Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-06-13
CHAPTER l.

upitlSllll. Dni nllShA nhNi hhu NblNiNtlh-
lion enough to send one her photograph. II
il very tantalizing to be expecting a woman,
and moi even to know what she looks like
not even, In general way, whether she Is
nretty or ugly. Suppose i toss up a six
nence, and decide that point at least by heads
and tals2 Mamma, have you a sixpence ?"
Don't be foolish, Rose, +" answered Mrs,
lnglesby, placidly.
This was Mrs. lnglesbvs usual reply to her
daughters usual flow I gay nonsense; n |
on this occasion the remark had a decidedly
sedatve effect. Miss mgesby leaned back,
yawned, and said no more The flies hum
med drowsily, the clock licked obtrusiyely,
and for five minutes an unbrOkCn silence
reigned in the bowery drawing-room, with
It's lace curtains and India mating, its grace
FIJI furniture, and cool, Venetian blinds.
The two ladies', who were its only occupants,
had the width of the room between them;
and, although it was evident that they were
both enduring that unpleasant expectation
which is the same in kind, however much it
may differ in degree, whether battle or IA
guest Is impending, yet 1t was also evident
that they bore this trying ordeal very differ
emily Mrs. Inglesby-a model of the ''fair,
fat and forty" type of good looks-seemed
inlemnifying herself for her broken sesta by
luxurious rest in a deep fitut uii, while
Rosc-who was seated in an inscmtable
did not keep still for two consecutive seconds.
At last, restessness prevailed over Incidence,
and with quick motion she rose TO her feet
This is intolerable!" she said "What
with the heat and the waiting, and the UNI
certainty am so nervous don't know what
to do with myself. Mamma, Indignantly
~ believe you are absolutely asleep!"
NO am not said Mrs lnglesby, in a
suspiciousy drowsy tone of denial.
~ oniv Nuisb WAC ~ eai1 Rnca. and tI,ot,
she began pacing to and fro. As she moved
across the floor, practising various steps, and
various modes of carrying her shoulders and
arms, by way of passing the time, she sud-
denly caught glimpse of herself in large
mirror, and this glimpse made her pauses
SHE stopped and gazed fascinated, as any one
else might have been, by the freshness of her
complexion, the grace of her features, the
sheen of her hair; and as gazed she smiled
first unconsciousy at her own loneliness,
then consciously at her own vanity.
Mamma she said-paused a moment,
considered, and finally went on-"mamma,
wonder if she will DO prettier than am p
"Pretter than you are - echoed Mrs. Ing
lcsby, with start Then she looked up at
her daughter, and it was easy to see from the
GOODNESS with which she went ON that this
esregious want of modesty was not uneom-
mon ON Miss lnglesby's part 81 cant saw
She had quite a reputation before she was
married, you know and Harry-poor fell
luw-always spoke of her as great beauty "
u have something of reputation, too,
said Rose, still looking at herself in the glass
"and il | married l am sure should feel
very badly if my husband did not think |
WIS great beauty. Thank you for your in
formation, mamma but neither of those two
points is very novel or very conclusive. She
really niUht have had sufficient ponei lnrat inn
to send one her photograph" repeated the
Young lady, impatiently. "This uncertainty
will drive me distracted -
Isn't that five o'clock strillng?" asked
Mrs Inglesby. "The train is due so s0Or
now that il would hardly be worth while to
90 distracted, | think, Rose
ut is due at ;. 10, | believe, said Rose.
This reflection sobered her, for she walked
10 the window and looked out silently on the
broad street with its rows of green shade
trees, the golden sunshine streaming through
them, and the long shadows thrown across.
She made pretty picture, standing by the
window in the green dimness of its half
closed blinds, with the lace curtains all
around her, and hanging basket swinging
just above her head-such a pretty picture
that a gentleman, who at this moment came
down the quiet street, paused suddenly at
sight of it, He was dark, slender man, OF
medium size, who, as he paused, took off his
hat and spoke In the tone and with the man
ner of a familiar acquaintance.
Good evening, Miss lnglesby What mir.
ace have | to thank for the unexpected plea.
sure of seeing you ? 1t surely must have beer
miracle to bring yOu down from your aestd
at tive o'clock on such an afternoon as this
the warmest of the season, everybody says.
Good evening, Mr.. Kennon," returned
Miss lnglesby, with smile and a blush
~ on haven't any miracle at all to thank fol
seeing me. | cut short my sieStd unwillinglJ
enough, | assure you and | only did so be
cause we are expecting my sister-in-law th
afternoon"
Your sister-in-law !" he repeated, startin.
slightly, and, as it were, unc0nsciously.
Yes, my sister-in-law. Is that very dis
agreeable anticipation You look as if yo'
thought So"
Did look so? Well, it Is disagreeab
so iar-that | cant ask permission to ring til
door bell and profit by your exemplary vii
tue"
No, I'm afraid you can't The train
due by this time, and no doubt they will b
here very soon-more's the pity !" added she
with grimace
Yes, the train is due, said he, gancn
at his watch ''but it will be some time be
lore your sister-in-law can arrive -tiftee
minutes at least. That gives me ten. hop
am not OBTAINING you from any thing MOI
pleasant
"Oh, not at all, answered Rose quit
deaf to various significant sounds that wer
proceeding from the part of the room whel
her mother sat. 'If you don't mind stanC
ing ON the pavement, am sure don't min
standing here. It's rather entertaining,
fact
Come out on the balcony, then, won
you? That Undne tight is very becomin!
nut should like to shake hands, and | can
wen manage that across the balcony al
through the blinds"
You will have TO dispense with that gra
ilcation, | fear. cannot come out ON Il
balcony at this scorching hour of the day
mo, mammal have not an idea of goini
and must say you look very comfortab
Where you are, Mr.. KennOn.
am very comfortable" said Mr. Ke
nnn-which in truth was not remarkable,
ne was leaning against large elm, with |
lace TO the window and his back to the TIRE
mus enjoying at his leisure the shade ca
freely down upon him, and the pretty pictu
arranged before him. ~ am very cOmfC
liable indeed and | will unite usefulness
comfort, by letting you know as soon as t
Iarrlage containing your sister-in-law CONT
DOCS your brother accompany herr
NV hrDfhur ~ IF,r. i,cfo ntR pep