Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-05-20
FIFTEEN, FOURTEEN, THIRTEEN.

1t was on clustering evening in
March that Mr.. Alexander Ashe, paus-
ing in his rapid PROGRESS through one
OF the tree -christened streetswhich bisect
the city of Penn, took from his pocket a
letter, and holding it well up to catch
the somewhat uncertain light of lamp,
studied the address with zeal sharp
ened by sudden apprehension.
"Confound Uncle Nat - he mur-
INJURED, 8 wish he would learn to put
tails to his SIS. 1914, no; 1914, no;
that quirl certainly must mean a
Well, this is really too bad. 1t never
occurred to me till this moment tina:
there could be mistake, but certainly
it is 3, and rot 5. A nice business il
would be to make blunder in-heiress-
hunting Pshaw! But it's to please
Uncle Nat. He's been good to me in
his way, the old fellow has, and | cant
well refuse so slight favor as that ]
should call on these--wbat's their names?
-AshIrsts, even if he does go on to air
what he calls his ''long-matured hopes
that the call may lekd to something
more interesting. it won't, though.
never saw a giri with money yet that
WASH t altogether detestible. 1914, 1874
which is it ? Never mind, this is
Thirteenth street; so much is certain
Now let's see-the house must be on
this side. Perhaps the name is on the
door By Jovei never thought OF
that.
Sure enough, the name was on the
door = Asburst revealed plainly
enough by an opportune street lamp
directly opposite; and Alex Ashe rang
the bell, muttering to himself: "a
good hit that It's lucky [ didn't go
off in search OF 1914 Still, l wish
Uncle Nat would mend the tails of
his 5's.'
A narrow entry presented itself to his
view when the door opened, for the
house was small, ard the misfortune OF
a small house is that each newcomer
lnstlnctiveJy makes his measurements,
and deduces from what he sees the
probable extent and compass of what
ne does not see. 1.-The ladies were at
home, = and white-capped maid took
his card into the parlor, and returning
present. y. ushered him in. '' What a
pleasant room!' was his first thought
as he entered. Not a handsome
parlor " in the least. He was used to
those parlors where every mirror,
bronze, curtain, and piece of furniture
was the exact complement of similar
articles on the other side the party wall
on either hand; where sofas and chairs
wore line clothes on occasion, and COM
nlon pHttlcoats for common DAYS, and
nothing seemed intended for use, com
fort, or the indulgence of unauthorized
or impromptu pleasures. This was a
room of different type, not handsome
at all in the conventional sense. but
full of individuality and charm. Thick
rug-ike hangings of the cheap Abruzzi
tapestry of Italy draped doors and win
dows; the walls, of soft harmonious
tint, were hung thickly with pictures
and drawings, among which wandered.
apparently at will, the shoots of a
magnificent ivy. A bright fire of can
nel-coal shown in the low CRATE; there
were books everywhere; the piano
stood open, and strewn with music
sheets; a writing table, heaped with
papers, in one corner, and an easel and
paints in another, showed that busy
people used the room, and worked
there when SO inciined-a thing not
often permitted in parlors kept for
slowj and on the chimney piece stood
a bowl OF fresh violets, which diffused
spring-like odor about the place.
Two young ladies, evidently sisters,
rose from seats beside the lire. and
came forward to receive the guest.
The elder, who held the card between
her fingers, had a sweet and sensible
countenance, a remarkably pretty figure,
and manner full of gracious dignity
anC comp rosure. She was of that type
OF woman whom other women wonder
that all men don't fall in love with /;
but they don't. The younger was in a
totally different style-iair, round,
brilliant, smiling, possessed of a thou
sand untaught graces, which lent to
her manner inexhaustible variety and
charm, but withal with the sunny
candor of child shining in her clear
blue eyes. Amy Ashurst was alto
-gether an enchanting creature, and
Alex Ashe, struck and dazzled, NUT
tered to himself, with sudden excite
ment: By Jove. Uncle Nat has hit it
for once. Here is a girl with money
who beats hollow all the girls without
any that / ever met / am everlast-
ingly indebted to him. And while
these thoughts whirled through his
mind, Miss Ashurst was enunciating
her soft little sentences of welcome.
$ We are glad to see you, Mr.. Ashe,
and mamma will be very glad when
she comes home. l am only sorry that
she should happen to be out this even
ing at Mr.. Bereuin's ceycle, but they al
ways break up early. She had letter
from--your aunt, think II was, Ia the
autumn, in which she said that there