The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-12-18
From the Bo~Gon P"st
THE FIRST OF TIE MOUNT VERNON PA


IWill probably run Il good deal after this
manner, until Mr.. Everett gets his hand
1t was drcarv night in July, 1850. To
q day of unusual heat had succeeded an eve
ming of silent but deadly cold. which the
slightest yielding to the sumLerous torpOr,
breathing abroad, WAS fatal. The amber
moon rose noisclcssIy and punctually in the
right quarter, and its reflected silver danced
in the magnificent pancs of glass Of the lord
ly mansion Of Park street. At the bay WIN
dow Of No.---- shonc Il single taper. y
lovely girl, on whose auburn locks some SIX
teen springs had brcathcd the last wind 5
breath, sat, or rather rcclnGd IN II patent
chair Of exquisite device, covered with yell
low brocateile, reading listlessly the Rhyme
Of Miles Standish. Her int,rcst was pro-
found. She had just turned two pages at
once, when low whistle startled !her attcn-
tive and beautifully modelled ear. Her
name, anaconda = was audible on the viii i.
She threw up the easement and stood upon
the balcony. Black in relief against the
snow, dazzling in moonlight, was a cloaked
figure, while the prelude Of barcarole
tingled from guitar, ''Tis he! lis my own
Birmingham y she cried, slipping on pink
velvet mantle and ii blue Grape with mara.
bout feathers. At that instant, figure
moved rapidly from behind the huge trunk
of massive oak, unseen of Birmngham.-
y sudden ring out Of wild bells into the wild
night, the signal of confagration, drowned
the melodions tinkle of his guitar. A sharp
cry, a scream, and the rapid retreat of nailed
heels were all heard at once. The guardian
of the night heard them, and (his name was
Wallow) approached the scene. Two iigur-
es were PROSTATE, half buried by the drift
ing snow-Birmingham in his inky coat of
cotton velvet, Anaconda in her roscate cv-
mar of satin sheen. One was Knocked over
the other fell over. The flow Of blood was
but limited, and confined to the antique cut
nose of Birmingham, whose returning con-
sciousness betrayed itself by q little improv-
isation on his guitar. The lovely Anaconda
groaned, and the mingled glare of the moon,
and of the large fire in the vicinity, betray-
ed the ashen palcncss Of her check. Bir-
mingham threw in the arpegglo of the trio
in Lucia. The watchman, too, was musical,
-'Anch 10, ,sono piitore,' he cried and the
concerted harmony of that unequaled trio
went up upon the night from the little group
till the pillow of every listener was drcnch-
ed in the happy tears of a delicious melan-
choy. Finally, the noise woke up her stern
old father. lie could stand it no longer,
but rose to find match, which never, never
could obtain his sanction. lie strokcd his
silver beard, as he girdcd on II long knife,
kept for Contingencies he said, and surely,
if ever, here was one. Slowly he descended,
and let himself out by n postcrn gate. The
last strophc was being repeated of the glori-
Gus trio, dwclt on long and fondly by the
cnamored singers, rs the aged Bank Prcsi-
dent emerged into the moonlight. Cerbcrus
would have melted. Not he. you = he
cried, syou, Anaconda, here and thus