The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-07-23
s. 90 A YEAR, IN ADVANCE.

Uncle Clsudius found no fault: 70 be sure
be put on grira and mummy like aspect al
a httls badinage she ventured to exchange
with Mr.. Lyndhurss; but when the guests
were gone. the Professor in his study. and
Clsudius alone beside the FIRE with Sally,
his wrath burst forth. and he harangued
the weary child full half an hour on the
lsyi,y and freedom of her conduct, and the
duty she owed her husband, with score Of
sarcastic and malignant allusions added
fhereunte.
A. first. weak and tired, Sally listened in
helpless silence; but as u few little parallels
skillfullv drawn between herself and Miss
Vernon woke the keen sting of a long rank
ling pain. Sally flushed with scarlet, and
spoke herself. ..s..
=. Uncle," said she, IL dom, think you
ough, to say what you do. | am sure l
world. laugh and jest because like to ;
it amuses people, and helps ms to talk. |
know there is no harm in it 7"
"lf you were my daughter, Sally" Bit
terly replied Uncle Claadius, ''l should send
you directly from the room a, suuh an ex-
hibit,on: it is totally unfem.nine and undig.
uifed. would perm!s-no woman to do SO
in my house, assure ycu!"
At this TRADE from II man who could not
comprehend the dignity Of pure and simple
heart, or appreciate the divine and sparkling
grace Of nature. beside the tinsel Of con-
ven,ion, poor Sally, taught to reverence age
and relationship, burnt with the deepes,
pain aud injustice, where an older and more
self-esteeming woman would have laughed
and despised.
81 am not your daughter. sir" re,orted
she, "nor do think that deserve what
you say. | am innocent to myself, and that
shall suffice me. | must request YOU to
excuse me for to- night"
With little air Of Queenliness, that to an
uninterested observer might have been
funny, but was only astounding to Claudius,
Mrs. kramps passed out of the room, ma
ies,ically walked up stairs, threw herself on
the bed, and cried till half-delirious sleep
overpowered every sense, and the Professor
found her at midnight senseless to his ten
derest words. her fair face burning scarlet,
her hair all tossed and dlsheveled upon the
delicate dress she had not vet removed.
Poor SALLY she was i'll enough bv morning:
her harrassed thoughts, her long and silent
hours of wakefulness; her terror Of Miss
Neruon's influence over rheoiosius her
tedious self questioning were all visited
now upon the tender physical nature unused
TO such conflict with It's master power.
She grew worse and worse; raved about
everything she had kept in her tired heart
SO long, and enlightened Theodoslus to an
extent incredible to himself. Mrs. Norton
came TO nurse her darling: the Faculty wives
sent in every species of edible, as if II brain
fever consumed ieilies and soups like a new
Wantley dragon. Miss Nernon's real wo-
manly nature melted the pride above it, and
she Impiored leave to watch with Sally; but
the patients dellrium heightened at the
mere sound Of her voice, and courtcously
ascribing this Miss Vernon's recent acquain-
tance and comparative strangeness. Mrs.
Norton took it upon herself to decline her
aid.
As for Uncle Claudus. he departed for
his own place, as Mr.. Kingsley dtplomati-
culIy SAYS of doubtful character. Only our
friend went by rail, with Il carpet bag, pur-
sued, in fact, by sort Of blind rcmorse,
and eschcwing the sight of Rebecca kramps
who had in vain curlod her wig, and set her
bonnet for him. SIX long weeks. Now, she
took vast comfort in rolling her eyes, like
the proverbiaI duck rendered desperate by
electricity, and declaring this illness to be n
judgement on Sally for her light mindedness
"a visitation certainly unknown to Rebecca,
whose MUD might have been an heir loom
from the dark ages 1t de supposed
any one would take the trouble Of handing
down so inintcslmal II possession.
After long season of doubts and doc
tors, melancholy and reducing, in the ex-
tremc, to Professor kramps-w wore II
little foot path directly in the middle of the
stair carpet, going up and down for Sally's
good and his own relief Of mnd-thc poor
child became CONSCIOUS, and smiled at
Theodosius-a real, living, lovely, wan
smilc-whereat the Professor fell on his
knees and kissed the coverl t, giving the
that this very sweetest gift of God was
again given to him, and making avow to be
more tender and more careful than ever,
for his heart smote him even in that hour.
remembering Sally's unconscious betrayal
Of her quietly endured sorrow and histrust
of his love. A few days after, his wife
having rapidly strengthened, Professor
kramps lifted her onto a pile of soft cush
ions, and opened the window at her side, for
ber to hear the swell of an organ, borne
across the warm August air upon n scented
wind.
"lt is in Trinity Church - said Sally.
Yes, dear; and what do you think is
going on there!
.'A wedding,' proposed the languid
voice.
But. whose. nv little wife?"
"IeiI me, Theo: AN too tired to guess
"LynLhurst and Miss Vernon, Sailv.'
y bright flush Of shamefaced Joy sufTuscd
SalIy's wasted cheek. She turned to her
husband, and drew his head nearer with her
two thin. white hands.
"Theod osius. dld you know it all the
time ?''
"Yes, Sally; that was why wanted vou
or twice, but you never seemed to like TO
talk about Miss Vernon"
A little cadence in the tone betrayed him.
SnlIy's shining head dropped lower and
lower.
"Dear Sally, forget it all. |, too, was
at least-l can; say l nm sorry Paul
Norton graduated last month"
"Oh, Theodosinsr'
little gr,mace met the ind rgnant look
and tone. Sally WAS beaten at her own
weapons; she laughed her strength all away
and when at last her husband said, in that
same serio- comic tone,
Don't you think we are we'll matched.
Sally ~ she could laugh no longer; q few
helpless, chiIdIike tears replied.
The long convalescence did Sally no in
jury 10 its shade and stiffness she learned
and applied many lessons on the eternal
fitness Of things. The grain Of truth in
CIaudius EDrton's chaf- heap, having fallen
on good ground, took root; che had been
well tested in the severes. of crucibies, the
actual agony of life. and the metal rang
clear. Mss. Professor kranps, thereafter,
filed her place IN oldport with serene poise
and self-possession, like the lovely and
gracious woman that she was. Time brougb,
efficient aid to her patient endeav9r. Soon
there came D..!e fingers that stole away ber
childish things: tiny feet danced her dances;
sweet ch.ld's laughter, with no echo, no
consciously mimicked her own mad mirth Of
old DAYS, aud iD the loveiihes- Of love, a
nc sher aud a vile, she became q woman,
owning. a, this hoar, DO better or frmer
friend than Mrs. Lyndhurst, whose own