Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-02-27

heart. Not that he was studlously po-
lite or cold; not that he manifested
resentment but in his eye, voice, and
manner, was language she could read,
and it told her that to him she was no
longer an object of interest.
| For this she was, Of all things, least
prepared. She had never felt towards
any one as she felt towards this young
man; and now, when the first we'll
grounded fear Of losing hun stole
through her bosom, she became ia
wardly agitatcd, and in spite Of every
effort to control herself, manifested
too plainly the fact that she was i'll at
ease.
Fancy parties were novelties at the
time, and all except Ada, who usually
! led of on festive occasions, entered into
the spirit of the hour. Even DIR Bed
ford appeared to enjoy himself as much
as any. But the beautiful coquctte,
whose peculiar style Of costume attract
ed all eyes, had for once lost the gay
exterior Tor which she was ever distin-
cuished, and there we're but few present
bv whom this was not remarked.
Once or twice Ada was thrown dl-
rcctly into the company of DR.. Bedford,
when he treated her with an ease and
politeness that more than anything else
tended to extinguish the hope that had
arisen into a flame in her heart. Had
he manifested any emotion, had he
looked grave, troubled, indignant,
proud, naughty Or anything else but
calmly indifferent and self-possessed,
Ada would have felt sure Of her pow
er over him.
But a perception Of the real truth
was as distinct to her as if the most
emphatic words sealing her fate, had
been uttered in her ears.
Earlier than the rest Ada retired.
unable longer to control herself as she
could wish, and unwilling to expose to
eyes already too observant the change
that had come over her feelings.
From that hour, Ada Glenn ceased
to be the gay, buoyant, attractive CIR
who had extorted admiration from Sc
many, and trifed, in vain pride anc
thong htlessness, with all. She rarely
went into company, and then her sober
mien, in a few months, made her cease
to attract attention; and the young
men who had been captives at her feet
wondered why she had exercised sucl
power over them.
AS for Bedford, he erred in belicv-
ing that, with single dash Of the will
he had effaced for ever the image OF
Ada from his mind. Wounded pride
and honest indi gnation had raised him
in a moment, superior to the weakness
Of his nature. But long period die
not pass before line after line began tc
reappear, and before he was really
aware Of what Was going on within, he
foun himself gazing upon the image OF
the maiden, distinct as ever upon his
heart.
The discovery, when first made, was
far from being pleasant to the young
man; and he turned from the fair I'M
age with impatient scorn. But turn
which way he would, it was still before
him. Occasionally, he heard Of Ada
as greatly changed, and sometimes he
was thrown into company with her, when
the change was apparent to his own
eyes. These meetings, whenever they
took place, left him in a musing, sober
state. There was something about Ada
that still interested him and when, as
it occasionally happened, he lookeC
suddenly towards her, and met heI
eyes fixed intently upon him with a sad
earnest tender look, he had feeling;
that he was hardly able to under.
stand.
The affair progressed, until, unex
pectedly, the young couple found them
selves brought together On a picnic
DR.. Bedford was less displeasci at thi:
circumstance than he would have been
few months earlier {; but he was care
full not to throw himself purposely ii
Ada's way, for his self-possession anc
cool Indifference, so far as she was con
cerned, no longer existed. The though
Of her, even now had power to disturb
the pulsations Of his heart.
The pleasant day had drawn almos
to a close. Two or three times Bed
ford had been brought into such close
contact with Ada, that he could not
without appearing rude, have avoided
speaking few words to her. On thes
occasions she said little but it was i'm
possible to help observing in the man
ner Of her replies, in the tones, and i!
the expression Of countenddce, some
thing that told him as plain as languag
could have uttered it, that she dccpl,
repeated Of her former conduct towards
him.
cit is too late, {" thought he to him
self, with some bitterness Of feeling
as he reflected upon what it was impos
sible not to perceive. And even as h
said this, there arose extenuating argu
ments in his mind that he in vain triel
to expel.
Disturbed by such thoughts and feel
ings, DR.. Bedford wandered away iron
the gay party, and remained alone 70
nearly an hour. AS he returned h
came suddenly upon Ada, seated IN ;
pensive attitude, just above little
dashing waterfall, down to which sh'
WIS looking. She was so entirely los
in the scene, or more probably, i'll th'
thoughts which it was impossible t,
drive out Of her mind, that she did no
observe the young man's approach
Bedford paused suddenly, and his frs
impulse was to retreat. But not being
able to get his consent to do this, he
a ftar a little hesitation. advanced an(