The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1859-01-05
5flistellaueous.
JOHN EMERSON AND Z.
ONLY AN EPISODE.

ONLY AN EPISODE.
From the time that John Emerson
first can to Valley Home, [ noticed that
q gradual change came over me. grew
more thoughtful. Ny life seemed to BE
opening to amore earnest beauty. There
was o regretfulness for that which was
past, restIessness in the present, and
longing for sweet fulfilment of the flu
ture.
Why this was 50, / could not tell
Mr. Emerson was nothing to me. |
did not love him; [ do not know that |
even admired him. There was little af
finity between US. He was calm, stern,
reserved, and at times, when he provoked
me by his words or sections, proud, AFRO
giant, and presumptive.
He was too deep for me; too deep in
learning, and too deep in observation
In contrast with myself, these traits and
qualities were especially prominent
| was wild, giddy, thoughtless; couple
with these Incidence, and a dislike to
study, and to the every day actualities of
life, and yox can make fair estimate of
my character.
I knew tina. was beautiful; but am
happy to say that with that consciousness
there was no vanity. Ny beauty was of
peculiar style; fresh, piquant consist
| ing of combination, or at least a beauty
not to be subjected to individualism.
Mr. Emerson, on the contrary, was
not handsome True, he was well form
ed, and graceful in his movements. but
bis face had nothing attractive about it.
His lips bespoke too mnch determination
for me, and there seemed to be something
SO patronizing about lis smile, that Ii
| ked him less when he smiled. His nose
was large yet corresponding with an iron
mouth, ike bis, while bis eyes were cold
and stern, rarely softening. hey could
look into your face as though it were a
page Of some Anticipated volume, only
! doapen1g in their color when true or
beautiful sentiment was expressed.
| often thought that hated Emmer
son. He was sort Of shadow resting
on my buoyancy. The cold, positive
inostnerisn Of his character was driving
/ me 70 the wall. Itrenelled and It attrac
tel me By turns, and at last | could not
tell whether loved or hated him very
much. He made no advances of love to-
ward me. He did not even seem to wish
to strengthen our friendship. There was
nothing about me for him to love, except
nay beauty. And what was beauty to
John Emerson? A wreath Of smoke,
q mist, o vapor;; he recognized no beauty
beyond the beauty of the soul.
was sitting bstless y upon the veran-
dab one evening. ] had never felt SO dis
satisfied with myself in my life, IS / did
| just then; and IS 3 consequence, | was
| dissatisfied with every thing around me.
| felt peeyish aud fretfui--iu mood to
quarrel with any one, but especially with
| Emerson.
He was sitting q short distance from
me, with bis char leaning back against
/ the railing. With him that was favor
tie way Of sitting. He had been reading
but as tie twilight WAS deepening, he clio
sad the book, aud looked over towards
whe 7 sgst. A inmate afterward, he
| drew his chair nearer to me, and said in
his quiet way,
whats the matter Kate? You seem
sad ray. what's worse, discontinued -
You are in no mood to appreciate yon
beautiful sunset. Look let some Of its
gorgoousness drop into your love and
II would prefer sir, to have you drop
the conversations" interrupted, crilsti-
".
Emerson smiled one of those abomi-
nable patronizing smiles,
~ do not choose to drop it, ma belle,
be said quietly.
.fThank Heaven, l have an attentive
then. Good evening, sir"
/ / arose and gathered up my dress to
| depart.
'.You are not going Kate! Don't spoil
your. pretty face with that look Of scorn
| You must sit down and hear what have
to saw" aH
/ "Must! Did 1 hear right?'
ayes must! | said it very plainly"
/ gazed at him with passion; and yet
/ bis calm brown eyes seemed to draw the
/ fire out Of mine own. Before [ was a.
ware of it Twas sitting down again. |
could hardly account for the fact and so
| bit my lip in vexation.
/ ''That's right Kate, knew You would
not go. You anticipated lecture did
your
81 do not recognize your right to lee
ture me- You are nothing to me. | am
getting to hate you more and more every
| day."
"Oh. no, you don't hate me one BIT,
ate. Besides I wouldn't care if you
did. (The presumptiye fellow9 Your
love or your hatred is nothing to me-
Worse still0 AS you anticipated a lee
| ture, you shall not be disappointed. /
have some unpleasant truths to tell to
YOU -
Unpleasant to you, or to me z
unpleasant TO both of US, Kate
Do YOU know that you are not Eviag up
to the grandeur of your estate: to the full
filInent of your destiny! Some of your
most glorious powers are rusting, abso-
lutely rusting for the want of exercise
This inactivity IS warping your soul.