Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-02-03
VOL. 5.--NO. lO.----WHOLE NO. 2lS.


tiRgly, he saw that her cheek was pale,
and that she never raised her eyes TO his
face.
A few days passed on and all was qniet
in the district. Neither foes nor rumors
Of foes came to disturb their tranquility,
and Norman Reed wished there had, for
anyihing--dea,h, torture itself-would
have been preferable to the life of mock
cry he had led at the Blockhouse. He
saw that in her heart Villa recoiled from
him. though nothing, save her quivering
lip and increased paleness whenever he
drew near, betrayed her emotion. And,
worse than all, the handsome person and
attractive manners of Frank Nugent,
who was lettering there on his way to
Detroit, were winning their way to the
frontier maiden's heart.
Ii might have been in Norman's pow
er to destroy this fascination, and win
his beautiful betrothed to forge, his looks
while she listened to him. But il needs
some degree of assurance to play the
part of an Othello, and Norman Reed
was over sensitive; for he was a young
man, and had been handsome one until
six months before, when the sword of an
American officer cut that deep cash a.
cross his face. True, the very scar was
the record of heroic act, but what mat.
tered that! 1t revolted love and inspired
aversion in the woman he loved, and he
wished the keen blade had gone through
his heart instead.
Yet he loved and admired Villa more
and more every day, for the noble firm
ness and resolution she evinced to CON-
plete the sacrifice of her youth and beau
ty and her young fair hopes to him, from
whom he felt her very soul recoiled. -
And il was hard with his own hand to
tear away the flower which fate had laid
upon his bosom TO send its beauty and
perfume over his life.
"But non' said he, ''such dreams are
not for me. Glory mus, be my only
mislress--my only bride. The old ne.
grecs told me years ago of military fame
and rank which should gain. They
must be henceforth the only prizes thai
| strive for. and then it will matter to
none if win, instead, a grave"
There was a sigh az he concluded. al
if at this moment the last would be mos
welcome; but very differen, was the fate
reserved for Norman Reed.
While the young sharp-shooter was
indulging in these gloomy meditations
Villa Thorncastle was musing as mourn.
fully on the eastern bas,ion, where she
had stolen away because few went there
and she had longed to breathe the COO
evening air, alone and free from obser
vation. So seating herself or the broat
stones beside the swivel, and leaning hel
feverish brow on her hanG, she gazet
with unseeing eyes on the quiet expanst
of star lii fields and shadowy forest.
! She was so deep in thought that steI
was upon the bas.ion ere she heard il
She started to her feet with a hurried
movement, when an earnest voice ex
claimed:
"Willa! Miss Thorncas.le! do not fly
from me. Fo, shis once must speal
TO ycu."
II do not wish TO fly from you," sait
Villa, gently.
"Yes. you do" replied Norman, will
startling energy. "You know that il
youi heart you long TO fly, eye. even Il
the ends of the earth, 10 the depths o
the waters, SO tha. you might avoid me
And yet you do not fly from me: yot
stand here fixed and resolu,e to offer uE
to me the sacrifice of your happiness
Girl, girl. die you think me monster o.
a fool that | should trample your hear
beneath my feet, or fail to read its abhor
renee in every feature! All, forgot yo,
saw not that my eve watched them
you have not looked on my face as
have on yours"
/ His voice sank to softer tone a, th,
las. words, yet il was full of bitter mourn
fulness. Villa leaned on the gun, and
burying her face in her hands, wept pas
sionately. After time the young mar
spoke more gently.
| "It was not for this l came here, no
TO distress or reproach you, but to say
that which | might never have found the
courage to utter while the light of day
was shining on me. You tremble, Viii.
la; sit here and listen to me"
! Villa SAT down in silence on the stone
where he had found her. She did in
deed hemble with strange fear; for. true
to the chivalrous principle in which she
had been educated, she had resolved thai
her heart might break. but should no. fall
ter in the strict path Of honor and duty
and she knew not how far iss secrets had
been read.
at lie not the love of day. or week
that ! am going TO speak Of" said Nor
man. "Monihs, many months ago,
saw you at Detroit. You spoke to me
may, danced with me. You do no
remember il. No wonder: war had no
then set its seal on me. But from tha
hour ! loved you, though of late ! had
not dared to dream of you as my own
until -. But il was not that | mean
TO say; only wish to tell yon that i,
was not because | do no. love, not be.
cause do no, prize, ay, far more than
my life, the hopes tha, have been given
to me, that | have come here to speak 10