The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-05-21
From the New York Tim
A PICTURE OF CITY LIFE.
A Leaf From o Lady's Notebook.

In the early winter of lS4-I was invited
by Mrs. Winwood, lady whose amiabl'
manners had won my regard, to spend ,
week at her house, to assist her in preparing
for a party which was to open the doors o
that mysterious realm-society-to hel
youngest daughter, and which was to be al
splendid as French .feurists, French dress
makers, French cooks, and the combinet
energies of French artists in every depart.
ment could possibly make it.
| The whole house was merry. Both moth.
er and daughters seemed delighted with the
prospects before them, and | thought the
household the happiest and the brightest
had ever seen. One night after hard
days work, retired to my chamber
quiet little room in wing of the building
with large window overlooking the garden
quite fatigued, and very much disposed
to sleep. But my mind was awake, and
slumber fed from me, much as longed for
and courted it. became more and more
wakeful, and, partly in despair, and partly
in the hope of inducing less-exclted state
of mind, rose from my bed, and seated
myself at the window. 1t was past mid
night, and everything was very still. As
looked fancied saw Il white form leaning
out of the window Of u small bedroom in
an opposite wing of the house. The case
ment which attracted my attention was
directly facing my own, and only separated
from it by the windows of a large back
room, which led into my chamber. As
see but indistinctly in the darkness, began
to ask myself who it could possibly be.
knew that Adelaide and Lii were sleeping
soundly in the large room outside my door.
knew that Mrs. Wlnwood occupied the
! front chamber on the floor beneath, and
was aware of the fact that Jane, together
with dusky assistant of hers, was reposing,
or ought to have been, in the attic. These
were the only occupants Of the house at the
time, Mr.. Winwood being in Orleans,
his usual Winter place of residcncr.--
Whose, then, could this white figure be:
/ had often heard Mrs. Wnwood speak of
James preferences, for sleeping anywhere
! but in bed. How she had been often found
! enjoying her slumbers on the kitchen table,
/ on the rug in the dining-room and under
the piano in the parlor; and finally was
! satisfied 1t must be she, and raised the win
! dow to speak to her. As lifted the sash
/ the white form opposite raised itself quickly
from its leaning posture, aud uttering a
! sort of low moaning shrek slammed down
the window and vanished. The shrick had
a sorrowfnl. frirbtcd sound. and, as j,
rrachf1 nv ears. | WAS certain it did no,
issue from James lips. hurrlediy crrp,
;nto hnJ ;nvok;nc tbr nrotec,ion Of Heaven.
and and w;sh;ng that AdrInide or Iill, or boib'
u.n.a has;,}5 mo I;I MT slesn nn,;, nnor
,onr,;,,, n-ban ovarcomn b.. shpcr cxhn,s.
tn.;on h,traan f,I;rnn and f.ar / sanl;
r' "..a,,,iad Iroau which oontinrod until
';tJ ~ ca,".o o'. tho bod.iIr tn woka me- IN the
morn;nr. m The first thing Which flushed
n,on nv mind was the remembrance of the
FORM in White. and the mournful Shrek it
had uttered the night before. Twas con-
vnccI it could be no d"!usion of my brain
and my first words to LII were question
as to who occupied the opposite "pnEt-
ment.
"That room:' said Lii, pointing to the
one on the story above.
"No,' answered: "this one, the windo"
Of which Is opposite US.
SO, that,'' said Lii, sis an empty room
it is unoccupied."
leIt rather airhiu on n'hr'hS 'nl,