Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-01-10

sweet and pretty, should have been
more angry with him if he had not
loved her and wanted to carry her
: off"
/ turned from her beauty to go to the
house, aud there on the piazza stood
; the ''hired GIRL" her ann embracing
; the pillar, her side face turned TO us;
! the sweetest smile curled the fall red
lips, and she seemed to think of some
r thing very pleasing and amusing.
no" said softly, to Grace, as we
came up the walk, "she is no poor for
lorn creature, and is herOicalIy facing
stern work for living"
"She has never come here from ne
0 cessity; she has come from choice and
7 with some deep reason, said Grace
\ impressively.
\ '.For two dollars per week, I imag-
B inc, said Willie loftily, as we stepped
+. into the house.
e The wedding preparations went on
swimmingly now. Mamma recovered
; from her headache. Louise took en-
tire charge of the kitchen and dining
room, and invariably helped us with
; the sewing in the long afternoons.
She was an invaluable girl.
One afternoon Leslie came over and
brought ''The InnOcents Abroad, 3"
then Just out, and read aloud to us as
we sewed.
After tea we returned to the work
and book, with which we were de-
lighted.
The sun went down in splendor.
The book and the work were finally
laid aside, and we found ourselves in
one of those long talks about books
and authors we always enjoyed so
much.
A slight disagreement arose about
the author of a certain book. was
opposed to Leslie and Grace, who al
ways agreed.
In despair 1 called upon Louise,
saying. "Yeu think as I do, don't
you Louise?" not having the remotest
idea that she knew anything about
the matter.
yes" she made answer quietly,
and then went on to give proofs of the
| correctness of our opinion so Strong
that Grace and Leslie were obliged to
come over to our belief.
Long, long we sat there in the
| twilight.
never heard any one talk so fluent
/ ly and so delightfully."- as did Louise
that night.
How much she had read! What "a
| cy, spicy criticisms she made of this
and that work.
! [ longed to ask her where she had
read so much, but feared 1 might |
| force her to disclose something she |
wished to keep secret, and so for
bore.
Guests from distance began to ar /
/ rive: among them was cousin Charlie /
| Hazlet, from New York. Grace had |
spent the last summer in his native |
town, and had given me rare accounts |
of his manly beauty, his talents and |
/ fascination. L prepared for a great |
| flirt, and had sort of nervous dread |
of him. He came. He was hand |
some, tall, dark and slender, with |
/ naughty, or rather earnest, way of !
] looking at one, as though to read ones |
| thoughts. At times, however, he was |
so CAV and brilliant that I lost MY !
horror of him and we grew very cous- |
/ inly.
lie remarked Louise's beauty to me
one day, but did not seem to notice |
her again for some days.
Belle Raymond, one of Grace's |
/ bridesmaids, was all admiration for
Charlie, and one day asked me if
was not sorry he was my cousin.
I was very obtuse-could not un-
derstand her meaning.
/ Ftook Bellies arm, and walking
straight up to Charlie, said: ''Belle
thinks l ought to be sorry yOu are my
cousin. Can you imagine why 1 should
wish you less than cousin?"
Whatever possessed me to say such
words.
He looked her searchingly i'll the
/ face until the rich color came into her
clear olive cheek and her gray eyes fell
to the floor.
Then turning to me, he said:
.'Among my relatives I number my
best, almost my only friends, and 1
am glad to find in You, also, both a
cousin and africnd"
''Was this the flirt had been warn
ed against? 'lIe is too brotherly to
be much of a triher," thought I. But
Belle said confidently:
81 am afraid of him; he means mis-
chief"
The wedding came off gloriously.-I
/ Grace wore white tarletan and orange
/ blossoms, and looked ''too sweet for
ANYTHING" little Lilly said.
The house was full of company for
nearly week, and Louise did every
/ thing, and she looked so beautiful
/ that people asked in astonishment
who she could be. could only tell
/ them she was our ''hired girl
The day after the wedding we all
went to the depot to see the young
couple off and left Louise to care for
the house.
We returned in the twilight, aud as
We rode slowly up the drive the sound
of music came softly from the open
parlor windows. Willie drew up Che
rsins and we listened eagerly.
A gay, cheerful song, sweet and
clear as the notes of a bird. Now mp,
then huttering down softly as if salts
fed with its flight, and going to rest.
We were unheard by the singer as we
ali@hted, and we walked straight into
the parlOr to ''see the bird"
"Why, Louise" I cried, ''why did
you never tell us you sang so beauti-
fully? You might have entertained us
so often had we known it,
Il believe that your advertisement
only specified that | should have no
scruples about being bossed. I did
not suppose you cared to have mo in
form you of my accomplishments"
Come" said Will, your candle
has been under bushel enough. Now
let it shine for our enlightenment"
''Sing us another, please do" and
Charlie advanced as he spoke, to the
piano, and gracefully urged her to be
. rcseated.
Would you not be afther havin'
some tay, gintlemen, afther yer long,
, exhaustin' drive" said Louise gaily,
in true Biddy fashion, by way of ex-
cuse from singing.
1--WE have had tea at the Ellis, I
} thank you, Miss O'FlatheTty," an
swered Willie, "and nothing will ap-
pease us but music.
So Louise sang. Willie sat by and
drank in every word. Charlie turned
the music for her as she sang some of
; my pieces, and. at her request, add
ed n bass to some of the chOruses.
q Willie grew uncomfortable as he
: heard how beautifully their voices
) mingled in the songs, and coming over
t to me, by the window, he said quite
r confidentially, "Why on earth can't
sing, Flo?"
2 80 that you might help Louise?,'
+ said !.
: He colored a little, and 1, all admi-
ration for Louise, exclaimed:
2 Isn't she splendid? perfectly fasci-
, Mating? But | don't know what to
! make of it,
f They were closing the piano
Louise was 4 trifie flushed. Charlie
5 invited her on the porch for q prone
S made, but she declined gracefully. and