The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-03-20
MY PRETTY COUSIN. -

lnS. She - tne queen "a cVs.s1lSs Sos6 ~
once the most agreeable, cruel and unman-
aeeable Of all; the prettiest and most dan.
perou, livsliest and most witty and is be-
sides such conceited little prude a. never
lived before, whose fsnciful and mischief
loving disposition has intiinidated and sub.
dued The country beaux for many miles
around She Is, moreover, - capricious
tyrsnt, willful and obstinate, and wields the
scepter Of her power with an unsparing hand.
Her admirers-slaves, would say-though
their ribs have ached and smarted with the
SHIFTS of more than one of Cupid's darts
through their hearts, ,bristling with tsbarbed
arrows, pierced and riddled in every direc-
ton, still hutter around the light that
scorches them, attracted, enchanted BY eyes
that melt by gazing, and fire you with their
fire. @'..- '''A SO
See, how fond the saucy elf is Of teasing,
with such mellow lips, that hang like golden
fruit, to be plucked BY the frst bold hand !;
pouting so temptingly /; wooing, inviting;
and if you would haste to press them to
your own, they arrest you with such an Of
Tended delicacy, that you dare 20 10 fur
ther lest the puritan boxes your ears.
All cousins are not SO. While they hang
their heads in delicious confusion, and suf-
fer one to do what he will with their lips,
She will be tugging at your whiskers, or
what is more dreadful still, with one fell
swoop smash the spotless, unwrinkled bo-
som, that is SO snugly arrayed behind the
vest that gives it projections.
None Of the devoted train yet had sum-
cient audacity to steala kiss. WAS it that
they feared they might disarrange the hair
they had spent'so much time in brushing
and torturng into sickness? Or were they
content to plod along in the same every day
employment Of signing for paradise, and
though they gazed on it through their eyes,
dared not reach forth their hand and enter,
with the seal upon her lips. I'D.
So stood the besieged and the besieging.
when city cousin arrived and thus found
Harry Hosmer the pretty kingdom my pref
ty cousin had founded.
He came and she saw oneTmor victim to
swell the tide of triumph. lie was worth
winning; he was a fine appearing fellow
was . true gentlemen; could dance, ride
sing, and make love sonnets to perfection
and was, all in all, what q handsome lady
of eighteen would love to see ut her fset.--
Will we be justified in saying that the same
motives that influenced her action towards
others, moved her to the concentration Of
all her art, cunning and power, to batter the
heart of the city cousin? No, it was moi
love, but something akin to it, for wha
country belle can see such Harry-one su'
perior to the rest Of the throng that sur
rounds her-and not feel greater emotion
a more than common autter when he ap'
proaches her? ..,,.....
Her plans were laid. His heart was min
ed assaulted, besieged, and attacked II in eve
ry possibleshape. He remained nnconquer'
ed, nor did any subsequent movement dis
lodge him from his station. .,,
His department was always the same, ant
not all her skill ut mans subjection coult
draw from him that familiar, gentleman,
carriage, which acquainted her with thu
freedom of his heart and the failure of hel
plans. She was piqued. What cold sense.
less thing this is! | won't trouble myself
no more with the ill-mannered bear HI
isn't worth the pains one takes to make hin
like people. see = ss. d.
She, however, did not adhere to this wis'
conclusion. The next day another attack,
general assault, was directed against the cit
adel, and she endeavored to carry all before
her by storm, but he that had been so long
impregnable to so many city warfares, lei
on, too, by the brightest eyes that fash u
our land, vas the same cousin Harry Hoe.
mer from the city. And the only foil he
used, and that which he played with surpass.
ing advantage, was the name Of another city
cousin, ! defence that surprised, while II
was counter attack that Disconnected her
Myjpretty cousin had failed. In her en-.
deavors to subdue the heart Of her cousin
she had neglected to guard her own, nor did
she know that it was already in the posses
sion of another. She could hardly bear
that he should be in her presence, and was
unhappy when he was out OF sight,
If he was pleasant or laughed, he was ridi-
culing her unhappiness, and rejoicing at her
discontinue. IL he was sad and sober, ne
was thinking Of the hatsd cousin he left BE-
hind in the city. 49, ,s..
'ssMy dear cousin, you cannot imsglne
with what feelings of pleasure shall pre-
sent your beautiful cousin to you. She i
such divine creature," exclaimed he one
day, after dwelling unusually long upon her
beauty and leaning. "She is perfection."
Clara pouted and picked the leaves OF
rose he had just plucked for her, and crush
ed them with her foot. .ess.a .alrs#g d.
"You will be delighted to see her, she is
so kind and gentle Itwillb impossible to
be near her and not like her." =.
ssAnd do you like her, cousin Harry !,
asked she in low hesitating voice, - If
afraid to ask what might be unpleasant to
her. sss5slG 81 .sssaa.g ,.sgA.r I.
"Like her--we love her--everybody does
The rose was suddenly dashed on the
floor, her foot Indignantly stamped upon it,
and she arose and hastily walked to the win
dow.sssas.s 81 ssgs . go r--ss7 @S "a
"Why, coz, what aiis thee p, said Harry,
without rising, as he, swung . chair care
lessly around Oh one leg, and commenced .
lively air. . .5 6.,... ID 80. ,.,!,s.
7 She was leaning against the side Of the
window with her forehead pressed against
the glass she did not answer. Nothing Is
more CALLING to woman, than TO hear the
praises Of rival from the lips Of one she
loves. Clara was piqued she was offended
angry. She could hardly bear her feel
ings, for she pictured her happy cousin
'basking in that same sunshine Of fAis, and
I EN- she fhodSht of herself, neglctsd and
a,ved, and kef breast hsayed Win FEEL
81: sssy e soss;s ssssP as-sil 1s.si pa, - s'..
s.RIs. p silent.
,...os siue, You, have not forgotten the
; H?" nsss sAs' u
4 No answe .saaU8az siaatsa5
i NJ n "an,,r sos. I'D walked to the window
. ~, s , Sssd, ~" p, the hand that supported
The day after sa - shs :s s,s M xesP,nE. Yone
His Asfss va SePsl.ee i9I ~ ~ , !.
:. thS stts3; As Ma5Sae oecI, ess .Go. ~ ~ !.
friends, but hs ing sao so 49, aoSaOs cht ~ =
be smother among tneas nese ssSu1 th.;y -
faces, he watched ever as scarnEsu y 'Mrv IT,
mot there. Onee more h3nGoW ssne -
!. stopped again to ses II Cffok iease sno
~ % eddie Ssnd souch.a n his hard on
and ! Low voice whispered, aCs shSaldsr %as,s
al hva ~ n k1ukIys