The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-10-07


he was continually making additions 10 it,
He had few neighbors, the occupants Of the
surrounding villas, who regarded him as very
singular and very interesting man but, how.
ever great their curiosity might be to enter
certals portions Of the mansion which they
had heard were furnished with strange taste
add splendor, they seldom got beyond the great
receiving room, or the library back OF it. Oc-
casionally favored guest was surprised and
delighted by an invitation from the host to see
for himself the truth Of some question, botani.
cal or mineral, or social or what not, that they
might be discussing, and would be led into :
garden, which in the winter time held under
its glass roof all the glories Of the tropics-or
into suite OF rooms furnished in imitation, ,oi
the style Of the Persians, Turks, Chinese OF
some ancient Roman age Of luxury or be
called to walk in a immature forest sweet with
the music OF every known singing bird. Only
one strange omission there was to the general
magnificence there were no mirrors.
Ralph Goidstone had come to the conclusion
derived from his better experience, tina. beauty
was curse to woman. He thought it panied
him to sac that the pretty Rosalind was the
image Of her mother, and could not fail ::to be
as beautiful That he was SELF deceived is
evident from the fact that his eyes were not
more fascinated than his heart by her every
charming feature and bewitching notion
She had all the grace, the nameless charm Of
manner, Of her mother, and her exquisite
symmetry while added to this, was an ex-
preston Of the soul aud intellect inherited
from her father, which promised to give great
er power to her beauty.
The idea of Ralph was this-to conceal
from his daughter that she was beautiful--,o
teach her to believe that she was even ugly.
This was secret OF the absence Of mirrors.
There were mirrors in the dressing rooms
RosaIind had one in her apartment--bnt what
few there were had been made by Ralph him
self, and reflected back but distorted SEM
blance OF what was before them. II the lit
tleg girl had ever thought anything about her
appearance, or had much opportunity to COM
pare herself with other children, she would
have thought herself very dumpy, broad
faced child, with queer qnirk Of the eyes
and mouth. But she was happy creature,
full Of life and vivacity, innocent as the flow
ers and birds which surrounded her, and acting
almost as much from iastinct and as little from
reflection as they. She seldom saw any chill
drea, and then usually ~hea under restraint
FROM the presence of their parents. She loved
her father best, nurse Betsey next, and tn erest
of her impulsive heart was given to her many
pets.
We said in the beginning that Old DR.. Gold
s'one had little daughter yet at the period Of
which we are now writing, he was but little
over forty years OF age. A night Of sorrow
had blapched his hair, and the form which
was once ss firm .as it was stately, stopped
slightly; the face was yet handsome. 1t was
more the dress aud manner Of the Doctor than
in his appearance, saving his gray
hair, which made people call him old.
His precious discovery he kept profound
secret.
He had negotiated privately with the Empe-
ror Of Russia and several other of the crown
ed heads of Europe, and derived enormous
revenues from the sale Of his diamonds. His
plan was to employ an agent, who took them
first to the Orient and affected to purchase
them Of the Bagdad merchants, then transport
ed them to Europe. and filed orders.
He had added to his success by learning TO
iDpart lovely hue to such jewelsas he wished.
He had also learned to think thai. too much
beauty, like too much gold, was dangerous !;
aad TO resolve that Rosalind should have no
prospects for either. People knew that he
was wealthy, and had inherited wealth; but
they had no inkling ofthe power he possessed,
nor Of the princely income which was really
his.
So there was little girl being trained Up
by a man, and what was worse, BY phifoso-
pher. He was going to bring her up in igno-
rance of her beauty, instead Of teaching her
that self-controi and dignity which would
have overcome its temptations-without heed
ing that some time the knowledge must come
to her, and find her usprepared-- --that thevoice
Of aattery, when heard For the first time, would
be doubly sweet Hsswas going to keep her
As much out Of society as possible, 80 that
when she did finally 60 into it--at time, too,
when she might be depsiyedy of his fatherly
protection-she would be as ignorant OF its
faisities as she was innocent. So wise Id hn-
man nature was DR.. Goidstonc, the experi-
enced physician, the distinguished botanist.
the chemist who Invented diamondsl
Rosa. as she was called sometimes, used to
make faces at herself in the mirrors, and laugh
It their comicality, when she was quite little |;
but AZ she grew older, she would sometimes
ook into her own bright, but distorted eyes,
With musing expression OF sadness.
II am notas pretty - my birds, or my Aow-
srs," she said to herself, one time snor half
=. pretty IS that little girl that was here yes-
'erday. ! wonder my paps can love me a.
70 nch 10 he does.0 -
Her father stole behind her and took her in
his arms. aasl
SETTLE girls need not be pretty they need
'nly to be good. / love my Rosa FOR her kind
little heart. And the hypocrite (is That too
harsh word FOR the occasion p smooth ed
hose restles, dsttering tresses Down against
he glowing cheeks, looking fondly into the
brilliant eyes upliftsdto his.
RoyAlind had TEACHERS OF muAic and da neinS.