St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1856-09-25

hHu III lew minutes SIe ulu make
her appearance in the spotted muslin,
without single ornament of any kind,
except few natural flowers wreathed
through her hair, adorning the crown
OF beautiful curls God had given her.
"The dahlia and the lily of the val
ley" whispered my cousin to me as
they joined us in the parlor few
minutes after. We were soon at Sher-
woods and Miss Featherstonaugh, in
her rich dress and peerless beauty,
shone pre-eminently the belle of the
evening. The beaux of the village
We'd with each other in rendering hom-
age to the elegant stranger. She was
in her element all smiles all sweet
ness and no one, in looking at her,
would have dreamed for moment of
the storm that had so lately ruffled
the harmony of that angelic counte-
nance. The magnificent creature
she sparkled like a diamond among
pearls. My cousin, too, / am proud
to say, came in for his share of admi-
ration he was quite lion among the
ladies. l observed with pleasure that
he went about talking with neglected
young ladies, and sending partners to
the wall-tiowers decorating the room.
| did not see him go near Miss Feather
stonaugh but once during the evening:
it was unnecessary she was sur
rounded by admirers. Annie, in her
usual self-sacrifcing spirit, played
most of the evening for the dancers.
and would in all probability have re-
mained at the piano all the evening,
had not my careful cousin called my
attention to the matter by asking me
if | knew of no one who would take
her place. | soon found substitute.
and it was we'll that | did so, for saw
when | came up with my reinforce
ment, that poor Annie was almost
ready to faint with weariness in the
close air of the excessively warm room.
l led her to window my cousin
brought some refreshments, and we
fingered near it talking together
some time. While there, Miss Feath-
erstonaugh approached us, leaning
upon Fred. Fosters arm. She chatted
gayly with Annie and me, but | OBJ
served that she did not once address
my cousin. My cousin smiled as he
noticed Freds evident delight at her
graciousness, and, as they passed on,
whispered half sorrowfully | thought,
" Would that she were as lovely as
she seems !"
Before leaving, I persuaded the
young folks to fix upon the time for
our own party. After some consulta-
ton, the evening of Friday week was
agreed upon. On starting for home.
Miss Featherstonaugh came and took
my arm instead Of my cousins. This
was something new. Was she resent
full? Next morning Miss Feathersto-
naugh was quite cool to my cousin,
who left, Immediately after breakfast,
to so to the city on business. He did
not get home in the evening as he cx-
pected, but utremained until the close OF
the next day. How lonely we were
without him, and how much we missed
his cheerful face and pleasant voice
Miss Featherstonaugh did nothing but
yawn and exclaim against the stupid
ity Of a female coteric. On the eve
ming of the second day, Miss Feather
stonaugh espied my cousin returning,
from the piazza, and she even conde-
scended to so halfway down the steps
to meet him. Annie, who had been
her own sweet obliging self during
his absence, remained where she was,
just inside the parlor window, reading,
until, after having greeted us both, he
inquired eagerly after Miss Logan
Then she stepped out, smiling, but
blushing little, as he hastened to-
wards her, his fine frank eye glowing
with pleasure. My cousin had not
forgotten us in his absence, as somc
books which he brought for Miss
Featherstonaugh, some music for An
ME, and some fine cxotics for myself,
amply testified. That was delight
tul evening we spent together on my
Cousins return, and it would have
passed without shade of unpleasant
feeling to mar its harmony but for the
visit of a couple of ladies from the vii
lage, who, when Annie and Miss Feath-
erstonaugh played for them, laudcd
the performance of the former without
evincing the slightest admiration for
that of the latter. The truth Was,
they preferred Annie's playing because
they were accustomed to her style,
and comprehended it better than Miss
Featherstonaugh's, which was the re-
suit of SO much science and Skill
Miss Featherstonaugh was displeased,
and then, while under the influence Of
the green-eyed monster" spoke dis
paragingly to my cousin, not only Of
Annie's music, but Of Annie herself
This was the finishing stroke. Ny
cousin recoiled from this manifestation
of moral meanness even with its ex-
tenualing circumstances staring him
in the face" and Miss Feathcrston-
augh lost irretrievably the last hold Of
the ascendancy she had once possess
ed over him. All! if we could only
impress the truth on our minds that
good policy alone, if not principle, re-
! quircs us to speak well Of our fellows,