True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-12-05

On the many joys Of life he gazed still, with
the eyes of childhood Il HYPERION.
'Rowena Rowena =
'Well, uncle Harry?'
The voice, soft and clear, wandered
through the long hail. and down the
broad staircase, to the gentleman who
stood at its foot
'Il's goingto rain, and the airs very
damp. You mustn't ride out this after
noon. Now mind what | say, child.
And moment after, the swinging back
of the street door sent sullen echo thro'
the building.
Now, if that isn't TOO bad calculated
Rowena Strong, as she peltlshly tossed
down on the table the new fall hat, which
for the last half hour had engrossed her
attention, and walked to the window.
Just look at Der moment, as she stands
there, with the crimson curtains throw.
ing rich artiSt-glow over the face she
has drawn close to the window pane. Ii
is not handsome face-no heighlening
colors-no harmony Of surroundings can
make it this; but it is piquant and inter.
esling, and, am half inclined to think,
the puut that curves the full red lips is
rather becoming than otherwise.
Rowena Strong is an orphan, and her
rich uncle's pet and heiress. Her mem
Ory can look over some half score oI
years, TO the time when she lived in lit
lie brown house in the country, with hel
widowed mother.
Mrs. Strong had married in opposition
to the will Of the family, and for many
years there Was but little intercourse be
tween them. When her husband died
and left her in poor health, with scarcely y
any means of support the widow was
too proud to appeal to her relatives for tht
aid she needed. Two years went by
and Mrs. Strong lay on her dying bed
and, when she looked on Rowena, the
woman's pride yielded to the molher'
heart She wrote to her brother. A few
weeks before, he had lain his Young wifi
under the summer grass and it was will
a softencd heart that he FASTENED to TIT
death bed of his sister. From her dying
hands he received Rowena, and pledget
himself 10 be in deed and in truth faith
er TO her.
He had fulfilled his promise well. Ro
wena had become the idol of the ricl
merchant, and her life flowed up to II,
twentieth year, bright, picturesque
peaceful river.
Rowena was by no means move
writer's incarnation of all impossibl
sweetness and goodness. She had he
faults, and her petled, luxurious life wa
not calculated to evolve the noble charac
teristics of her nature.
But underneath all the accidental or in
digenous faults of her nature, lay warm
true heart, and subslralum of good com
mon sense. Rowena stood few me-
ments, obviously searching the cloud
with her blue eyes, and then the larg
drops began TO patler on the roofs.
well, there's no use frelting about it,
she said, drawing the curtains togelhe
with sigh. Its going to pour; that
plain enough to be seen, and must max
the best of it. How provoking, though
when / wanted to wear out my beauty Q
new hat so badly Not a soul wi
come here this afternoon, either, and i'll
be as dull as States-prison all the aflel
noon. | must get hold of something t
read, or | shall certainly die Of ennui be
fore uncle Harry gets back And sh
went 10 the table and whirled over the III
cut leaves OF several magazines that la
thereon. As she listlessly glanced anon
the pages, her eye lighted on Frenc
sentence, and she paused to translate tn
latter portion of it: 'Et gull soil d
que jai rendu m hOmme heureur G
ma Uie.
Il wonder if that can be said of me
murmured the young lady, as she lai
down the book and, folding her hand
behind her, she walked thoughtfully u
and down the room.
'Lets see; here / am twenty veal
old, and yet | can't think I've ever mad
one being really happy in all my life.
makes me feel bad to say it, for | don
believe I'm any more selfish than 9th,
people. I've given a good deal 10 be!
gats, now and then; and there's ,h
= poor family that lived round the alley
Didn't clothe up all the children in MIC
warn, shilling de lains! They locke
just as dirty in two weeks, though, as
| hadn't touched them. And that thre
cold water on all my benevolent project
Itwasn'trightto be discouraged so easil.
l 'spose; but no,U l should really lil
10 feel as bPd performed one reall
good act something that would requi
selfdenial and exerIion on my par
and--' Il ifi4'' 'o
Just then there was a knock at Il
chamber door, and domestic put HI
head inside. .tHere's letter as has in