True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-03-01


existence of the other; but thtTe was
something in the manner of Alice, 'je
ne sais quoi," which, though perfectly
feminine, would break through the little
conventional knowledge she possessed, and
betray that she had already suffered her
heart to dwell with unusual pleasure upon
the graces and assiduities of her fellow
traveller On the contrary, there was
nothing in the department of Alilman
which could furnish clue to the strictest
scrutiny, by which to determine whether
Or not his attentions to Alice were more
than warm sentiment of friendship, or at
most passing fancy which began and
would end with their travelling acquain-
tance.
lie was evidently an accomplished man
Of the world, who at an age not very much
under thirty, had thought, read and reAec-
ted much, and who had moreover enjoyed
the fairest opportunities for studying that
intricate volume, human nature. He had
mingled in the best society in one of our
large Northern cities, and was doubtless
accustomed to, breathe in the earof beauty,
complimentary phrases, and Aowery moth
ings, or, as Erin's Bard more psettily ex-
presses it,
ITO sigh yet feel no pain,
To weep, yet scarce know Why,
To sport an hour with beauty'S chain.
Then throw it idly by"
If his dark eye followed the fairy steps
of bis companion through the dance, moth
ing was involved thereby; so did mine, so
in fact did every body's. If hs fingered
around her at the guitar, when she charm
ed the company to silence wit@Ehe pure
fute-like faultlessness of her voice, he
would also rise and lead Miss Arabella
Rose to the piano, or Immediately become
as deeply absorbed in game of chess with
Miss Mcfarland. He was a mystery!
alas, for my poor little Alice he did seem
rather to prefer her society, but perhaps
it was the interest with which the idle
schoolboy regards the fragile butterfly ere
the rude winds have despoiled it Of its
beautiful hues, and far too family evinced
to have warranted her in beStowing upon
him so valuable a gift as her fresh, un-
worldly heart. But my observations had
come too late for warning, even had been
disposed to give it; he had already taken
possession of her soul, as some gallant ship
bursts into seas where bark has never
sailed before.
The musicians called out a reel, good
old-fashioned Virginia reel; dance new
to Alice, and charming from its utter con-
trast to all she had been accustomed to see
in the pirouetting stiffness Of graceless
Mazourkas, the hobbling clumsiness of
hop-scot Polkas, and the spinning volutions
of that whirligig which would call forth
sncers from a reckless Byron. Free and
graceful as disenfranchised bird, she gil
ded in airy cycloids through its winding
mazes, her cheeks flushed with the exer-
else, and smiles of almost infantile delight
breaking over her bow-like lips, and dim
pling the soft whiteness of her chin. Mil
man was still her partner, and | wondered
if it were possible that those deep, unfath-
omuble eyes were not drinking in the sun
shine of that joyous face, and like shaded
camera obscura, painting its lovely Inca
ments upon his soul in deep and imperish.
able lines of light and beauty.
could not see his face, but in sudden
turn of the flying dance, / caught the ex.
preston of hers. He was retaining hel
hand for moment, as he bent down to ut
ter some remark, and that same ineffablc
look of angelic sorrow, which l had before
observed-that shadow from the brigh
wings of the Bird of Paradise-hoveret
for an instant over her fair white brow
and threw a beautiful cleaning on wha
before had seemed almost too rapturous
too intensely cloudless for contemplation
could not catch the slightest tone tina
r was said, but / saw full well that love wa
breathing its various lay of mournful swell
: and joyous symphonies, ";ts constant cho
S rus of continual change" across the un
f swept harp-chords of her being. What
; look was that which she turned upon him
= The native sunlight Of her spirit scemo
$ striving to gush up through its brigh
f blue windows, and penetrate the impalpa
Bile cloud of sweet sadness floating owe
them-hor lips, too, quivering with me-
and unusual emotion, seemed struggling
arch into their wonted smiles of merrimen