The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-05-01
THE WHITE LACE BONNET,


And no sausages, sweet,
Re made from thy meat, E
To prove there's Hog resurrection!
----S-
THE WHITE LACE BONNET.
Let no enthusiast of the pastoral or ro-
mantle school, no fair reader, with eyes
"deeply, darkly, beautifully blue" sneer at
the title of my paper. 1 have written it af-
ter much and mature meditation.
1t is about two years Since Lwas one OF
that strange and busy mob of some five hun
dred people, who were assembled on the
platform in the Euston-square station few
minutes previous to the starting of the
morning mail-train for Birmingham. 10
the unoccupicd observer the scene might
have been an amusing one-the little do
mestic incidents of leave taking and embrac-
ins-the watchful anxieties for a lost cloak,
or stray carpet-bag, blending with the af.
fectionate farewells of parting, are all curl
Gus; while the studious preparations for the
comfort of the old gentleman in the coupe,
oddly contrast with similar arrangements
on more limited scale by the poor soldiers
wife in the third class carriage.
Small as the segment of humanity is, it is
a type of the great world to which it be
longs.
| sauntered carclessly along the boarded
terrace, investigating, by the light OF the
guards lantern, the inmates of the different
carriages-and, calling to my assistance my
tact as physiognomist as to what party |
should select for my fellow -passengers-'not
in there, assuredly,' said to myself, as |
saw the acqniline noses and dark eyes Of
two Hamburger Jews; 'nor here, either-I
| dow in a xyTW III
this party suit me, that old gentleman IS
snoring already ; and SO walked on until
at last bethought Of an empty carriage, as
at least possessing negative benefits, since
positive ones were denied me. Scarcely had
the churlish determination seized me, when
the glare of the light fell upon the side of
bonnet of white lace, through whose trans
parent texture, singularly lovely profile
could be seen. Features, purely Greek in
their character, tinged with most delicate
color, were defined by dark mass Of hair,
worn in n deep band along the cheek almost
to the chin. There was a sweetness-a look
of guileless innocence in the character Of
the face, which, even by the fitting light of
the lantern, struck me strongly. l made
the guard halt, and peeped into the carriage
as if seeking for friend. By the uncer-
tain fickering, could detect the figure of a
man, apparently young one, by the lady's
side the carriage had no other Traveller
'Ths will do thought l, as opened the
door, and took my place on the opposite
side.
The little lamp which hung aloft, gave
me but slight opportunity of prosecuting my
| favorite study on this occasion. All that |
could trace, was the outline of q young and
delicate formed girl, enveloped ina cashmere
shawl-a slight and inadequate mufiing for
the road at such season. The gentleman
at her side was attired in what seemed a
dress coat, nor was he provided with any
other defense against the cold Of the morn
ing.
Scarcely had ascertained those two facts,
when the lamp fiared, fickered, and went
out, leaving me to speculate on these vague
but vet remarkable traits in the couple be-
| fore me. sWhat can they be?' who are they?'
where do they come from?' swhere are they
going?' were all questions which naturally
presented themselves to me in turn; yet
every inquiry resolved itself intothe one,
swhy has she not q cloak? why ms not he
got Petersham?' Long and patiently did
discuss these points with myself, and franz
ed numerous hypothesis to account for the
circumstance-but still with comparatively
little satisfaction, as objections presented
themselves to each conclusion; and although
in turn, had made him runaway clerk
from Coutts's, Liverpool actor, amember
of the SWELL mob, and bagman-yn could
not, for the life of me, include ha in the
category of such IN individuals companions.
Neither spoke, so that from their voices,
! that best of all tests, nothing culd be
i learned.
Wearied by my doubts, and worried by
the interruption to my sleep the Early rising
necessitated, fell soon into sund doze,
lulled by the soothing sstrains' alocomotivo
SO eminentlv is endowed with.
'Bang, bang, bang,' said l abud, repeat
ing this Internal refrain and m en-
ergy that made my two felbw-travelers
burst out laughing. This awakened me
from my sleep, and enabled M to throw of
the fearful incubus which resed on my bo-
som; SO strongly, however, vas the image
of my dream-so vivid the picure my mind
had conjured up-and stranger than all, so
perfect was the memory Of he demoniac
song, that could not help relains the wh ole
, vision, and repeating FOR M Companions
the words, as l have here lone for the
, reader. As proceeded in nv narrative,
had ample time to observe thecouple before
me. The lady, for it is but aitable to be.
gin with her, was young, she ould scarcely
have been more than twenty-and looked,
! by the broad daylight, even hadsomer than
by the glare Of the guards lantern she was
slight, but as well as could observe, her
figure was very gracefully formed, and with
a decided air Of elegance, ,detetable even in
the ease and repose of her attitude. Her
dress was of pale blue silk, apund the col
lar Of which she wore prohsion of rich
lace, of what peculiar loom an, unhappily,
unable to say-nor would ,llude to the
/ circumstance, save, that it fo,med one Of
the most embarrassing problems in my eff
forts at divining her rank and condition !;
never was there such q travelling costume,
and although it suited perfectly the frail
i and delicate beauty Of the wearer, it i'll ac-
corded with the dingy sconveniency' in which
! We journeyed-even to her shoes and stock
ings, for | noticed hese-the feet were
perfect gloves All the details Of her
dress had freshness and propriety one
rarely or never sees encountering the wear
/ and tear Of the road.
/ The young gentlemen at her side--for he,
too, was scarcely mora than and-twenty
i MT mnst-woa o1sn otispoI ~ a cast,,,,o n