True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-06-13

gushing, passionate black eyes Of Italy.
I had never before given thought to my
personal appearance, but now, surveying
myself for the first time, my heart thrill
ed with the knowledge that I was beauti-
full as any creation of the painters. 1t
was from no mean vanity, that remained
for half an hour absorbed in the contem-
plation. I did not speculate on what
others might think Or say of me; I had
no desire to display this loveliness to the
world, but I smiled as I gazed on, in the
very intensity Of my worship for the beau
tiful, wherever and whenever it met my
vision. At length drew out the golden
bodkins which fastened my luxuriant hair,
and let it fall in cloud about my should
ers. Hitherto 1 had been contented with
the clumsy braids of my English nurse
Barbara; now was resolved to arrange it
myself. l wound it about my head, in
heavy, glossy bandeauu, like a turban ;
then | fastened it with cleaning golden
pins, and placed on one side, dropping to
my neck, bunch of blood-red carnations.
My figure was what an empress ought to
be; full, tall, and perfectly developed. I
J robed myself in closely fitting waist of
crimson velvet, that rich, deep crimson
which resembles in hue rare old wine,
mantling over silver goblet. With this,
I wore long, flowing skirt of merino,
precisely the same in shade. Around my
neck and arms clasped ornaments of pure
, jet, and then, standing before my mirror,
3 l surveyed my work, and experienced my
first emotion of pride in my own lowell
t ness. I awaited my fathers coming I'M.
/, patiently, for I lOnged to tell him Of the
| discovery 1 had made.
, 1t was late before he arrived. I order.
: cd supper in the magnificent old drawing
, room, for that night had the tastes of a
: princess. The room was furnished with
2 lounges and ottomans of crimson velvet
n heavily iuwrought with gold. The walls
i displayed the same blending of gold and
f crimson, and the full-length mirrors mul
It tiplied it with endless reletitions.
c / threw myself down among the Grim
!, son cushions, and leaning my head on my
:. hand, abandoned myself to a profount
r revery. I tried to summon into my pres
}, ence vision of my mother, as she mus
n have been, young, beautiful, radiant. Th'
. lamp-light drifted over me, almost witt
:, the full brilliance of sunshine, and closing
: my eyes the long lashes veiled my cheeks
) Absorbed in my own fancies, | heard nj
y sound, until my fathers voice broke upor
}, the stiffness.
l. "This is my only child, Sir Reginald
Isabella Hutchinson. l call her lisa, ant
J. SO may you, since you are cousins"
10 Isprang instantly to my feet, and en-
D. countered the admiring gaze Of the frs
Young gentleman to whose voice | hat
ever listened. Reginald Percy was beau
d tiful as morning, but it was genuinel
st English beauty. He had eyes of tn
o. same deep blue with Marion Illsley's, bu
ID the expression was very different, The
ID beamed upon you like a summer day, clear
10 untroubled, and yet with a soul in th0i
to depths, all the more visible from thei
very clearness. His hair was Of the sam
10 golden shade with Marion's flowing tress
ID es, and it clustered in short, thick curl
lie around his fair open brow. There wa
o something indescribably sweet about hi
mouth, and his smile seemed to kindle hi
It, whole face.
r 81 am very glad to see you, cousin lisa,
ID he said very quietly, in rich, mdsic'
at voice, coming toward me, with his eztent
t. ed hand My fingers touched his, for
single instant, and then I drew them bacl
es trembling so I could scarcely stand. M
ne face crimsoned so deeply that my fath'
he noticed it, and said kindly
ch "You must not mind. 1t is shy lit
ny puss. lisa never saw but one visitor b
IS fore in her life-eh, IsaW
sr- Iblushed still more deeply, and he laug
al, ingly rejoincd-
on "a sore subject, isn't it7 Well,
,r, won't discuss it any longer. Pm hung
an as Polar bear. Could your ladyship civ
oh us some supper 2"
#, Glad of an excuse to leave the room,
he went out to see that the tea-things we
al arranged. My father followed me, an
sx- ious suppose, to learn the result Of !
m, experiment in trying to give me pleasul
ri "Well, IsaP