The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-06-05
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the New York Sunday Times
WnRv mn 4 nue n H.Avn

saw her, and | was determined that she
should love me. Fortifying myself with q
certain maxim about "faint hearts," went
to claim her hand for the dance, for it was
at an evening party that first met her.. l
could see that she regarded me curiously
during the intervals Of waiting, and knew
that Fred Shaw, one of my intimatcs, had
told her that was only an artist, poor as
yet. but with fair hopes, and not one of the
brilliant circle of fashionablcs among whom
it was easy to see that she habitually NOV.
cd. But was not discouraged. ! read
her better than she read me, aud yet no,
fully.
saw that she had thoughts and feelings
far above those with whom her life was
spent. Her father had made great for.
tune, and had been lifted BY it into sphere
far above that from whence he sprang.-
Tier mother, vain, ignorant woman, whose
highest idea Of life was bounded by her
fine houses, her diamonds, and the social
successes Of her daughter, was Of course
far beneath her child in all the essentials
Of culture and refinement. And Kathcr-
inc had inspirations, knew, far above those
of her circle. Dim and vague they were,
perhaps, but she had caught glimscs Of q
higher life, Of better aims and nobler pur-
poses than could be realised in the gitldy
round of fashionable dissipation.
Shoald it be my task to lead her into that
better way? With that fair hand in mine,
should We two walk the paths Of knowledge,
refresh us at the wells Of pocsy, md strive,
in loving quest Of the beautiful and the
ideal, to realise that earthly mission which,
approaches nearest the divine?
Such were the questions that, day by day,
as my acquaintance with Katherine Sin
clair grew,.I asked Of my own heart. In
the modest glanccs Of eyes that had learn
ed to tlroop before mine in the soft tone,
softer to me than 10 any other; in our graG
nal assimilation of thought and fancy, !
believed had my answer.
Oh, how loved her! She had almost en-
trely withdrawn herself from her gay par
ty, and the hours not spent with me, i'm
long ramblcs in search Of the beautiful.
were devoted to books that had recon-
mcmlcd, or to the choice circle of friends
that from year to year assembled at Eden
Lodge, and to which had introduced her.
Her parents wondered at her new tastes,
and her fashionable friends sncercd mt them,
Neither, Of course, comprchcndcd them. BY
and by the fashionable grew tired Of that
secluded spot; they went away, and the
Sinclairs would have accompanied them but
Cor Katherine $ remonstranccs.
This gave me hope, and no wonder. That
these worthy but ignorant people should re-
main in spot Of which they were utterly
weary, and among people whose ordinary
conversation and pursuits they c uld only
r, gard with sort OF childish wonder, SO
much was it above their comprehension.
sacrificing their own tastes and wishes for
the pleasure of their child, gave me some
cause to believe. what l had often doubted,
that they would not refuse me the fair hand
coveted when I should dare ask for it. l
knew they did not, could not be expected
to look avorably upon the poor artist, who: Q
were both grievous faults in their eyes; but
began to think their love for their child
was stronger than their prejudices or their
pride. Ny difficulties vanished, for had
arrived at . comfortable conviction that
Katharine loved me and meant only to
wait until had placed my name so high
that its fame might, even in the worlds
eyes, balance her wealth, ere laid my all
at her feet.
Aud perhaps might gain some assn
rance from her lips to give me hope thro'
years Of toll ere left her. But Of that
hardly thought. The eloquent eye, the
morc eloquent modulations Of that voice,
thought, should suffice to tell mo that /
should be waited for lovingly. patiently.
But accident favored me far beyond my
hopes.
We were out ono day-a party Of which
Katherine and formed poriion-upon
the mountain, rambling in search Of tho
beautiful. We became separated from the
rest-whethcr by accident or designs not
essential to the story. We wandered far,
and sat down at last to rest upon green
slope of the mountain, where an opening
in the forest permitted view over the coun.
try spread out at its foot.
The tinklc Of brook lower down tho
mountain attracted our attention, and warn.
ing Katherine to remain where she was so
comfortably seated. made my way down
the declivity to fetch her some water. had
accomplished my crrand, and was return.
ing, when heard Katherine's voice above
me, telling me that she was coming down.
looked up Just in time to sec her set her
foot upon projecting rock that suddenly
gave way, and rolled down the mountain
side, bearing its fair burden in its swift de-
scent. ! clutched frantically at her dress
as she swept past me, but only the loose.
floating scarf she wore remained in my
hands.
sprang after her descending form. but
reached her only to find her lying stunned
and bleeding. from great cash in her tenn.
pie, beside the brook, her bright hair all
unbound and dabbling in the water. With
a terrible fear at my heart raised her, and,
resting her poor head upon my breast as