Smyrna times., 1876-08-02
SMYRNA, DEL, WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, j

doze, when that internal gong sounds the
hour to dress. No matter; anything for a
relief. Dinner is insufferable; more show
and noise, than relish and comfort How
gladly | escape to the Garden and smoke.
That reminds me of what | told Jones,
yesterday, about matrimony. He laughed
at me. But there's no mistake about it.
Catch me to give up my freedom, and pro
vide for family; be opestcred with a whole
string of new connections, when can't bear
those have now; never have amoment to
myself; be obliged to get up in the night
for doctor; have to pay for boy S school
ing, and be plagued to death by him for
my pains; be bothered constantly with bad
| servants; sec my wife lose her beauty, in a
twelvemonth, from care; my goddess be-
come mere household drudge; give up
cigars; keep precise hours; take care of
| sick children; go to market never, never,
| ncuerr
As his revery thus emphatically tcrmi-
mated, McNiel slowly raised himself to
sitting posture, in order to ascertain the
state of the weather, when sight presented
itself which at once put his philosophy to
| flight and startled him from his composure.
lie did not cry out, but hushcd his very
breath. Beside him lay female form, in pro
found siumber. Her hair had escaped from
its confinement, and fell in the richest pro.
fusion around her face. There was a deli
cate glow upon the cheeks. The lips were
scarcely parted. The brow was perfectly
serene. One arm was thrust under her
head, the other lay stretched upon the
covcrlid. 1t was one Of those accidental
attitudes which sculptors love to embody
The bosom hcaved regularly. He felt that
it was the slumbcr of an innocent creature,
and that beneath that calm breast beat a
kindly and pure heart. He bent over the
vision, for SO at first it seemed to him, as
did Narcissus above the crystal water. The
peaceful beauty Of that face entered his
very soul. He trcmblcd at the still rcpu.
larlty Of the long dark cyelashcs, as if It
were death personifcd. Recovering him
self, all at once something familiar struck
him in the countenance He thought a
while, and the whole mystery was solved.
1t was the widows daughter. They occu-
pied the adjoining chamber; she had gone
down stairs in the night to procure some.
thing for the invalid, and, on returning,
entered in the darkness the wrong room,
and fancying her mother asloop, had, as
she thought, very quietly taken her place
beside her, and was soon lost in slumber.
No sooner did this idea take possession OF
McNiel, than, with the utmost caution and
a noiseless movement he stole away, and
removed every vestigc Of his presence into
vacant apartment opposite, leaving the
fair intruder to suppose she alone had oc
cupied the room.
Atbrealzfast, he observed tho mother and
daughter whisper and smile together, and
soon asccrtained that they had no suspicion
OF the actual state of the case. With the
delicacy that belonged to his character
McNiel inwardly vowed to keep the secret
forever in his own breast.
Meantime, with much apparent hilarity
he prepared to accompany Jones to Lake
George His companion marvclled to per
ceive this unwontcd gayety wear off as they
proceeded in their ride. Mcneil became
silont and pcnsive. The evening was fine
and they went upon the lake to enjoy the
moonlight. Jones sung his best songs, and
woke the echoes with his bugle. His friend
remained silent, wrapped in his cloak, al
the boats stern. At last, very abruptly he
sprang up, and ordered the rowers to land
him. "Where are you going" inquired
Jones. "To Saratoga" was tho reply
Not tonight, surely ~ "Yes, now, thi.
instant" Entertaining some fears for his
friends sanity, Jones reluctantly devoted
that lovely night to a hard ride over a
sandy road, instead of lingering away it.
delightful hours on the sweet bosom of the
lake.
Six months after, McNiel married the
widows daughter; and the ensuing sum
mer, when l met him at Saratoga, he
assured me he found it delightful resi-
dence.
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