New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1861-07-26

cAeek. lOOkeu up. n HCtle water
spaniel, with an inquisitive, KNOWN
face, was beside me, wagging his feath
cry tail, and looking up at me, witt
his large, dark eyes, as if he woul
give great deal to know what was tn
matter with me. And that was not all
! Within ten PAGES of me stood his mis-
; tress-Isabel! She was dressed i,
pink, and her black hair looked black
er from the contrast with blossom O
the sweet syringa, that dropped in thu
hervy braids. Nothing on her head
a lace scarf thrown carlessly over he'
shoulders, and book in her hand. She
had been reading as she walked, and
stood, with her fore6nger between the
leaves, to mark the place as she looked
at me. And with the flush of my re-
cent emotion upon me, I could not help
remarking that she did not blush when
she came upon me so unexpectedly
she only grew a little pale and set her
lips frmly-that was all. I sprang to
my feet and went up to her.
Were you expecting meg I asked,
as I took the hand she extended, and
found 1t lying cold and passive in my
own.
Yes. But little earlier she said,
quietly.
| She had come to meet me, then.
And as the thought crossed my mind,
bent over the little hand, and pressed
it to my lips. 1t was little odd, but
had never touched her lips but once
in my life.-She was as cold and state
ly as statue; and the sweet impulse of
insanity that makes us clasp the be-
loved one in closer embrace, that
prompts a thousand kisses showering
down upon the warm and yielding lips,
never came over me when l was with
her. She was my liege lady-she would
be my vife-but never my darling. I
sighed little as I thought of this, and
looked at her beautiful, composed face,
as we walked up the road together,
talking Of the city, and halted at the
farmhouse gate.
Are you alone?' I asked, as I look
ed in through the shady yard at the low
wooden building.
A slight flush rose to her cheek and
she looked away from me.
by no means, Mr.. Jcrnynghame.
My cousin-your cousin, too-Maude
Jernynghame is here with me; and my
own cousin, Lucy and William Ashley,
are both at home from school, the
other from college. We are quite gay,
l assure you
But why need her voice falter and
her color change as Ilook at her. A
boarding-school girl and..a college boy,
/ cared nothing for them; but Maude
Jernynghame, my second cousin, whom
Ihadheard ofinevery capital of my own
country, and who had danced and flirt-
ed through London season-aye, and
Paris season, too-what, in the name
ofall that was wonderful, was she do
ing here, in this little farmhouse? 1t
was stranger even than finding Isabel
there.
Maude was not handsome. At first
sight one would have called her plain
and plain fancy she was to the end
of the chapter, only the glamour she
cast over all eyes prevented this from
being seen. She was taller than Isa-
bel, and more slender-quicker in her
motions, in her speech, and looks. So
quick, that she made me nervous, and
I fell back with feeling of relief on
the composure of my bride elect.
Maude teased and tormented the life
out Of me--now coming to me in a
good and penitent mood, and making
herself agreeable in thousand pretty
little ways; and the next moment, per-
haps, playing some trick that drove me
wild, and made her laugh till she cried
She never desisted till she made me
| thoro,, ,h1v anorv and then she danced