The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-12-29

| previously been clerk; and that bv the en-
cellent thrift Of his sweet wife, he also found
himself Impressed by debt, and with means
sufficient, with their present prospects, Of
purchasing delightful cottage-home in the
suburbs of the noisy, dusty city.
CHAPTER H.
Twas cold November evening when the
door bell rang, and hearings familiar voice in
the hall !mogene hastily threw open the
sitting-room door, and the next instant was
clasped in the arms of her early heart friend
Bessie Warden. For two long wears these
two "ongen'al souls had been separated; and
after the task of disrobing Bessie Of her sey-
eral extra travelling wrappers was laughinglv
accomplished, and the fatigue of ber journey
somewhat removed hv a late supper, with a
dish of tea from the still kissing urn which
Bessie declnred "a delicious comfort after so
cold a ride" with many regrets that Frank
should have been obliged to be out, on this
particular evening of all others, when he was
USUALLY at home. and when he would have
been so happy to welcome her old school
mate to their COTTAGE, Imo~ene drew up the
rockers before the blazing CRATE in the cosy
par'or, and, hand in hand, as Of old, they sa'
together in the soft fire-rght, talking of tn,
happy past and present, comparing notes in
regard to their individual oxnerences, anA
each. still n The mo~niny o" her davs, look
ing forward to the future as TO hours beauti-
fled hv the roseate hues of a still unclouded
hone, only Bessie RECOGNIZED ir the young
wife's tones, while speaking of coming hours,
richer music than ever hefore, and felt the
influence of deeper inspiration, breathing in
all her words of loving endearment--felt a
consciousness in her presence that there had
been fuller unfolding of her womans soul
during their last separation than ever before,
adding smeetness and dignity to her every
look and tone
rBut tell me, dear friend, about your new
book. Do you know how interested have
been in its" This question Bessie suddenly
asked, during slight pause in their CONVEX
sation. as it published vets"
! Yes" answered Imogeue, softly, while a
bright warm blush mantled her cheek and a
beautiful light shone in her large hazle eyes.
"You know" said Bessie, ''you wrote me,
in reply to my inquiries about your idle pen,
that you We're concentrating llyour energies
upon it, and shall expect rich intellectual
treat-something quite worthy Of your CO.
MUS" Bessie, who was herself bit of an
authoress, continued ''You will bear me
witness, ma chere, that have always insist
ed that your literary efforts were too spasmo-
die, and your productions, especially in pc
etry, quite too detached and fragmentary, to
do justice to the talents which know you
possess; but why did you not send me copy
| shall begin to feel jealous, considering how
prompt you used to be in forwarding such
| favers"
81 thought to do SO, certainly, but conclu-
ded to wait a little longer" said Imogene,
with half comical smile lowering about her
lips; "and now let us on to the library; for
you must know" she added, as they rose,
''that Frank, dear soul, has fitted me cosy
little nook, which dignity by this appella-
tion;" and leading the way, Imegene and
Bessie passed through side door into good
sized sleeping apartment, and from this into
a smaller room, the faint outlines of which
were scarcely distinguishable by the dim
light of half extinguished gas burner. The
next moment, with soft, quick step, Imo-
gene passed before Bessie, and turning on
full blaze of light, revealed, indeed, rows of
well filed book shelves, extending around
two sides of the wall; the convenient little
writing desk with Ill its ct ceteras; but some
thing still more surprisingly interesting in
the small snowy canopy by her side, within
whose softly falling folds stood a richly carved
mahogany 70. where, like little "cupid,
lying among the roses of richly howered
satin cove,iet, slept beautiful babel
For moment Bessie, struck dumb with
astonishment at this vision Of infantile love.
liness, could only hold her breath, less the
sweet vision should dissolve into ''airy no.
thingness," and gaze upon the cherub, like
one spell-bound. A profusion of golden hal,
J soft and shining, surrounded the faultless
J head; one dimp!ed arm lay under the rosy
cheek, while the other arm was tossed ou
among the roses-a thing of waxen heanfv