Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-07-13
An Old Maids Romance

"it is only Madge Alcott, the ugliest little old
And Rosamond Rivers soft laugh rang out |
high above tue tones Of all the other girls as she
spoke. |
stood and heard it without a word 1t made |
, ,he "ince Ittle' OF course; and yet knew that
The words were true. was an .'oid maid" l |
was "nSiY." was "litte." Yet was to blame |
was to blame that God, in Ills All-Seeing |
providence, had seen fit TO cast me in this un. !
happy mould?
Rosamond Rivers, OF course, didu't know that !
l had heard her words. She meant nothing-ou- |
" lovely, gay young girl does not always stop
70 pick aud choose her words when she is speak
ing OF one whose bloom is over. What do the !
Iresh crimson rosebuds reck Of the wilted flowers
whose hrst glory and beauty past? And |
never was pretty; neither was ricl, nor accom-
piished.
80 had quietly made up my m'nd to live sin
gle ana alone In the world, earn my own living,
and do my best to help along those who were
poorer and weaker than myself.
My uncle Charles had left me the little brown
farm. house under the elmtrees, with the apple
orchard on the side built toward the trout-brook,
and the beautiful sunny pastures where the wild
strawberries ripened first; and that ives every
thing had
"You had better sell it," advised my friends.
But bad no idea of giving up my home for the
few hundred dollars that is money veue would
represent,
"What can you do with the farm 2" said every
body to me. l thought ii over and came to a
| conclusion.
| an take summer-boarders
And this accounts for Mr.. Paul Castieton being
| resident usder my humble ROOF, that eyentful
| July.
| He came there With his two golden haired lit
tie girls aud their African nurse, who looked SO
picturesque with the big hoops Of yellow metsl
hanging iiom her ears, and the rainbow turban
twisted about her ebou brows-a handsome,
stately widower. Tue little girls had dropped III
the suitry atmosphere OF their Southern home,
aud he came here 10 seek their health and well
fare more than his own. Rosamond Rivers had
recommended him TO come to Elm Farm-he was
frend-nay, was sometimes almost disposed
to think hn an admirer-of hers.
II am 80 much obliged TO you, Rosie,"
said l, fervenuy.
You needn't be,' SAID ROsamond.
wasn't thinking of you at all, although, OF
course, I'm glad to have you get the twenty
i've dollars week; but you see it wouldn't
do at all for him to have gone to the hotel"
"Why noi?'
"You silly little goose, don't you seer"
said Rosamond Rivers, laughing. "Bells
Martyr boards at the hotel and Dir. Milton 5
pretty daughters, aDd they'd any one of
them be sure 10 make dead set at Mr..
Castleton. AT the farm. you know he's
perfectly safe.'
1t is true enough, what she said, yet 1t
cut me to the heart. Bella Martyn was a
D
were piquant. coquettish little creatures,
with dark, liquid eyes, oberry mouths, and
! complex ions of snow and carmne. 1 WAS
only brown, ill-fAvored, little Old maid
Yet had feelings, too, and the color mount.
cd to my cheek as RosamCnd spoke.
strove, however, to govern myself
. as he your lover, Roster" asked
my loveri What NONSENSE! Mo-" and
\ she bridled and tossed her pretty head
d " But there's no telling what will happen
~ . h. f..l
! er-and he did ask me twice 10 go to tn,
. opera with him when was in the Soutl
d last winter. Such an elegant place In Rich
mond as he hasp'
l listened, not envlously, but sadly. Th
: little russell winged moth Is not supposed l.
be envious of the blue.and-gOld butterty y
but it must sometimes perceive the force o
a the contrast between them. / knew tha
70 Rosamond was beautiful and lalen ted-tha
y II YVES for her to build all sorts OF ,erial cas-
1 ties nc no of which was too bright 10 be real
= As Tor Newell must plod along as best
!. could on the shady side of llie's roa,l.
y admired Mr.. Castleton very much. Wh'
is could help itY There was something n
~ chivalrous and noble in his way OF adapt
= ing himself to my poor house and home
spun ways and being pleased with every
p thing did.
-, "Hes a real gentleman, sure" said Bird
=, get, my maid of all work. "lts the qualit
as never demeans themselves by grumb
. Ing"
fy The little girls. Bell and Violet, wer
OF charming-and old Venus bsaned like tn
er sun OF her own tropical cline.
n "Dldn't never s'pose de Norf was so nice,
IS. said old Venus. Clar to gracious It's equi
to ole Virginny!'
Il And on pleasant summer evenings Rosamor
Rivers and her brother, the young lieutenant
artillery who was at home on o furlough, wOu
~ row up as far as the apple trees on the rive
~ moor their boat come up for peaches and cresu
or syllabuds, or blackerries and milk just as Il
state Of pantry permitted. Lieutenant Lew
smoked his cigars on the piazza. played vii
Violet and Bell among the red clover blossom
Mt, and Rosamopd sat on the lawn with Dir. Ga
Y. tletown, or made believe to play croquet, uni
Mt the purpling twilight warned her that it "
a Z time TO return to the village.
ds "Dat young lady, shea a-maki1' eyes at II
iii Mase Paul." said old Venus one night, with
Cd nod of the head that set her great gold earhOo
lss TO rattling "But 'taint no use Lawsl
watched Kettle neber boils! No coed u spres
l'' in snares afore de berry eyes aud nose of
birds, rs de Seripter--says; Marse Paul kno