The north Iowa times. [volume] (M'Gregor [i.e. McGregor], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-03-06

1 VerS, the nelr ana nelreSS OF Tic rlCI
man attracted universal attention; and
indeed their appearance fully deserved the
admiration which they received. Alice
Holton, in particular, possessed extraor
dinary charms-a large, yet graceful and
most voluptuous form, face of proud
queenly beauty, and the most brilliant
black eyes in the world. She was dress.
ed in the gayest and most costly manner,
and yet did not refuse to dance with rude
partners in homespun, although her haugh-
ty bearing evinced consciousness of i'm
mense superiority to the lower classes
around her.
Her brother Amber was youth OF
handsome, manly figure, but without any
very striking beauty Of features-for IN
truth his brow seemed too broad and soar
ing to harmoniss well with the rest of his
visage, while his pale complexion and
serious gray eyes betrayed the melancholy
student and dreamer, whose life was in the
ideal rather than in the actual. During
the day and early hours of the evening,
he took little part in the merriment of the
amusements but he replied to all ques-
tions and congratulations in the kindest
manner, and revealed no traces of scorn
or vanity, although his countenance was
melancholy and restless, as if panied by
some unpleasant thought.
At length an event happened, which,
like the first flush Of summer sunbeams,
chased away the gloomy shadows from
his face, and filled every lineament with
luminous fire. A young girl was seen
tripping over the moonlight meadow, with
step so swift and graceful that she
scarcely seemed to touch the golden flow.
ers which sprung elastic from her airy
tread and half hundred eager voices
exclaimed together-"There is Helen
Martin Helen. what kept you SO
long ?" ."a ...."s ".. = le...
"Mother is unwell," she said, or rather
sung, for every tone of her sweet lips was
note of the richest music-"Mother is
quite unwell, and I could not leave her
until aunt came home from the village
"Come, Helen, and dance with me o.
invited several at once. ..f. -..'..
Il will dance with the youngest beau
first" she answered, with laugh Of wild.
bewitching melody, and instantly offered
her hand to bright boy of fifteen. As
the violin sounded, they floated away like
fairies in charmed circle over the green
sward, now beginning to CLEAN with dew
drops like sparkling diamonds.
Amber Holton had started at the tones
of that divine voice. but he soon stood
entranced and bewildered by the match
less graces of her motion-for she resem-
bled some ethereal creature swimming in
Ia sea of moonbeams more than a mere
mortal dancer; and every other couple
paused, ashamed of the unequal compe-
tition, to gaze on her beautiful attitudes
and actions, while the air rung with plau-
dts and praises Of her performance.
And yet Helen Martin, this universal
favorite of the whole community, was the
daughter of poor woman, without any
other known relations, and supported both
herself and mother by the tolls of the
needle. Nor would her features, while
in state of repose. have been generally
deemed fascinating, as they were too small
and child like, and the exquisite fairness
of her skin was marred by a few golden
freckles. Her eyes, however, had the
tint of heavens own deepest blue and
when fine ray of feeling flashed out on
her face. every line became instantly lu-
minous and charming beyond expression.
| Tr shout bor oo,,,fon,noo ,f MT bo, vic
age, was transcendently beautiful-the
image of a lovely soul innocent as the
purest of angels.
The sweet notes Of the violin ceased,
and, advancing with an embarrassed air.
Amber Holton bowed and remarked, in a
tender voice-s'Miss Martin, l trust you
have not forgotten me %
"No," she faltered, giving him one OF
her luminous looks, and then dropping
those cerulean eyes with blush of fire.
"Will you dance % inquired the young
man, trembling with strange agitation.
"No, / must now return to my sick
mother. Ionly ventured here for brief
space, in order to assure my friends that
| still remember them" she replied in her
musical whisper. ha
"Then letme go with you, and converse
of the old divine days when we SO often
walked the same path as Children" he
murmured, in tones Of earnest entreaty.
| EYES," she answered, in sad voice.
And the two strolled off along the road
fringed with flowers, which meandered
with the shining stream through the CEN
tire of the winding valley. a 81
The air was clear and warm as some
perfumed virgin breath laden with the
musk of roses, and the radiant moonlight
seemed like celestial smile-the love.
smile of the enamored heavens upon the
glad green earth and glowing waters
Stars, trees, leaves and blossoms. whisp.
ering winds and soaring mountain-tops,
even the sands by the river side, all were
eloquent of immortal love.
j The youth and the maiden paused, a
it were involuntarily. at a point where the
path swept by natural bower of wild
honeysuckles then in full bloom; and
grasping her quivering hand, he asked
with profound emotion-"Helen, do you
remember our last parting at this spot Eve
l