Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-04-24

she wore assumed q peculiar grace
| and fitness, as If art loved to adorn
what nature made so fair. But what
charmed me most was, the sunshiny
smile that was always waiting to light
| mp her countenance. To be sure, she
sometimes laughed . little too loud,
but then her laugh was so musical,
and her teeth 80 white, 1t was impos-
sibls to believe her guilty of rude
ness, or want of grace. Often, when
/ saw her in the social circle, 80 bril-
liant and smiling, the life and charm
Of everything around her, thought
how happy the constant companion
ship Of such being would make me
what brightness she would impart
to the Preside of home-what light.
Joy to the darkest scenes of exist
cnceI"
"Ohl uncle" interrupted George,
laughing, "if were aunt Mary, l
would not let you praise any other
lady so warmly. You are so taken
up with her beauty, you have forgot
ten all about the rainy evening, en-
tirely."
Aunt Mary smiled, but it is more
than probable that George really
touched one of the hidden springs of
her woman's heart, for she looked
down and said nothing.
Don't be inpatient" said Uncle
Ned, "and you shall not be cheated
out Of your story. l began it for
Eiizabeth's sake, rather than yours,
and / see she is wide awake. She
thinks / was by this time more than
half in love with Theresa Vane, and
she is moro than half right. There
had been a great many parties of
pleasure, riding parties, sailing par
ties, and talking parties; and summer
slipped by, almost unconsciously.-
At length the autumnal equinox ap-
preached, and gathering clouds,
northeastern gales and drizzling
rains, succeeded to the soft breezes,
mellow skies, and glowing sunsets,
peculiar to that beautiful season. For
three days / was confined within
doors by the continuous rains, and I
am sorry to confess it, but the blue
devils actually got complete posses
sion Of income strided upon my
nose, another danced on the top of
my head, one pinched my ear, and
another turned summersets on my
chin. You laugh, little Nanny, but
they are terrible creatures, these blue
gentlemen, and / could not endure
them any longer. So the third rainy
evening, / put on my overcoat, but
tened it up to my chin, and taking
my umbrella in my hand, set out in
the direction Of Miss Vane's. Here,
thought /, as my fingers pressed the
lath, Il shall find the moonlight smile
that will illumine the darkness of my
night-the dull vapors will dispense
before her radient glance, and this
interminable equinoctial storm be
transformed into mere vernal show
or, melting away in sunbeams in her
presence Ny gentle knock not be-
ing apparently heard, | stepped into
the ante-room, set down my umbrel-
la, took of my drenched overcoat,
arranged my hair in the most grace
full manner, and, claiming o privilege
to which, perhaps, l had no legitimate
right, opened the door of the family
sitting-room, and found myself in
the presence Of the beautiful The
resa-"
Here Uncle Ned made very pro-
voking pause.
"Pray go on" "How was she
dressed?" "And was she glad to see
your assailed him on every side.
"How was she dressed ?" repeated
he. 81 am not very well skilled in
the technicalities Of lady's ward
robe, but / can give You the general
impression Of her personal appear
ance. In the first place, there was a
jumping up and an off-hand sliding
step towards an opposite door, as /
entered; but disobliging chair was
in the way, and / was making my
lowest bow, before she found an OPP
portunity Of disappearing. Confused
and mortified, she scarcely returned
my salutation, while Mrs. Vane Of
fered me chair, and expressed, in
somewhat dubious terms, their graft
ication ut such an unexpected pleas
ure. | have no doubt Theresa wish
ed me ct the bottom of the Frozen
Ocean, If l might judge by the freez-
ing glances she shot at me through
her long lashes. She sat uneasily In
her chair, trying to conceal her slip
shod shoes, and fnrtively arranging
her dress about the shoulders and
waist. 1t was most rebellious SUBJ
ject, for the body and skirt were ut
open warfare, refusing to have any
communion with each other. Where
was the graceful shape l had so much
admired2 In vain I sought its ex-
quisite outlines In the folds of that
loose, slovenly robe. Where were
those glistening ringlets and FURNISH
ed locks that had so lately rivalled
the tresses Of Medusa7 Her hair was
put in tangled lunches behind her
ears, and tucked up behind in kind
Of Gordian knot, which would have
required the sword Of an Alexander
to unto. Her frock was soiled and
dingy silk, with trimmings of sallow
blonde, and faded fancy handker-
chief was thrown over one shoulder.
"'You have caught me completely
en- dishdbtlie, said she, recovering par
tally from her embarrassment; but
the evening was so rainy, and no one
but mother and myself, never
dreamed of such an exhibition of gal
lantry as this
"She could not disguise her VEGA
ton. by all her efforts to conceal II,
and Mrs. vane evidently shared her
daughters chagrin. / was wicked
enough to enjoy their confusion, and