The Van Buren press., 1874-04-14

COIupanlON, i ououiu u"'c uaecu MN W.
ever; but peeping carefully from behind
the curtain, saw his face as he passed
by the lighted windows, and it was grave
and gentle as could have wished lie
made Gertrude no reply.
A few moments aiterward they stepped
through the window into the room
again Leaning back into my old place,
! dropped my head INTO my hands and
fell to thinking. but not Of my troubles
Suddenly | was stal tied by hearing my
name called. After moments bewilder'
cd hesitation, | leaned forward and
looked out. Mr. Cheston was standing
alone upon the terrace.
"Won't you come down moment p
he said, smiling at my frightened face.
/" want to talk with you. .
Springing up, left the room, and,
tripping lightly down stairs, stepped
through the hall door upon the teri ace,
and stood before him with beating
heart He took my hand, and, STOPPING
down, looked kindly into my face
"What have you been crying for 2 he
said, gently.
You know, replied laconically
so | do, little Matte" he said.
smilingly; "aHd ! called you down be
cause wished to tell you that don't
think you TOOL sh at ALL as the others do,
and that am very sorry for you.
| allowed him to kiss me, which was a
liberty should have Indignantly resent
ed under any other circumstances.
"In few months ! am going away,
and shall be gone for several years, he
said, after pause, during which he
looked kcenly but kindly down into my
cast down face. When / come back
you will be a young lady, Matte"
81 know it, said | land Pm very
sorry for it. "
"For what reason 2" he asked.
"Because don't like young ladies, .
replied
"Why not!'' he asked.
They are SO foolish, " said. They
talk about nothing else but dress and
parties, and are always the crossest peo.
pie in the world to me- T"
The idea that Mr. Cheston was laugh
ing at me flashed into my mind as | fin
ished speaking; but, glancing up quickly
into his face, saw it was unusually
grave.
"Your opinion of your sex is not
very fattering one, however truthful it
may be, " he said 8" DO you believe all
young ladies are like those whom you
see every day -
81 don't know" ! said.
"Do you think it necessary that they
should be" he asked
"No, sir, said !" for don't think
my mother was such lady"
Don't you think that you could grow
up to be sensible woman. it you were
to try p he asked
Yes, sir. said l.
will you tryr
Twill, was my earnest reply
And l hope you will succeed, my
dear Matte, both for your sake and my
own, said Mr. Cheston Now | must
leave you. Will you kiss me goodbye 2
l astonished myself very much by the
act, when pressed my lips to his, as he
bent down Something in my face at
tractcd his attention moment after, and
he laughed
You're a queer little thing, he said.
: What would you tell me if were to ask
you you liked mer
The truth, of course, ] replied
Then I'll spare your bushes, you re
markabe morsel of womanhood, he
said But, Matte, he continued, more
seriously, will you kiss nae when come
backr
Yes, sir. said /.
you will be young lady then. re
said he.
But | shall be myself just the same,
said.
so you will, said he. l shall hold
you to your promise. Remember 1t.
Now good bye
He turned away as some one came up. |
on the terrace, and sprang through the
hall door, and fed back to my room
And this was the scene was thinking
over as | sat upon the floor Of my room
at the beautiful country seat Of the Ana
les--a girl OF seventeen, dark, plain, shy
and sensitive.
Matte, what, for mercy sake, are you
doing that you are not dressed yeti IT'S
nearly dinner time, said my sister Julia,
dashing into the room for something,
and stopping short as her eyes fell upon
me- Have you been asleepY
No, said !, sullenly, getting up and
going to the mirror.
%, you queer child! said she Now
be quick. You will find me in the draw
ing.room il you ever get ready to come
down. and out she swept.
think there are few people in the
world who know what suffered when l
entered the room where Mr.. Cheston was
Every thing was blank to me as
crossed the room to where my sister sat.
realized nothing in existence. l was
sitting by good Mrs. Wilson, who was
always kind to me. and whom some
times thought loved even better than
j ulia or Gertrude
"You did not expect to see so many
people, dear, and were frightened, said
she, with q smile on her kind, motherly
face Il saw it the moment you opened
tho door
| answered only with glance, and
slipped my hand into hers.
Mrs. Wilson. said my sister Ger
trude, 'if Mr.. Cheston comes this way
again, | want you to take Matte round
the other side of you. Yon will, won't