The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-10-23

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shows of any kind. Where people have
etc, they never stand gaping at man driv-
ing pig out of II yard.
have seen seven strong, able bodied
mpn-landholder and digniied members of
society-stand stock still for two hours,
looking at blind Nurse going round in a
cider mill! (Lord, here's another digres-
sionO
At the expiration of the two minutes
mentioned above, felt gentle tap on my
left shoulder, and looking up, found my
fricnd-whom | may as well call by his
name-Mr. Fields-stnnding by me, with Il
pretty, slender female figure, ali in black
and closely yelled, leaning on his arm.
This is Mrs. Fields said he, introduce
ing me. 81 say, suppose We turn this seat
over, and ride vis-a-vis.'
On being presented, the lady put her veil
up, and disclosed one of those sweet. semi
blonde faces, which, though never striking
at first, invariably steal into a fellows heart
to leave u (more or less) indclible impress
sion.
Fields had told me that he was married
man, and had hinted in Il modest way, that
Mrs. f. was n jewel, both for looks and
character. Now that | had seen her, | be-
lievcd him most firmly, and shadow Of
envy came over me, when thought of what
aJolly place his home must be, as contrast
ed with my bachelor quartcrs-cosy enough
perhaps, but apt to be lonesome.
After this addition to our party, the trip
was delightful. The sun warmer than in the
morning, but the atmosphere was uSt as
clear and bracing. We chatted pleasantly,
rs the train dashed along through high for
ests, rcplete with the many colors of autumn
hal foliage, where the squirrels are rafting
down their winters stock of acorns
and chestnuts; where the shadows looked so
soft and cool, and the ground WIS so well
carpeteu with dead leaves--over wide wide
meadows, above whose fat wastes and
sluggish str ans, the swallows skinned,
II, d the blue heron silently watched, stand
ing dignlfcdly upon one slender lcg-over
recently cleared lands, where the quails
were whistlng among the low ground shrubs
and the thin, blue smoke of burning rub
h>h, lay in low long streaky lines on the
air.
This New England scenery charming as
any in the world-furnishes US with abund-
ant topics for conversation, and soon found
that Mrs. Fields was as well endowed intel
ectualIy as physically. She WAS, like Mr..
Fields. person Of high cultivation and
taste, and Il clear ST GIFTED observer of peo-
pie and objects. Her good-natured salles
of criticism upon our fellow passengers,
, were Imaginable but kindly, and her com
mcn,s pom the landscape were poetical
without srntimrntnl,>m.
In short, by the time we reached the VIII
lage of QuiddeGnghogan Zone of those
'>weet Indian nnmrs,' which some geogra-
piers are so anxious to preserve, and of
which Ralph Waldo Emerson is so fond.) |
began to wish that might be as fortunate
in the choice of Il wife us my friend Fields
had been.
At QuiddcGaghoCan, we thought it best
to stop for the night, us, by an alteration in
the time tables, should otherwise reach
Rnngadang (tnother sweet Indian name, }
, about -four O'Clock the following morning
IL very unpleasant time to reach any place.
| was secretly glad Of this Arrangement,
as | should thus have an opportunity to be-
come better acquainted with Mr.. and Mrs.
, Fields, wnom | liked more and more-es-
, pecially the latter.
9 am quite willing to acknowledge that i,
is very wrong to take too great an inter
T est in YOUR 'neghl'urs -~fo-' hnv~ ,vIs
well that if had IL wife, wouldn't like to
have other men taking too great an interest
in her. Yet, for all that-and felt it just
as strongly hrn as now-l couldn't for the
life Of me, bell feeling greatly attracted to-
e ward Mrs. Fields. She and her husband
treated one another cody and unostenta-
tously, that nobody would have thought
, they were young married couple; yet add
[ mired their good sense in that us much as IN
e anything else.
AT the Iloptoad House, Quddegaghogan,
we enjoyed one of those good old-fashOned
4 country suppers, such as cannot be had, ex-
$ cept in the 'lnterior,' for love or money, and
y aftcrit, Mr.. Fields went out to call on ac-
quaintances who lived in the town. Mrs.
/ Fields was tired, she said, and preferred re-
naming at the hotel.
, you will be lonesome, chld?' said Mr..
r Fields.
NO. YOU are not going out, are you?' she
: asked turning to me.
, Ufcourse | wasn't: if had been intend
G ing to, should have said not, for polite
ness makes us mcndaclouS.
: SO Mr.. Fields went out leaving us, and
felt like "a weak minded man left in chargr
of a million of dollars, with a fair chance
S to make off with it.
AT first, being strongly impressed with
/; the shocking diShonor of making love to
; another mans wife, was quite distant.
c and trusted myself to say so little, that the
: lady rallied me, playfully, about my bash.
e fulness, avcrring that talked well enough
= when Sam (meaning MIR. Filcds) was pres
ent, but become silent as Il mouse, rs soon
0 rs he withdrew.
n This speech made me still more unforta-
h., BILE. 1t seemed so extraordinary like en-.
conference.-the if she didn't in the least
l., mind getting up a little tirtatlon-that
= was tremendously embarrassed.
: What made it all the worse was, that
was falling in love with her COULDN'T
n help t) Just about rs fast rs II man car
: perform that very agreeable and entirely
involuntary net. | really felt criminal
was horrifed 1T myself wondered how
should ever dare to meet Mr.. Fields kind
j serious blue eyes again. resolved to rur
away from the temptation twenty times. bu
still sat enchanted by the beautiful womnn''
o voice, her gesture, her glance, and all those
r little Establishments she knew how to use Sc
we'll.
o Gradually, the truth forced itself upor
: my mind. Mrs. Fields was as mucn inter
n ested in me rs in her, and wished me tt
: understand it. In vain laid the idea to my
VanltS-there was ho poSsiolii'y VI "'s'"H
y ing that deep earnest gaze-that half
Q concealed sigh, nor the almost timid man
!, ner. had won regard from her, whlct
;, poor Mr.. Fields could not gain, and the oc'
8 casion led me into long train of moraliza'
r ton on the wicked folly of marriage with
out love.
: As it grew later, and Mr.. Fields did moi
: return, we became more open in our express
g sions, and was finally betrayed into q
downright declaration that ! loved her!
She blushed as red as rose, then paled
: like lilly and giving me her hand, hid hel
!; face upon my shoulder.
> Carried away by the hallucination of the
n moment, sprnnS up, and with some dith
: Guilty Of utterance. spoke.
: 'Agnes!' | said U had heard Mr.. Eleld'
!; call her Agnes) ',h.s is wrong-this is wick,
e cd! That love you-ah, far too we'll
e cannot deny. But must leave you-leav'
. you instantly, and only ask that you may
!, forgive me-forget me! FarewellH
: started for the door, but she chung tt
me, sobblng:
i 'Oh, why must We part?' she asked, ir
& hrok on nccpnts sWhv IN II st this new fOun(