St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-04-23

had been assiduouqly Cultivating fo
the past few months pin feathers,
vowed l hadn't graduated but was cx
PEELED, and hoped I wasn't going tc
stop at Beechwood long, for she'd in
vited her dear friend, Seraphine Love
to pass the summer months with her
and | should only prove a torment
and botheration.'
Seraphine Love camc-a tall tai
low-candle, sentimental damsel will
stiff curls, light blue eyes, lackadai
sacal, moonstruck air. There was nt
similarity between her and Jenny ane
fell to wondering about their mutual
liking, and soon discovered the cause.
Seraphine Love wrote poetry, rhyme
and levelled her Parnassian darts
against those whom Jenny disliked
this was the secret. She had been
sent for her to do up cousin Ned in
verse and various were the sonnets,
acrostics, and lampoons, with which
was favored. They greeted me every,
where !! On my chamber table, in my
portfolios, between the covers Of my
Greek lexicon, even in the pockets OF
my dressing-gown. | found them; in
no place was safe.
Had | been particularly sensitive,
| must have been driven from the field
but withstood them. Besides, there
was reason, other than my resolve
to seem Indifferent Of late, | thought
l had detected, beneath Jenny's gale
ty, an under-current Of feeling; some.
times, looking up suddenly, l had
caught the glance of two blue eyes
and though speedily withdrawn,
could have vowed that glance had
something earnest, almost tender in it,
quite belying her sauciness Of words
or manner. Was it possible that Jen-
ny was playing part? that she had
been caught in her own snare?
1.-The thought emboldcned me and,
one moonlight evening, coming upon
her suddenly sitting in an unwonted
pensive mood on the back piazza,
found myself actually saying senti-
mental speeches, with my arm about
Jenny's waist.
"The vixen she heard me through,
smothercd laugh in her handkerchief,
slyly pricked, with pin, the hand |
had thrown around her, slapped my
check smartly, and then disappeared
through the low French window open
ing into the back parlor. Scarce three
minutes after, going up stairs, | heard
her rccounting to Seraphine Love, be-
tween her gusts of laughter, that
cousin Ned had actually been quoting
Tom Moore, and making love to her
after the most approved fashion,
Zounds ! that was a drop too
much-and with my face still tingling
under the blow she had given, and my
heart smarting sorer with wounded
pride, on the impulse of the moment,
| pushed open the door of their room.
The two girls sat at window in the
moonlight. l went up close to Jenny.
"' Miss Wilder and Phil, l must
have fairly got into the heroics, for she
wilted under my eye and sunk down
in her seat. Miss Wilder, this hand
you have wounded, you shall one day
accept-and my cheek you shall yet
touch with your lips. A kiss for a
blow, you know and l left her.
" A sound smote on my ear as shut
the door behind me but whether
laughter or sob | knew not. l went
to my room-packed my trunks
found uncle Dick in his library, and
told my resolve, and before Jenny
or her dear friend had made their
appearance next morning, was miles
away from Beechwood.
" In three years l had gained my
profession ; and, during that time, had
never once visited home. Letters,
many and kind, came from uncle Dick
and aunt Mary, but never a word from
Jenny. heard of her often, as
belle and beauty, and hirt-since she
invariably rejected all serious wooers.
That latter item pleased me strangely;
and straightway | fell into becoming
the devoted cavalier of Kate Drew, a
dashing belle of Springfield, whose
father counted his property by hun
dreds of thousands, and in my letters
home | was always careful to speak of
Miss Drew, the beautiful heiress.'
" Urgent invitations came from
Beechwood to revisit the old place :;
but | put them off. Business before
pleasure l urged in return. Coke,
and Blackstone, and Kate Drew, de-
tained me- so wrote uncle Dick. En-
passam, let me mention, Phil, that
Kate was engaged to an old classmate
of mine, in Italy those last two years,
and you will perceive the drift of our
plans.
"One item in uncle Dicks letters
pleased me more than fathcrly advice
or invitations to Beechwood. jenny
he wrote, has just refused the best
match in the country-your old chum,
Presley Edwards, a thriving young
physician-rich, too, and belonging to
one of the best families i'll New Hamp-
shire. l believe the girl has burned
her fingers this time; but she is head
strong as ever. BY the way, nephew,
did you and she quarrel before you left
us? She flouts like very shrew when
your name is mentioned. What's the
matter, nephew! Better come back
and settle up old scores; for though
Jenny's the least bit contrary, she has