The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-05-02
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the part of the unlucky maiden. |
A little later in the day, my land
lady Knocked timidly at my door.
"Come in y said l. !
She came in, folding her hands and
looking up at the ceiling. |
am sure, sir, you'll excuse il,
though liberty, but as I'm mother,
which it's nothing after all, and I've
no call to worrit, I'm certain, but it's
my daughter, sir, takin' on so after
you spoke to her this mornin' and il |
you'd be so very kind, seein' as Soph-
onisba Ann is so nder-hearted-" |
"What is it about 2 / said, as the
fearful lady paused to take breath, 81
don't understand |
"Oh and l am sure you didn't
mean for to hurt her feelin's, sir, and
she owns it ; she's said as much in that
kitchen down below me. His way |
seemed harsh, she says, but his
hearts in the right place. she says
I'm certain sure of it, she says, and |
she's been a.cryin her eyes out, which |
Sophonisba Ann is rather 'sterical at |
times, sir and I'm mother, with, |
hope, mothers feelins, as you'll ex-
cuse but there, don't mind me, sir.
tell her I'm sure You don't mean moth
ing, and likely it won't SO occur
| again" ...... .f r.
"Bless me y said /, "this is very
foolish of course didn't mean to
hurt your daughters feelings, ma,am
pray tell her so; I'll remember to
speak less abruptly since you've named
She almost wept at this.
"Oh sir, you're the most feeln'
gent as ever | did see, I'm sure l
don't know whatever my gurl'll say
and the last gent we had so different
so violent in his language; not to
speak of banging the door. o dear
what it is to have sperrit, which is
what me and mine never had and so
the world tramples on U.S." said Mrs.
Maudle. EvlftFfRE $3.50
81 hope not" said I. "You should
take more cheerful view of life, Mrs.
Maudle.' 'ft III @. ..ta
was very busy, and wished she
would go, but she didn't. .-s..
"Well, SIR she observed, with a
sigh, 81 always was one of the down.
hearted ones and Maudle's nerves
that low i! never shall forget when
he asted me to have him--that's seven
andtwenty-year ago -'Mariar, he says
to me CHATS my name)-"but there,
sir, don't mind me, which as wife l
hope / have wifes feelin's )" and
Mrs. Maude shed tears.
did mind her very much and de-
voutly wished her at the North Pole,
as she stood in the doorway wiping
her eyes with her apron. and evidently
awaiting my sympathy -""
"I'm sure Mr. Maudle's choice does
him credit" ! said desperately, she
couldn't have done better than take a
good wife to sootb the path of life for
him wasn't that your door bell 7"
"Sophonisba Ann will answer the
door, sir, which I think you was mis-.
taken, and it didn't ring" said Mrs
Maudle Sim sure Inever did meet
with gentleman SO thoughtful and
feelin'; a real friend, as one may say,
already, and I'm only thankful"
Pm afraid must trouble you to
shut that door, Mrs. Maudle,' gasp
ed. '1'm subject TO ear-ache, and the
draught'-I hope shall be forgiven
for the fibs that woman caused me to in
vent. She slowly wilhdre ", murmur-
| ing motherly compassion, and family
suggested pepper plasters, and other
, mild remedies for ear ache, while |
I took up my pen and tried to collect my
, scattered ideas.
] ! had not yet seen Mr.. Maudle, the
state of whose NERVES kept him
mostly confined 10 an armchair in the
! kitchen, but from occasional sounds OF
melody, something like feebly rendered
q choruses of jovial nature, in which a
slight confusion of consonants was
I perceptible, l concluded that even Mr.
T NJ. had intervals of comparative cheer,
!. fulness. Moreover, discovered that
7 there was son of the house-a tai
youth with whitish- brown hair and
s skin and stoop in his shoulders
whose avocation seemed to be near a,
n hand, by his punctual return to meals
o at stated hours in the day. With this
young man l was fated, alas! too soon
to become acquainted. n.aH.i.Y
"A One evening, little before my din
2 ncr, Mrs. Maudle waited on me with
= an air of meek mystery to ask if hel
, son might "step up by-andby and
q speak to me, if so be that had no OBJ
lection.
" His name, his mother told me, was
il Cincinnatus he was rather low spirit
n ed, and had, in fact, something on hil
r. mind.
"Dear me y l said, "poor fellow
n any trouble Nothing serions,
A hope ?"
4 "Oh, dear, no, sir-leastwise, moth
/ ing wrong. Gins as innocent as thu
=. babe unborn, as to evil ways, sir; no
= it's the mind, that's where it u" (mys
teriously) she's got soaria mind, sir
and the worlds too little for him.
u "1ndeed p said l, mentally regret
= ting that the young gentleman hat
y selected me as the confidant of hi
= mental trials; but, alas! littl
=" guessed what was to come. Scarcel
, was the cloth removed when a modes
y y rap announced my new acquaintance
- and Cincinnatus entered, bearing
\ huge brown paper parcel, which he de
6 posted with jerk on the table, vic
!, lently shaking back long wisp o
- - hair which kept falling rebelliously in
q to his eyes, and sinking immediatel
% into the first chair near, with an air o
!" profound detection,
This young man had large nose @
. the solid Roman type, very red eyt
7 lids, and sonorous voice with
~ =, twang in it. He told me he was in a
s attorneys office, but that the work wa
= very distasteful to him, and he ha
7 thoughts of giving it up and turnin
= author. ..
~ He had begun several works of in
g portance, one of which (his ''cht
. douvre" he called it he had brougf
nm with him