The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-05-14
IN


my eyes with smile. 'As you are my cou-
SIM she said. Soon after her eyes closed
and she slept sweetly and calmly, as if rest
ing in security and peace. looked down
at the beautiful face slightly paled with fa-
tigue, that rested against me, and felt like
villain. dared not touch her with nv
arm, altough the bounding of the cars JOS
tied her very much, but sat remorsefu, un-
til the sleeper settled the the matter by slip
ping forward and awaking. See opened her
eyes instantly, and smiled. 'It is of no use
for me to try to sleep with my bonnet on
she said, 'for it is very much in the way for
me, and | am sure it troubles you.' So she
removed it giving me the pretty little toy,
with its graceful ribbons and flowers to put
on the rack above US. l preferred to hold
it, telling her it would be safer with me,
and after few objections, she resigned it,
being, in truth, too sleepy to contest the
point then tying the blue silk veil over her
glossy hair, she leaned against my shoulder,
and slept again. This time when the motion
began to shake and annoy her, stifed the
reproaches of my conscience, and passing
my arm lightly around her waist, drew her
head upon my breast where it lay all night.
She slept the sleep of innocence, serene and
peaceful, but it is needless to say that |
could neither close my eyes or quiet my con-
science. | could only gaze down on that
beautiful, still face, and imagine how it
would spring up and confront me if she knew
what was, and how had deceived her or
dreaming more wildly still, reproduce it in
a hundred scenes which had never loved,
unless the butterfly loves of my summer So
journs at Newport or Saratoga might be so
dignifed and still less had ever dreamed or
thought of marrying even as possible and
far off contingency. Never before solemn
ly aver-never before, had so longed to
| call anything my own, as did that lovely
face lying on my heart. No, could not
sleep!
In the morning, we reached Buffalo, and
spent the day at Niagara. If had thought
her lovely while sleeping, what was she when
the light of feeling and expression PLAYED
over her face, as she eloquently admired the
scene before US, or was even more eloquent
| ly still. | don't think looked at the cata-
ract as much as at her, or thought the one
creation more beautiful and wonderful than
the other.
She was now quite familiar with me, in
her innocence and charming way, calling me
Cousin Frank and seeming to take Il GER
tain pleasure in my society and protection.
1t was delightful to be greeted so gladly by
her, when | entered the hotel parlor, to have
her come forward SO quickly from her lone
ly seat where she had been waiting, not un-
observed and unnoticed, to receive me-to
have her hang on my arm, look up into my
face, tell me all her little adventures alone,
and chide me for leaving her SO long Chow
long it seemed to me) while every word,
look, or smile, seemed donbly dear to me,
because | knew the prccarious tenure by
which held my right. She busted herself,
too, while was gone out. with our Joint
baggage, and rummagcd over the trunks to
find book which had expressed a desire
to scc-she mcnded my gloves, sewed the
broken hand Of my travelling bag, and found
my cigar case whenever lost it, which was
twenty times day. willie she Scolded me for
the carelessncsS, whic she declared almost
equaled her own. Long ago she had given
over to my keeping, her little port monnaie,
with all her money it, which sh" was sure
she would lose, as she never could keep any
thing and as she had ordered me take out
what was wanted for her travelling expenses,
opened it with trembling hands, when |
was alone and examined its contents. There
was besides all the bank bills which she had
probably been furnished for her journey,
and which, with pious care she had folded
up into the smal!ast possible compass, as
much gold as the pretty toy could carry, a
tiny pearl ring too small to fit any fingers
! but hevs--whlch | am afraid kIssed--a
card with her name on it, and mem orandum
in a pretty hand 'No.-OIye street St.
Louis which rightly coniccturcd, was the
residence Of the cousin Jennie whose hus.
band | was; very fortunate discovery for
me. Indeed, so far us had not found the
way of the transgreSsor hard n external Cir
cumstances, at least, and when with her
forgot everything except her grace and beau
ty, and my firm resolution to be to her no
more nor less than her cousin should be;
but out Of that charmed presence my con-
science made rue miserable.
! lam afraid must sometimes have bctray-
ed the conflicts Of feeling had, by my man
ncr but when was reserved, and ccrcmo
nous with her. she always resented it, and
begged me so bewtchingly not to treat her
so, and to call her by her sweet name Flor
ence' that dread as longed to do it,
could not have refused her. But the con-
ciousncss that was not what she thought
me, but an imposter, Of whom, after our
connection had ceased, and she had discOv
cred the deception prncticcd upon her, she
could think or remember nothing that would
not cause her unmcrited self reproach and
modification, all innocent and trusting as
she was, this reflection more than any other,
! confess, and the knowledge of the estima-
ton in which she would forever hold me,
after my imposition was discovered, agoniz-
ed me, and would have given all posses
sed to own it to her, and leave her sight at
once, though the thought of never seeing
her moro was dreadful. But that could not
be.
At last we reached St. Louis. Do say
sat last?' When the sight Of the spires and
gables warned me that my brief dream of
happiness was over and that the remorseful
reflections | had been staving off so long
were now to commence in earnest, the
thought Of tho coming banishment Of Flor
ence, was dreadful to me, aud the time
seemed to fly on wings as it drew nearer.
She was all gayety and astonished at my
sadness and absence of mind when so near
home and Jennie, and when we entered the
carriage that was to convey us to our destl-
nation. had half a mind to take coward
| " flight, rather than encounter the SEQ
and disappointment Of those blue eyes; but
| mustered up courage and followed her IN,
| giving the address found in the port mon
nae, which fortunately WAS the right one,
to the driver.
almost home p said she turning her bright
face towards me--we were rattling up the
street and my time was short, show can you
be so cool and quiet?
because Miss Florence | answered, sthe
time has come in which | must confess to
you that have no more right in the home
to which we are fastening, than to the name
by which you address me, and my only
claim to either, is that Of an imposter, and
deceiver.'
She turned her lovely face, wondering and
puzzled towards me.
Thank Heaven | did not yet read fear and
aversion in it.
NO right no claim ? she repeated what
can you mean ?
| told her frankly and fully the whole
truth, nearly as have set it down here, de-
nying nothing, concealing nothing, not even
the useless secret of my. love for her. When
the brief recital was ended, we both remain