The Ripley advertiser. [volume] (Ripley, Miss.) 1843-1897, 1856-01-03
ORIGINAL oToAy.
For the Ripley Advertiser.
TALE OF LOVE, COURTSHIF
AND'MARRIA0E.

There hved In tne Pieasunt HUE
town yof b, about twenty years
since, a man by the name Of Har-
court-an eminent lawyer and a gen
,leman ofhigh standing, respected and
beloved by all who knew him, blessed
with a wife Of superior beauty for her
ape, with mind formed to cope with
misfortune, high spiritsd-but a good
wife and staunch friend to those whom
she thought worthy other trust. He
was also blessed with two lovely
daughters, Of whom he might well be
proud; add to these his immense
wealth and who will say he was not an
nyiable man? Not that such was the
case, for those who knew him respect
ed and loved him too much to enter
tain such feeling toward him. His
daughters--IIortensc and Felicia--hai
not yet returned from Nashville,
where they were completing their ed
ucation. They were expected home
in short time, for their graduating
examination would take place in n
few days; and you may be sure their
numerous friends and acquaintance
were looking forward to the time Of
their arrival with much pleasure, for
they were great favorites with the
towns people; and well they might
be, for two lovelicr beings never lived
than Hortense and Felicia Harcourt.
lIortense, the eldest, was just eighteen,
of medium height, a form of perfect
inould-whose every motion was
fraught with matchless grace;--dark
gazelle-like eyes encircled with long
jetty fringes; brows full and beauti-
fully arched; forehead not of the high
est or lowest, but a smooth, fair fore
head, round which curled in natural
simplicity her dark magnificent hair.
Though | have described Hortense
with perfect form, sweet dark eyes, a
comely forehead, and raven tresses,
she was thought beautiful only by
those who knew her best. Strangers
often called her plain. She was one
OF those persons whose beauty rather
won upon the heart than the imagina-
ton; for hers was not so much the
beauty offeature as ofmind and heart.
That heart which every glance Of her
souI-bcaming eye told the beholder,
was as pure and unsullied as the gol.
den sunbeam as it rests on the waters
of the widespread Atlantic ere it
sinks to rest meath the distant hills.
now turn to the younger and more
beautiful sister. She was sweet six
teen, the budding rose just bursting
into full blown beauty. Like her els
ter her hair was black as night, but
cnrIed round broader, more intellec-
tual forehead, meath which beamed
eyes of deepest black, cleaning with
Intelligence, sparkling with animation,
melting with love, all blending togcth-
En- were almost two ravishing and
and beautiful for earth. But those eyes
were too full offire and passion to be-
long to an angel. She could be moth
ing but what she was-a bright beau
tltul impulsivc woman, with intellect
of the highest order.
guess my readers are fully satisfied,
at least with the length, ifnot the style
ofmy descriptions, asd would gladly
turn their attention to other topics. -
But had they known the young ladies
As did, they would never tire listen
ing to their praises. But | will say no
more about them at present, il my
readers will take short walk with me
IN the pleasant town Of B., not far
s'"~ the city of vicksburg. We will
nr't fall, go up Main street; and as
we 20 along notice the beautiful dwell
ing houses, picturesque flower gar
dens; some Of the cottages almost hid
py the ivy, the woodbine, or honey
'aekle, snd other graceful locking twi
hipy plants. And Oh! what a deli
Sous perfume is waited to US by the
Kind wind a. it hutters here and there,
waiting sweets from every fragrant
cup: 'Tis not such a friend to the
mower as it 10 to Us, for il not only
robs 1t Of its sweetness, but makes it
droop its lovely head when it sweeps
by in its proud disdain. Still the mod
est Hover loves il, for il gently woo-
her and speaks softly and kindly 10
her again, and she lifts up her dro"p-
ing head with a glad smile, throws out
.hcr arms to embrace it, and gently
Kisses il with her velvet lips. Tis
hcSle wooer, however, and soon robs
Hoi its sweetness; and away, away,
none knows whither;-all feel itspow-
'r' 'Tis like false lovc,-wc tnist.
VIC confidc, bclicps. and withou' . |
thought or ,,.r,,c 1900 cr,.clvcs ,,u