St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-05-26

/ never could condescend to adapt nv
self to circumstances, or in other
words, to take things as | found them.
failed in this pursuit yet my fail
ures did not lower my selfestecm, or
my mothers confidence in the inspira-
tion Of my genius. There are so many
causes to which political defeat may
be ascribed, ii would have been hard
if we could not have found one conso-
iatory to my vanity.
Two more years went by. James
had been absent from home a greater
part Of this period, pursuing his mcdi.
cal studies. We were all very much
struck, upon his return, bv the i'm
provement in his manner and appcar-
ancc. His manner was kind, unaf.
tected, and frank, and his appearance
preposscssing, without being hand
some. He was good humored, and af-
lectlonate to every member of the
family ; but to Helen his tone had al
ways been softer. his looks kinder.
than his looks and tones to any one
else. | was very little accustomed
to analyze or observe the feelings of
others, and was So accustomed to self.
deception in thinking of my own, that
| was little aware of the power which
Helen possessed over my heart, or of
the charm which she threw around
my daily paths. often thought that
she returned my love, and that might
have been happy, had | not dashed
from my lips the cup filled with the
living waters of love. But | antici-
pate.
remember now the morning, as |
was sitting in the library, completing
a page of blank verse, which had the
obscurity of sublimity. Helen en-
tered with large bunch of freshly
gathered roses in her hand, arrayed
with exquisite neatness and simplici-
ty, in white morning dress, and with
a chaplet of blush roses in her hair.
Her laughing eyes had already given
me kind greeting ; but as she al
ways respected my literary pursuits
too much to interrupt them, she was
about to withdraw as soon as she saw
how was engaged.
"Oh, don't go away said, "Queen
of the roses. have finished my page,
and should like to know what YOU
have to say
" am afraid | disturbed the train
of Your ideas, Cousin Algernon
did not know you were writing"
suppose my glance at once reas-
sured her, for she took a seat by me
Immediately, and said, with her own
matchless smile, We'll, have great
news. The family arrived at Lennox
Hall yesterday, and this morning, as
James and | were walking out, we
met the most beautiful creature that
ever | beheld, dressed in a green rid
ing habit, riding on a milk white
horse, looking for all the world like
one of those fair princesses of old,
for whom true knights We're proud TO
peril their lives, or like Fairy Queen;
IN short, everything beautiful. We
heard afterwards, from old Mrs. Hor-
ton, that this vision of loveliness was
Ida LcnnoX. | am sure You would
have made sonnet upon her, if you
could have seen her.
looked at Helen's own sweet face,
as she said these words, and smiled
doubted whether Miss Lennoys was
as attractive but said nothing of
these thoughts, and only replied !:
You are enthusiastic, Helen. Was
James as strongly impressed as your
self, by Miss l.cnnox's beauty ?"
Helen laughed "No, indeed he
said she seemed to be a beautiful
girl, but he doubted whether he should
ever think of her again, unless he
heard her mentioned, and that hers
was not the style Of beauty he ad-
mircd most. And then he began Just
where he had left off before we met
Miss Lennox, in a story about young
Wilson, who is now beginning to sue
ceed in life, after series of most dis
heartening discouragcmcnts. | don't
remember the particulars, for | was
thinking of the beautiful apparition |
had just seen. only know the moral
of the story was the invincible power
of perseverance,
james is growing to be proser
| hate all that commonplace slang
about perseverance. Give me one
spark of ethereal genius, rather than
Il hundred tons Of leadcn persever,
ance.'
"Oh, don't dcpreeiate perseverance.
James himself is one of the most
striking proofs of its power. never
saw any one so improved as he is, and
yet he is modest as ever.'
There was something in the affec-
tionate warmth with which Helen
spoke, which did not altogether like,
though it had never entered my heart
to be jealous to James about anything
but felt, for the first time, that his
praise did not sound pleasantly from
Helen's lips, even moderate as it was,
and not such praise as | could have
borne to receive from her.
81 see no very wonderful transfer
nation l replied. He is better
looking than he used to be, and seems
on the high road to fulfil Uncle God
frcy's prophecy, and become useful
practical man" This phrase was al
ways uttered by me in tone of su-
preme contempt. Our conversation
was interrupted just then, by the en-
trance Of my mother, who was evi'
dently in state of great excitement,
and she began immediately to des'
cant upon the Lennox family. She
said she was delighted to hear that
Mrs T,eunOy meant TO reside at Len
nox Hall she had just returned from
Paris, after five years residence
abroad (; that her daughter was Sale
to be one of the most elegant ant
highly accomplished young womer
that had ever been seen in our country
Moreover, she was very intellectual
and had received a thorough educa
!, ton. Mrs. Lennox and herself hat
=. been schoolmates, and she should takt