St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-08-25

and the large, brown eyes-thoSc, ah,
yes ! those were Esther Trunan's !
In another moment their eyes had met;
and, leaving the side Of his friend, he
advanced with out-stretched hand to
meet her start of recognition and "Mr.
Loring . with,
Miss Truman-Esthcr /! And so
changed, too! Why, scarcely rccog-
nized you"
And so, per agreement, you have
come to my graduation ? ~ said Esther,
with a gay smile, recovering her self
possession by strong effort.
" Yes and to find You Esthcr-and
yet Esther 10 longer !" replied Loring,
looking into her expressive conntc-
nance and murmurIng mentally,
Why, the plain girl has grown al .
most handsome !" Esther, my dear
friend what have the good fairies been .
granting you, health, happiness, and
above all, the old look used to see
on your face when we two read Latin
fables and translated French chdnsons
together Of leisure evenings, before !
you grew odd and reserved, and got |.
laundering in the depths of Coke and |
Blackstone added LorDg, drawing
her apart from the crowded saloon into
little MUSHROOM adjoining.
Esther, you have not forgotten all
the old times 2" he qucricd, as he seat
cd himself beside her.
"Oh, no one scarcely ever loses
remembrance of childish days, or
childish follies,' replied the girl, with
dash of sarcasm then with little
laugh she added, "but to what bon
fortune is the graduate indebted to
her legal friends presence here to-
night for surely, by these presents,
| had not thought You would fulfil
your promise"
" Nor should /, mayhap, had not
business led me this morning to H,
where | am likely to be detained all
the morrow when | found myself
very willing to accept Mills invita-
ton, who, it seems, was honored with
II bid to your Lady Principals very
select rcunion-pcrhaps more than or
dinarily SO, since suddenly bethought
myself Of my little friend Esther here"
Then it was not myself-my very
odd and reserved sclf-but bust
ness which brought you from Bos-
ton 2" rctorted Esther, with smile.
But on the principle that small ia
vors should be gratefully received |
most humbly return thanks for the
Kindness and, by way of reward, will
present You to that very worthy and
august lady who presides over the
literary destiuics of our seminary,
Madame Gilmer. Come, let me intro,
duce you !"
Nay, Esther-tl.anls, but there is
time enough yet why hurry away :?
Stay here and talk with me little /;
and, since the old times are not SO
agreeable q topic as | had vanity
enough to suppose" for her gay banter
ing and evident desire to avoid that
point of their conversation had nettled
Loring slightly, Il am content to sit
on the witness stand and answer in
terrogatories regarding those never
failing subjects to ladics--rcccnt en-
gagemcnts and loves of bonnets'
Or perchance Queen Esther will dcign
to communicate when, armed and
equipped with her formidable dip!O-
Ma, she purposes marching boldly
to assume the command OF sundry .lu-
venles--in other words, intends en-
tcring upon that delightful task OF
which some good old fellow has writ I.
ten, viz Of teaching the young idea
how to shoot !'H
In order to satisfy your curiosity
on the latter point" replied Esther,
taking up his bantcring tone, will
say that, 50 soon as Madame Gilmcr
obtains me the suitable situation, |
shal. enter upon the profession | have
chosen but in regard to the former,
such period has elapsed since !
moved among your circle OF lady
friends, MIR. Loring, that | acknowl-
edge myself to have lost 50 much Of
interest that their movements do not
particularly affect me-"
" Not even if the party be your sis /.
ter, Esther! You surely will not de-
ny that you feel an interest i'll Bellies
engagement ?" he said.
Esther grew pale, and there was a
quick suilocating sensation i'll her
throat Was il kind ! was it gentle
manly of him to come here and tell
her this Ought he not to have left
this communication to come from Belle?
Cor Mrs. Richard Truman and her
daughter had not thought it worth
while to keep Esther advised of their
movements in this world Of fashion.
But lie should see that she cared moth
ing for him now; perhaps he had
thought so, and only said this to enjoy
Il triumph and SO she choked down
that strange feeling, rallied, and re-
piled very carclcssly,
oh for that matter, | am not go
ing to retract, since | have SO long
anticipated an event of this nature for
Belle, that the only wonder is it did
not happen earltcr. But | must not
hold an argument with my future
brothcr-n-law," she added, gayly
please accept my congratulations,
Nj. Loring !"
- Br0tA&r iR.td1c :"
In that one word, uttered in Esther
Truman's quiet, proud voice, and in
her pale face, Ellis LorinG read. as by
lightning revelation, the reason of
all her strange conduct, former cold
ness and present dcmeanor. 1t flashed
over him, their last brief interview, SO
reserved on her part, SO cool on his.
in her fathers house, when, infatuated
by Bellies snares, he so lightly babe
Esther good-bye-all her many avoid
ances of him, and the gradual failure
of their old friendship and, though {.
smile wreathed his lip, tender light
beamed in his eye as he replied,
" Esther, you are in great error.
For many months have been free
from Belle Truman's thrall, and free OF
my own choice, too and she, this
night, is the affianced wife of John
Otis. And, moreover, Esthcr--after
seeking your pardon for the folly which
has led me 10 neglect SO utterly the