Year: 1860

She seated herself in the middle of the
room, while I, almost petri6ed, remain
ed standing. She began t'i.
| 81 know to feel for you,, Mr.. Finna-
1 tiffany-poor Mr.. Hosking was just of
/ your turn. am sure [ should never
have been married to him, if had been
as bashful as he was, poor man He
always continued the same-always
looked down, just as you do. I am sure
he loved me as never any other man
loved a woman. for he was always will
ing to do Just as l said, even when he
got his heart set the other way, which
can't be said ofevery man, as perhaps
you know When he did, mourned
him as sensible wife ought to mourn
her dead and gone good old man
but then / wasn't foolish like some /
know Of and could tell of, who declare
they will never marry again! That, l
think, is as much as to say they have
got free from one husband, and will new
er be so caught again. To my mind
this is an open insult to all the men
don't you think SO +? I'm sure you do,
Mr.. Finnatiaany, and l determined l
would not be guilty ofsuch thing-so,
thought poor Mr.. Hoskins had been
dead but six months, when you came to
my house, l said to myself, Now this
man is sent by Providence to be my
husband = You looked like poor dear
Mr.. Hoskins, and that made me take
greater fancy to you, and though you
did not talk to me much, nor raise your
eyes to mine much, yet, felt satisfied,
that as that was the way poor dear Mr..
Hoskins did, that your heart was only
the more tenderly inclined, and | cant
sure you that | only felt the more for
you on that account, remembering the
in6rmity Of him who was dead and gone
land then when you said all so many
complime nths Of me to the other boar
ders that you had too much modesty,
to say to me yourself---but which they
used often to tell me of, said to myself,
of truth, verify, this must be kin
dred spirit to poor dear Mr. Hoskins.
And when the young man whose room
is next to yours, told Of your love and
your sighs for me, which you did not
dare to declare, l determined to put
your expense at an end, and talk to you
myself And when he told me that this
was your own wish, and when he told
me what you said about my coming
here this night, | thought | would come
without your asking me. And now |
have come, and am ready to say, that
| am ready any moment to prepare TO
the minister's and havethe knot tied.
] shall be delighted, Mr.. Finnatiffany,
with the earliest time you will name


Here she paused to take breath.


What should | do ? Timid bachelor
as was, what should do before this
monster of woman, whom, my refusal
to marry would turn into tigress to
tear and rend me. My wits worked
quicker than ever before. could not
endure scene. My plan was formed.
camly told her that would inform her
on the following morning, that | was
too much indisposed that night, to which
she said,


"Yes, Mr.. Finnatiffany, you do in
deed look pale. Shall I not prepare
for you drink of herbs {? fear your
happiness is too much for you


"I shall be obliged to you if you will
my good lady," I replied blandIy, glad
to rid myself of her presence thus cas-
lily.


"Why, how you~perspire said she
when she returned with her steaming
decoction. 81 fear you will have a fe-
YER. Ah, why did you not-sooner, in-
form me of your illness. Let this be
the last time that you conceal anything
from me, dear Mr.. Finnatil1any."


Her tongue would doubtless have
vocalized to this day, Ehad not firmly
advised her to leave me, assuring her
that sleep always relieved me in such at
tacks----upon which, after many assidu-
Gus attentions. and reiterated wishes
and injunctions. she left me. I imme-
diately locked my door, atput together
most of nv valuables, and when the


house was still at night, took my car


pet bag in one hand. my valise in the


other, and left for the nearest hotel. IS