St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1856-09-18


liberal views as you used to do in
'auld lang syne.' If, as Bulwer as
serts, our opinions are the angel part
of our nature, fear you will not give
much for mine. Nevertheless, l feel
assured that, for the sake of our old
friendship, you will regard the trust
and value the attachment of ...s.
Your sincere friend, a........s.
..........s FRANCES FEArHERsroNAuGH. ,
"P. s. Please insist upon Flor
ence's wearing a large sun.bomet
whenever she goes out" .v ii DIR
"Poor Fanny!" thought I, as + re-
folded the letter as narrow-minded
and conservative as ever" But there
are excuses for her, my reader though
an American, as she says, by birth
she was of English parentagc and cd
ucation, and had married wealthy
friend and countIyman of her fathers,
who was as strenuous royalist as
himself. l could not help smiling at
the postscript: did she wish the sun
bonnet to protect her daughters fair
IdSC lloiil tIlc SuIl, VI lioNl tlC uuiNll-
ing gaze of our village beaux?
This letter was soon followed by Miss
Featherstonaugh, who came a few days
after my Cousins arrival. l had new
er seen her before, and when she threw
back the long thick green veil that
almost enveloped her whole person,
| could not but acknowledge that her
appearance justified her mothers
worldly expectations She was tall,
slender, and stately ii, figure; dis
tingue, and at the same time fascina-
ting in manner but when she rcmov-
ed the close travelling bonnet, and |
saw the whole contour of her most per-
feet Grecian features, her large lus-
trous eyes, and her magnificent wealth
of dark hair, parted smoothly on the
centre of her forehead, brushed back,
and gathered into soft shining folds at
the back of her head, ! stood looking
at her like one entranced. Never in
my life had l seen any one so beauti-
fil, so superb Recovering myself, I
led the way to the apartment prepared
for her. and, as she employed herself
in various little matters, l could not
help following her with my eyes. l
was charmed. Well might her proud
fond mother say, MY Florence moves
like queen!" Miss Feathcrstonaugh
was somewhat fatigued with her jour
ncy, and left her to rest while pre-
vious to preparing for dinner. My
cousin was out rambling in the woods
when she came, but l had the pleas
urc of presenting him at dinner. I
saw by his animated manner that he
was as much pleased as myself with
this new and delightful acquisition to
our family. ~
Miss Feathcrstonaugh was rather
reserved during the first and second
days of her visit; but, owing partly
to the simple unceremonious customs
of my household, and much more to
the really polite and engaging dcport-
mcnt of my cousin, she began to un-
bend, and soon accommodated herself
to our mode of living perfectly. To
wards the close of the second evening
| opened the piano, and requested her
to play. She complied Immediately,
and played skillfully and well, with
taste, beauty, and feeling. She sang
too /; and, as the fine full tones of her
voice foated through the apartment,
my cousin joined in, and /, charmed
and thrown off my guard by the soft.
ening influence of the music, com.
menccd also; but as my poor old
cracked voice did anything but add to
the melody, soon desisted, not lit
tie discomiitcd. But my kind, thought
ful cousin insisted upon my singing
"Home Sweet Home" with them, and
one or two other old tunes, before We
retired
Next morning, as had an engage
mcnt, my cousin proposed ride on
horseback to Miss Featllerstonaugh,
which she accepted with pleasure, and
soon mode her appearance in an cle-
giant blue riding-habit, black velvet
cap, and white plumes. Miss Feath-
crstonaugh certainly understood the
art of dressing well she could not
have selected q more becoming cos
tune. saw my cousin regard her
with evident admiration when he en-
tered to say that all was in readiness.
watched them mount from the piaz-
IA, and, as they rode off, gracefully
bowling their adicux, l could not help
building an air-castle" for them en-
tircly at variance with friend Fanny's
| iniunctions. During their absence, to
my great delight. Annie Logan ar
rived The sweet girl there is such
an undefinablc charm abont her that
her presence is always desirable. l
took great pleasure in presenting Miss
Featherstonaugh and my cousin to my
little favorite when they returned
While the girls were changing their
dresses, my cousin embraced the OPP
portunity to ask a few questions CON,
corning Annie, adding that he did not
care how many moro ladies came, if
they were all as charming and agreea-
bic as Miss Feathcrstonaugh Twas
about to sound him farther when the
door opened, and Annie and Miss
Fcathcrstonaugh entered. My cousin
arose and offered chairs; but, before
they had time to accept, the dinner