St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1860-05-10

God will help you )" and there was
tender light in Mrs. Martins eyes.
Blanche Adams and Margaret War
Ecr had come up from New York to
spend a few months with their rcla-
tives at Woodvillc. They were init
mate friends, and this summers
visit" had been the theme of their
conversations for many weeks previ-
vious to the bright June day which
saw them arrive safely at their jour
ncy's end. They were the only daugh.
ters of wealthy parents. Margaret
was willfnl thoughtlcss girl, and so
accustomed, hy long Indulgence, to
have her slightest wishes gratiticd,
that she had grown to think they must
be, at whatever cost. Her principles
had not been educated, and scllishncss
pcrmeatcd her character, but still
Maggie Warner was not wholly dead
encd to " the right"
y plcnic-party had been Planned hy
the young people Of Woodvillc. .Dca-
con Hall, Maggic's uncle, resided upon
u small farm short distance from the
quiet country village, and in a large,
shady grove, adjoining his meadow,
the merry party assembled upon the
appointed afternoon. Swings had
been "put up and long table con-
structed Of smooth boards, by the dea-
cons hired man. Blanche Adams
met her friend this day with her
usual cordiality, although it cost her
a struggle to do SO, but the latter still
wore the air of indifference, which is
so often assumed by those who feel a
consciousness of having done a wrong
act, but arc too proud to acknowledge
it.
Milford Stanton saw Maggie War
ncr soon after her arrival at her nn-
clc'S. He was a student from Ando-
YER, who had come down to WoodviIlc
to spend vacation with his parents.
Their farm adjOincd Deacon Halls.
The lively manners and agreeable so
cicty of the city-girl interested the
young student, and good Mrs. Hall
gave him very pressing invitation
" to call ottcn,' for, said she, Maggie
will die Of enaui, with only the society
Of two proSy old people" So he did
come often, bringing his flute, or ia
voritc book, and sometimes the young
couple took long walks together, or
rode on horseback, securing the coun-
try for miles around. He had met
Blanche occasionally, while visiting
with her friend. But this day Milford
Stauton's attentions to Maggie were
| FL ,l +l,.,, ,l,,,- hal b,n,
before, and she was evidently very
much gratiiicd to see a new tenderness
mingling with politcncss.
The hour for serving the refresh
mcnts arrived, and the eyes of an cpl
cure would have rcvclcd in the con-
tents Of that table, piled with frosted
cakes and dainty confectionery. In
the center, conspicuous above all the
rest, was a snowy pyramid, which con-
taincd a plain gold ring. This prize
had been purchased by the gentle
men, and each member Of the party
was to have the privilege of drawing
for it. The cake was passed around,
and many fair fingers tremLled, while
bright eyes eagerly searched for the
coveted ring Blanche and Maggie
drew at the same time, and as they
stepped back 10 allowroom for the ap.
proach of others, the latter perceived
the unmiotakahle glitter Of gold in
her companions slice. a pang of en-
Wy shot through her heart, but an ac-
cidcnt gave her an opportunity for
gaining the coveted treasure, and,
. obcying her impulses, she employed a
: successful maHnuvcr. The cake fell
) to the ground, and hastily STOPPING to
, pick it up, Maggie placed her own in
its stead, vainly thinking that the act
was unpcrcciveh, and it was by
Blanche, who thanked her very sweet
, ly,-but the guilty girl swept a rest.
: less, anxious glance over the party.
; and encountered the stern, rcproacll-
: ful gaze of Milford Stanton's dark eyes
! bent upon her. He was standing but
E a few feet from them, and had wit.
=, messed the whole performance. Check
: and brow were dyed crimson in an in.
stant, and all hope Of gaining the
, young mans esteem was forever blast
n cd. The animated voice of a lady, cry
: ing out" Miss Warner has got tho
c prize now drew the attention Of the
C party and congratulations were poured
i upon her, but her usual graceful case
= had all departed, giving place to an
t awkward embarrassment induced by
/, the consciousness OF her guilty posi-
c ton among them. Blanche noticed it
l. and kind v succeeded it drawing away
t, the attention which, she perceived
<, was, from some unaccountable reason
V insupportablc to her friend. The re
e. mainder Of the afternoon brought ne
I enjoyment to Maggie, and cxcusime
III herself upon the plea of headache
10 she LETT the grove at an early hour
" unattended by Milford Stanton, whC
IS now regarded her with little less THAI
a contempt. He sought Blanchc's side
"a secret Indignation against tn,
" wrong she had suffered induced hin
le to do this, he longed to acquain
y her with the unjustiliabIe act, but cir
IL cumstances rendered the propriety o
at this course questionable. Strict in
le tcgrty and honorable principle.
G. formed the basis of the young stu
| dents character, and it caused hin
If deep regret to have the deformity 0
re Maggie Warmers nature suddenl,
o. stripped of the pleasing but films,
it surtacc.veil and stand before him il
cr all its moral dearth. "lf it had no
o, been for this wise Intervention o
" Providence, might have opened the
$. door of my heart, and .takcn her iutt
,u its most sacred room," he reasoned in
$, wardly, with an instructive shudder.
es While talking with Blanche thai
fair summer afternoon, their convcr
nc saton turned into channel whcl
$, brought her friends act to his mine
tn very iorcibly, and he could not forbea
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