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

Finn make any other dress of this ma
terial 2" said l to the young woman
who had taken my place, and was en-
deavoring to fasten Miss Featherston
augh's dress. Yes, ma'am she had
one to make for Miss Hall but Miss
Finn has been too sick to see to the
work herself these two days, and I'm
afraid the parts Of the dresses must
have got mixed" .>
Probable enough, thought I, fol
Miss Hall was anything but sylph
All this while the young woman was
tugging away at Miss Featherston
augh's dress. After incredible exer
tions, and by dint of superior strength
she succeeded in hooking it at last
Miss Featherstonaugh went to the op.
posite mirror to see how it fitted.
"Oh, very nicely indeed it was a
little too tight, certainly f; but then it
would stretch: true, it was rather
wanting lin length, but she did not
mind that y" and she glanced down
at her small feet, in satin boots, which
wete visible, even to the pearl ank-
let's, with considerable complacency
just then she reached up her arms to
re-adiust a braid which had fallen
from its place, when rip, rip, rip,
away went the hooks, one after anoth-
er, all the way up the back. Miss
Featherstonaugh stood still a moment,
as if stupefed; then, tearing off the
dress with such violence as to make
great rents in the gossamer-like fab
ric, she crumpled it together between
her hands, and dashed it at the poor
girl, exclaiming passionately-
"Take that back to your mistress,
and tell her to make the best of it, for
it's all the payment she will ever get
from me-" t,.. r.... ..-...
The poor girl looked shocked, con-
fused, and gathered up the dress, ir-
resolute whether to take it or not.
"Do you hear me? Take it back.
l say, and tell her what have told
you " and, with flashing eyes and
head erect, she swept out of the ROOM
"Never mind" said Annie coming
to the young woman's relief, leave
it, it can easily be altered: mine will
do very well, too, with little taking
in under the arms-(a little !! !)-do
not say any thing about it to Miss
Finn and as to the payment, that
will be all right"
Annie, my DEAR said l, "do go up
stairs and get ready; put on some
thing as soon as you can, for we shall
be late / will attend to every thing
here"
After effectually comforting the
young woman, l sent her away, and
seated myself to wait for the girls,
when my cousin Joined me, exclaim-
ing
"What pity, cousin Debbie OH!
what pity !"
"Why, wherc were you?"
"Just outside on the piazza so
near l could not but hear all perfect
ly. l did not know what was going
on until it was too late to make my
escape without being seen from the
window near which Annie stood, SO |
remained quietly where l was"
"But l thought l left you up stairs
writing 7"
$50 you did; but thinking it was
time to go l lighted my cigar and went
down to the lawn, so as to be near
when the young ladies were ready. At
ter walking to and fro some time, l
came and seated myself in the piazza,
and soon became so lost in thought
that heard nothing until Annie's
laughing arrested my attention. But
such passion in one so beautiful, sock
ceedingly attractive, isn't it deplora-
BILE p"
"very." After few minute'spause
he continued
"Do you know that l had serious
intentions of trying to induce her to
become your cousin 2"
Heaven forbid I" said I, with more
emphasis than l intended: whatev-
er you do, study we'll the character of
my future cousin before you make her
your wife,"
II will, l must !; but oh !! Cousin
Debbie, would you have believed
could you have dreamed of such tenn
per in Miss Featherstonaugh? Did
she not seem nearer perfection to you
than any other human being"
Whatever she may have seemed
hitherto, we now know what she is
let us profit by this lesson, and look
beyond mere beauty henceforth, so
that we may not be disappointed
But l must so and see after the girls;
it il nine now; we shall be even more
than fashionably late if we do not has
ten"
"There will be no going to Sher-
woods tonight, imagine"
"Oh yes, we must go-some of us,
at least-or we should offend IRENE.
diably. will go instantly and see
what can be effected"
To my surprise and pleasure, found
Miss Featherstonaugh completely
dressed in a superb light blue silk
embroidered with white flowers and
trimmed with pearls; while Annie in
her wrapper, was arranging some
jewels in her hair.
Fly and get ready yourself, Annie.
"Yes, in an instant as soon as
q n