The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-12-03
From tie Home Magdzine.
ONLY A N EP ISODE.
BY II. +. STACFFER.

thoughtful. My life seemed to bc opening
TO more earnest beauty. There was q re-
gre,tulness for that which was past, rest
lessness i'll the present, and longing for IL
swectcr fu.timent Of the future
Why this was so, could no, tell. Mr..
Emerson was nothing to me. did not love
him; / do not know that even admired
him. There was little affinity between u.s..
He was calm, stern, reserved, and at times,
when he provoked me by his words or ac-
t'ons: proud, arrogant. and presumptlve.
lie was loo deep for me; too deep in
learning, aud too deep in observation. In
contrast with myself, these traits and quail
ties were especially prominent. l was wild,
giddy, thoushtless couple with these, in
dolence, and a dislike to study, and to the
every day actualities oflirc, and you can
make fair estimate of my character.
knew that WIS beautiful but am
happy to say that, with this consciousness,
there WAS no vanity. My beauty WAS Of !.
peculiar style fresh, p:quant, consisting Of
combination, or at least beauty not to Lc
suhjcc,cd to indivilualism.
Mr.. Emerson, on the contrary, was not
handsome. True, he was well formed, and
graceful i'll his movements, but his face had
nothing attractive about it, His lips be-
spoke too much determination for me. and
there seemed TO be something SO patronix-
ing about his smile, that liked him less
! when he smiled. His nose was large, vet
corresponding with an iron mouth, like his,
while his eyes were cold and stern, rarely
sotten'ng. They would look into your face
''s though 1t were a page Of some antiJuat-
ed volume, only deepening in their color
when = true or beautiful sentiment WAS cy.
pressed.
often thought that I hated Emerson
lie was Il rtof shadow resting on nv
buoyancy. The cold, positive mesmcrism
Of his character was driving the to the wall
1t rcpcIlcd, and it attracted me bv turns
and at last could net tell whether loved
or hated him very much. lie made no ad.
vances Of love toward me he did not even
seem to wish to strengthen our friendship
There was nothing about me for him to love
except my beauty. And what was beauty
to John Emerson A wreath of smoke, {;
mist, vapor he recognized no beauty Lc.
yond the beauty Of the soul.
was sitting listlcssly upon the vcranlall
one evening. I had never felt so dissatisii.
cl with myself in my life, as did just then
and, asa consequence, | was dissatisfied
with everything around me. felt pcevisl,
and fretfnl-in a mood to quarrel with any
one, but especially with John Emerson.
He was sitting a short distance from me
with his chair leaning back against the
railing. With him that was favorite way
o. sitting. lie had been reading, but as the
twilight was deepening, he closed the book
and looked over to where sat. Alninute
"fterward, he drew his chair nearer to me,
and said, in his quiet way,
"What's tho matter, Kate You seem
sad nay, what is worse. discontented. You
are in no moodAo appreciate yonder beau,
tiful sunset. Look let, some of its gorge
business drop into your love shd--"
'I,would prefer, sir, to have you drop the
conversational Interrupted, crusliy.
John Emerson smiled one of those abon,.
Unable, patronizing smiles.
81 do not choose - drop it, ma belle" lie
said, quietly.
Thank heaven, l have an alternative
! then. Good evening, sir"
arose, and gathered up my dress to dc.
part.
You are not going, Kate Don't spoil
your pretty face with thatlook OF scorn. You
must sit down and hear me out"
"Must!' Dil hear right ~
"Yes, must. said it very plainly"
gazed at him with passion and yet
lis calm, brown eyes seemed to draw the
fire out oemy own. Before 1 was aware al
it, lwas sitting dosp again. Icorld. hard
Iy account for the fact, and soiIs bit MY lip
iq yexa,ion. i III, !:
,a.Thal's stigbt, Kate: kpes yoa.wouidf's
go. You anticipated II Isc,ure,:sk ~ yff I.
/ : II do not .reeogaizs ,yepssjght to lectdrs
me. Yep a,e nothing 10 me; i, am afst.