trunks, and bOnnet-bol
aud parrots cage--that's the way wOmeI
generally travel | believe. | am glad | an
out OF the way of Barbara's facinatiOns now.
Mr.. Nerley looked out of the car window, il
sort OF calm desperation at the prospect be
fore him.
SuptUSS sic u W6Dt u pldUO, anu HldyDC
d poodle dog, and there's no knowing what else
: | don't see why Harold wanted to die and leav
h his daughter 10 NV care just now. SpeedvIll
s. staton-twenty-, ev. miles farther. | wish
was twenty-seven hundred mile s-thats wha
l wish.
And with this vindictive sentiment in hi
u mind, our hero tied a red silk handkerchie
!, over his head, and tried to lose himself in
= ). series OF brief, troubled Dreams wherein th
d vision of a tall nice young lady figured con
n spicuOusly.
Are we here already?" he stammered
standing to his feet, as the conductor bawle
}. out, "Speedville Station" and seizing un
brella, valise and travelling shawl, with til
bustling bewllderment peculiar to people jus
= aroused from sleep, he alighted.
Speedville was rather large-sized village
situated at the junction of several railways
with an imposing American gothic strnctur
for depO: Into the building Mr.. Verle
walked, looking right and left for the youu
lady whose guardianship he was to assume.
"Ot course, he responded mentally, " she
be on the lockout for me women are prove
Ot bially curious
But Harold Verley's daughter was not @
the lookout tor her uncle. When the crow
incident to the evening train had subsided an
the people had gone their different ways, tl
only remaining occupants of the depot wei
Mr.. Verlcy, lame old man who sold peanu
and apples and decent t-looking colored W.
man, with bright Madras turban OH her hea,
who took care of the building. Neither
rv these could be his niece, so Mr. Verley, aft,
e. little perpexed hesitation, addressed himse
10 to the coOred woman, who was busily polisl
80 ing the window with piece of crumpled new
paper, :,
day, and don't see her."
Your niece, sir2" what is her name ?"
Verley."
Is "Oh yes, sir; she has been here these tv
hours, bless her dear heart she is asleep now
In Asleep" gasped Mr.. Verey; but Il
stewardess only answered him by bursting in
the inner department and bringing out VIII
rE appeared to be a compact bundle, with pit
"a, face at one end of it, and mass of long ira
70" ing embroidery at the other
i. Joseph Verley recoed as far asthe angle
the door would permit him.
"Why-it's baby u
- "To be sure it is sir," said the woma
"and as fine little girl as ever l saw; bic
her sweet blue eyes.
. "But isn't there a nurse or some such pc
son here, who would take charge of her2"
''There was a nurse brought her on, sir,
1 queer foreign-looking thing, with a yellC
skin and hair as black as night, and &c