The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-04-05
Blue Eyes Behind the Veil.

Oluo 1J6S O6uluu Ll6 N6lls
Mr.. Edge was late at bleakfast. That
was not an unusual occurrence, and he
was disposed to be cross; which was
likewise nothing new. So he retired
behind the newspaper, and devOured his
eggs and toast, without venturing any
reply to the remarks of the freshlooking
little lady opposite, to wit: Mrs Edge.
But she was gathering together her
forces for the final onslaught, and when
at length Mr.. Edge had got down to the
last paragraph, and laid aside the paper,
it came.
"Dear, didn't you say you were going
to have hundred dollars for my new
furs, to-day ?n
''NYhat furs?" (rather shortly was
this spOken.) "Oh, pshaw! what is the
use of being so extravagant? have no
money to lay out in useless follies. The
old ones are good enough for any sensi-
bic woman to wear"
Mrs. Edge, good meek little soul that
she was, relapsed into Obedient silence
She only sighed soft inward sigh, and
presently began q new attack.
Henry, will you go with me to my
aunt's, tonight ?"
"Can't you go alone ,"
"Alone, how it would lOokw Mrs. Els
temper-for she had one, though it did
not often parade itself-was aroused.
"YOu are so neglectful of those little at
tentions you used to pay me once; you
never walk with me, nor pick up my
handkerchief, nor notice my dress as
you once did"
"Well, a fellow can't be forever wait
ing on women, can he?n growled Mr..
Edge.
''You could be polite enough to Mrs
Waters, last night, when you never
thought to ask whether / wanted any,
thing, though you knew perfectly well
that had a headache-I don't believe
you care as much for me as you used
tor And Mrs. Edge looked extremely
pretty with tears in her blue ewes and a
quiver OH the round, rosy lips.
"Pshaw," said the husband peeYish- |
iy. "Now don't be silly, Maria.p
"And in the stage, yesterday, you
never asked me if L was warm enough, |
or put my shawl around ME, while Mr. |
Brown was so affectiOnate to his wife. |
1t was mort0ying enough, Henry; in
deed il was.n
81 didn't know women were such |
FOOLS" said Mr.. Edge, as he drew on his /
overcoat, to escape the tempest which /
was fast approaching. "Am 1 the sort
of man to make ninny of myself doing
ure? Did you ever know me to be con-
sciOus whether woman had on a shawl
or a swallOw-tailed cOat?"
Maria eclipsed the blue eyes behind
little pocket handkerchief, and Harry,
the savage, banged the door loud enough
to give Betty in the kitchen a nervous
start.
''Raining again! do believe we are
going to have second edition of the
deluge," said Mr.. Edge to himself, that
evening, as he ensconeed six feet of ini-
quity in the southwest corner of the car
at the city hall. "Go ahead, conductor,
can't you see we are full, and it is dark
already? ?"
"In one moment sir" said the con-
ductor, as he helped little woman, with
basket, on board. "Now, sir, move up
little, if you please"
Mr.. Edge was exceedingly comforta-
ble and did not want to move, but the /
light of the lamp falling on the pearly /
forehead and shining golden hair of the .
conner, he altered his mind and moved I
up.
"What lovely eyes," quoth he, men
tally, as he bestowed a single acknowl- |
edging smile. "Real violet, the very
color L most admired Bless mel what |
eyes. There, she has drawn a eonfounded !
veil over her face, and the light is as dim
as tallow dip; but those were pretty
eyes"
The fair possessor of those blue eyes
shivered slightly and drew her mantilla
close around her shoulders.
"Are you cold, Miss? Pray honor me
by wearing my shawl. do not need it
myself"
She did not refuse-she murmured
some faint apology for troubling him,
but it was not a refusal.
"NO trouble-not bit,n said he with
alacrity, arranging it on her tapering
shoulders, and then as the young lady
handed her fare to the conductor, he said
to himself, "what slender little hand!
if there is anything l admire in wom-
an it is pretty hand. Wonder what
kind of mouth she has got? 1t must
be delightful one if it corresponds with
the hair and eyes-plague take the
veil"
But "plague,n whoever that mystical
power may be, did not take possession of
the veil, 50 Mr.. Edges curiosity about
the blue-eyed damsel remained unsatis-
fled.
"Have you room enough, Miss? Il
fear you are crowded. Pray sit little
closer to me-"
'SThank you, sir" was the soft reply
coming from behind the veil, as Mr..
Edge refieeted-like an angel from a
dark cloud. And his heart gave a large
thump as the pretty shoulder touched
his own shaggy Overcoat in hesitatine
sort of a way.
decidedly, this was getting quite ro-
mantle" thought he, and then with an
audible whisper, "what would Maria
say ?"
The rest of that long dreary ride was
delicious, with the shoulder against his
own. How calamity he jumped up to
pull the strap for her-by some freak it
happened to be at the very street where
he intended to stop. And under the cir