St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-03-17

WIFI cTHllHc, untlCu anu lalllng DaCk
cast warm shadow over part oI
one check, and detained a portion oi
the golden-brown hair, the rest Of
which escaped in rich masses down
her shoulders. Her eyes were a dark
and Iustrous blue, looking with a still
smile straight into the artists heart
as he painted them the forehead
smooth and rather low, the nose per
feet, the mouth sweet as q dream OF
love, the chin deliciously rounded, and
the peerless head set with dimpled
line of beauty upon the lovclicst OF
thrOats. \ dark velvet mantle, which
Miss Mordaunt herself adjusted with
the consummatc skill which made her
toilets always perfect, dropped from
her shoulders, revealing one beautiful
arm and hand.
Great is Diana of the Ephcsians, .
and great is the power of beautiful
woman, even though she be a fool.
Miss MOrdaunt was not fool, was
not even very silly-which is more
than can be said Of most fashionable
women. But she was no more the
equal Of little Ellen in spiritual gifts,
III insight Of the wants and capacities
Of mind like Pauls, in true appre-
citation of beauty, or even of Art, than
Ellen was her equal in magniliccnce
Of manner and dress. Nevertheless
Paul was infatuated with her sparkling
conversation, which was all in looks
and smiles, and nothing in matter
and when she made an attempt to ap.
pear interested in his tastes and pur.
suits, he did not detect the hollowncss
Of the profession, but was ready to 90
down on his knees in rapture OF
gratitude and wonder. Foolish Paul
he was not yet ready to climb fame's
height, since this little sudden clcva,
ton made him 50 dizzy.
One aftcrnoon-the very afternoon
that the portrait was at last completed
and just as, in a perfect passion OF
love and regret, he was adding look
of unutterable tenderness to the still
smile in the eyes Of the painting, and
which bcamcd but too plainly from the
living eyes before him-therc came OF
him little note. He tore it open i'm,
patiently, and read a:
Paul-dear Paul! will you not
come to me Immediately ~
1t was the first word he had heard
from Ellen in several weeks, and his
conscience smotc him severely. He
had about made up his mind, though
to act the villain towards her, and this
last struggle was not so severe as
previous ones had been.
What can she want, wonder
Perhaps she has heard Of my devotion
to Miss MAdaunt, and wishes to re
proach me. At all events, | cannot &c
tonight-for has not Miss Mordaunt
invited me TO call upon her this eve,
ming, and given me to understand that
there will be no other company? No
| cannot go and at all events | should
think Ellen would have more pride .
These were the thoughts passing
through Paul's mind. " \ lady's hand
writing and pretty ones too,
o'i'N'iN' t'iiihy l1SiIa tliI NANAiNIN.' VI lAiN
chiroSraphy," said Miss Mordaunt-
and then she sighed.
Paul heard the sigh and it set his
heart on fire. Hastily crumpling the
note in his hand, lest she should sec
the words it contained, he threw il
curclcssly to one side.
Il don't know, indeed" he said
"any thing about it. am only con
sciouS Of the existence Of one woman
i'll the world, at this moment
His companion saw fit not to re
prove this outburst-indecd, she die
not seem to take it to herself at all
but shortly after, when he announced
that her portrait was complete, she
gave him glorious smile, looked a
it, declared lie had iiattcred her yer,
much, that he was genius, a dccidec
genius, aud that he must not forge
his engagement with her for that eve
ming.