The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1859-07-20
McGREGOR, IOWA, WEDNESDAY, JULY 20. 1862

ed forth from her ruby lips, her eyes now
flashing with the enthusiasm of an impro-
visatrice, then soft and liquid and-danger-
Gus. did not wonder he admired her.
she was beautiful. Fie, Mr.. Allison, what
would Nellie say to see you here, and she
cast upon him one of her bewildering gian-
ces care not he murmured, that dream
is past. Ilove you. only know you are
lovely as an angel, and he kissed the ieweled
hand that lay within his own. Despite
herself, blush Of pleasure rose to her cheek,
while she assumed an air of mingled an.
noyance and roget. Lam very sorry my
dear Mr.. Allison, but am engaged 70 Mr..
Sclden of Philadelphia. Selden was 4
wealthy but heartless man. How I shud.
dered as saw her cast him of, turn aside
from his love-. covered closer in the
shadow as he passed me. l saw he was
'sbcssif3sx1 and AssAbisd. AAi again 10 n1y
little room, sat at my low window, gazed
down again at those marble slabs cleaning
out white and cold in the moonlight. and
felt there was new grave in my heart -
The next day saw Mabel on tef way back
to the city. And Edmund Allison saw
what dupe he had been, and It was bitter
repentance that led him to me again to seek
forgiveness and reconciliation. Nellie I've
been infatuated, blind for the sake of our
old love forgive me, and he pressed my hand
fondly as he once before did. How struk.
glod to repress the vesuvius within me how
could speak the cold bitter words that
were on my lips. It was like crushing out
my existance to coldly withdraw my hand
from his as l answered: For the sake of
old 1r~a 7 10 roc.e "ho< I ko~
suffered you ean never know. The pain is
past or nearly so. My love has died out
with it. A shadow rested heavily on his
countenance and feared it rested as heavily
on his heart. He went out from my pres
ence and our paths were never the same in
life again.
II. IA '.dd..s st. AZ. these, 1T atm nigh. h.vs @ been"
y = - +
That was the mistake of my lifetime. How
those words sank into my heart. and as l
saw the shadow resting on the face of the
speaker wondered if the shadow rested as
heavily on her heart. was on visit to
Mabel in her elegant city home. All that
wealth could buy to add to the comfort and
happiness of the lovely mistress of the
mansion was there, and yet the great crav-
ings of her womanly nature were unsatis-
fed. The Mabel of to-day would hardly be
recognized as the Mabel of only three years
ago. The rosy cheek had become pale, the
broad open brow bore marks of care. Oh {!
Mabel, Mabel, l inwardly sighed, for few
paltry shillings how have you bartered your
life's happiness. ......- ......
There was to be brilliant party at the
house Of Mrs. Austin. had just received
with Mabel, card of invitation. 1t was to
be the most recherche of the season-a
truly brilliant affair. All the elite Of the
city would be there. cared but little
about mingling with the gay, pleasure-loving
throng; and had just resolved to decline,
when Mabel entered the room and seating
herself on the sofa beside me, said: Of
course you will 60 Nellie, wont your
think not, quietly answered. But indeed
idT %yss hfFs aad afev yoS
too, and Mrs. Austin spoke so particularly
Of you the other day, am sure she would
be offended, besides my heart is so set on
going. There was no resisting her pleading
and so consented to go.
Mabel looked queenly that night in her
robe of blue satin, over which tloated like an
airy cloud cause Overdress, and upon her
brow tiara of pearls. None amid that
throng was more beautiful. AS she entered
the room, whispers Of radiant" lovely"
went around. 1t was different from the
beauty Of her girlhood days; but not less
dazzling and bewlldering Mabel was soon
surrounded by hosts of friends, while re-
manned seated in the alcove of the window
where was almost unnonced and yet had a
full view of the throng around me. A
quadrille was just forming and l noticed
Mabel was among the dancers. A flush
was upon her cheek which few moments
ago was pale as death. Her eyes sparkled
with an unearthly lustre. The set was now
finished and the gentleman were finding
seats and ices for their partners. My eye
rested for q moment on Mabel. She was
leaning against pillar near the centre of
the apartment, her face white and rigid as
Parian marble. Fearing from the excessive
heat of the crowded rooms she was going
to faint, hastened to her side. Nellie, she
huskily, did you see him. No
Mabel-hush you will be heard, replied,
come with me into tze open air, into the
any where, hurriedly whis-
pered. Hush, for the love of Heaven, I
whispered, as saw she was about to speak
again. We passed into the conservatory,
down through walk bordered on either
side with terrace above terrace, filled with
the rarest and most beautiful exotics-out
into the garden and then / besought her to
tell me the cause of her agitation. Edmund
AllsOn-Oh! nod Nellie how can ! meet
him again-God only knows how loved
him, but had thought every emotion dead.
down by an almost shperhuman
effort my own emotion, drew her upon my
bosom and tried to comfort her. Remem-
Der, Mabel, YOUR HUSBAND. These words
had majic power. AS if by mighty
effort she aroused herself, and turning to
me with calmness at which was aston
ished she said, you win hot betray me. No
no my child replied, but come you will be
missed, You must return. Summon all
your fortitude to meet him. Go now and
soon l will follow you. A little longer I
fingered beside the fountain. The silvery
waters cast upward fell hack in rainbow
showers, filling the cir with dreamy music
This was shut in by agrove Of stately elms,
and as sat upon the marble steps of the
pressing my burning brow be-
tween my hands, cold as ice, tried to force
down the bitter memories that were crowd
ing thick and fast upon ME. Oh what 81
world of bitterness was in my soul. Yet
none must know, no not even Mabel. The
sound of approaching footsteps aroused me
and l FASTENED into the conservatory to avoid
them. There found Mabel's husband who
escorted me to the music room, where sat
Mabel at the harp. Her rich clear voice
newer co,ndod mora beautifully than nnu