Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-12-02


his cousin of twenty; and from that time until be hsd
counted bis thrtieth Summer, be had bscn continual
under the irf1cnee OF some fever dream. A bright
smile, soft eye, sweet voice, delicate form, n
pretty foot, each in turn sufficient to bcwitch
him for the tim' ard the case with which he became
enchanted and disenchantci, seemed to bin less the
effect Of his fckleness than the result Of his
estimation of the power of woman sre'l His band
scme person and elegant manners ,radc hin always
wefolhe in The circ,s Of fashion, wGlo his lucrative
profession and rising reputation gave hrn interest in
the eyes Of prudent parents He had met with so
much success in society, that ho had learncd 70 think
| too bigtly OF himself as well too hun5y of bis
neishbors; and his opinion If wo;: en- had becoue
more degrading snl unjust in pr portion he re-
ceived new proofs Of their refnel susceptibility Of
feeling He lad been loved fondly snd truly by more
than noble hearted wumar but these things
cured AZ period when he cud not su,nInon courage
enough to resign bis brilliant position for tie com
parayely uaneresling character of the married man.
and he had coolly cxrisa.ed hms,lf from suh di'ern
ma without dif u!ty. He hal 10 faith ia tie sta
bity e wom2n'y feelings, ard could not be mace to
believe that the agreeable frt1tiuns wi;l we're 50
pleasant while they lasted ani lsogei o little pain
to Ism II thsr ttr.Hinato wlrc krglue.ye IF NOR.
serious grief to tac belle than te the beau Bat he had
now catne vcaricl Of this aimess ,ud rowing liza.
He wanted some to minister to h:s Wins, to
study bis comforts, TO wait upan hm more faithfully
THAI h;r.ling, and he therefore dscdei % mlrry.
lssbel Forester was no h9r,ias Of romance no
creature of improbable perfection. She vas meek,
quiet, tender giIl. with faculties yet to b. developed
~ circumstances, and IF ctians which, fro,n
childhood, had been lavished upon everything and
ryb:dy around her. She perfectly unsopsisti-
Gated ia feeling and the idea of saying or dcing an
thing mersy for efct, never entered her mind. Wiz
martins experience in the world had made him master
of the arts of pleasing, and il is surprising that he
should soon lave excited interest in tn, som of
tae aress girl. She did Rot begin 10 speculate upon
his motives for distinguishing har by his attentions
40 irue-hearted woman thinks Of su,h thing
until they are uggested by ofcious friend nor
did she at once calculate her chances Of matrimonv
she was il ieuced too much ty tee impuss cr f.elinp
to be so iul awake to selfish i te-est She liked
WilnarSh, ard oharmI by bis adsJit adoption 0.
himself to suit her tastes. She loved poetry-and
admirable reciter; she was le musician and
ne had decided TASTE If not talent for sweet sounds
she fond of reading and his ehciee of books was
vince her cf the congeniality which existed between
their minds. As soon he assured Of her pref
ercnce for him, (and of the world soon dscov-
eres tbis,) be commenced his system of training He
da not at once presume to her for this might
have aroused her pride; but he nsinuated his wishes
and Isabel, with the devotedness of true woman,
endeavoree to mould herself to his will. He at first
uuderto to correct her taste for booksand to this
Isabel submitted with the meek humility of one who
was corscious Of her mental inferiority He then
scIutinzsd, with critical eye, her style of Dress and
auced severe simplicity of attire, uat Isabel ban
!shed her gay coiers, ribbons, ard jewels, and assumed
ga'd oi alin st Quaker neatn.,s. Her rich cu,ls
"ers brsided back from ner brow her dresses we're all
seeted rom these grave, sombre tints always SO un-
b,ceDiiss il fresh youth; and embroidered hand
ksrcnicf, which she vensurd to exhibit after having
heard tirade against iush f,ls from the lips of the
sage ME. Wiinagh, cost her night of sleepessness
aud tears.
s, far, Wimartt's scheme had succeeded perfectly
ou be determined try still lnote severe xperiment.
His conduct oa the before alluded TO, was his
rst attsmpt, and what it Isab may be best i'm
agiued by those who can remember the first awaken
ing of disrust in the youthful and coufding heart
That Wilmarh loved her. she could not doubt for his
looks, his manners, all Disclosed his attachment but
the words which bind heart heart in that contract
which the world holds Is be only less irrefragabe than
the church's bond had never yet en- uttered. They
were not afianced lovers and therefore, Isabel though
feeling herself wrozged and outraged, knew she had
no right 10 complain. That night, Isabel's head
pressed seepless pillow, but with the morning came
feeling of rrido and of shame such as she had
never before experienced For the fast tims in her
life he bad something to coaceal alas it is too oftcn
the first grief which teaches the FIRST deeepion) and
with apale shock but calm brow, she took her accus-
toned sGat in the drawng-room. At an earlier hour
than usual, Wilmarth made his appearances. He was
prepared for sadness ad approaches but Isabel cod
proud demeanor made him fear he had gone toe far.
IL had no wish too loose his Influence over the lady
for Isabel was an heiress and in his xiey to regain
his power he uttered those expressions Of tenderness
ANA 1--we, which once spoken, to be recalled
ey hal in co!iness and disrust but they parted
os heroh, d leser,-aEd thus, in despite Of his
themes and hh system, Wllmarth found himself the
tfy of natural impulses
Notwithstanding his pleasure at having secured the
Lady end her fortune wimarth was seriously alarm
ed when he taec;ed upon the conss quences Of his
reeipitation. lie fancied that Isabel you'd now as
sct her sovereignty, and he knew that the opinion of
ciety would uphold her in claiming her right to his
attentions Ice situation of an engaged lover, com
PEELED to daneis forever at the side Of lis lady love-
about as US fo To her ser retcue. yet as much in
demand as If really essential to her hourly existence
had always sisnrk him as srpremely ridiculous; and
even while secretly rejoicing at his success be deter
mined to guard against any ADVANTAGE which Isabel
might hope from his weakness His first step, there
fore, wdo oin thesrict st secrscy concerning their
engagement and when Isabel cheerfully acceded to
wish which still seemed to her very unaccountable
he resumed bis former habits Of dsation and direc-
tion.
woman will bear much frsm one she lows so
long as doubt exists of his Affection SO long as she
is rewarded ty proper appreciation of her tenderness
Isabel sometimes felt sort of meek wonder at Viii,
martins exactions, she ometm caught herself wish
Ing that he less difficult t. please and less fast
dious in his ideas Of wcmanly duties and womanly
impulses, but the th.ught of paying no heed to his
suggestions and counses never occurred her pos
sibe. She considered it her duty to begin at once the
task Of assimilation, to adapt herself Immediately
the tastes of him who to beher future companion
through life, but she was scarcely prepared for so
much self-denal rs she was now called TO pra ctce
In the Of very short time she found herself
completely shut out from Society, restricted to the