The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-04-20
WHOLE NO. 2OS.

s.You take to sad view Of life, nv friend.
Your calamity 10 great, no doubt, bss
still--"
"Ah! Sir, it's all vel enough to talk %
when you hare limbs and health and frss.
dam. When you can work and go out into
life and tread the earth With the full con.
sciousness Of a being. But when, ever
since you can remember, you have beeu bot
the moiety of amaa, utterly helpless, utterly
dependent, an infant without an infants
happy Inconsistencies. Eut what's the use
af nv talking to you in this wav, here,
Bob, show the gentleman your tricks"
Bob, on this eummoos, left bis post BY
the lads cheek, where he had remained
perfectly still, taking an inventory Of my
person With his round bright eye, and ap.
parently measuring me for suit Of clothes,
and suddenly Asw into the mir, where he
summersaulted aud pironetted and affected
to lose the use Of his wings and tumhled
from an appalling height, invariably rccov.
ering himself before he reached the ground.
after which he graveiy liz upan his m ,ster's
breast and thrust his little bill aifectiouately
between his lips.
..You have tanned , our bird wonderfully," !"
said TO the boy.
'.lt has been my amusement during mapv
solitary hours" he answered with feeble
smile.
'How is il that you have been left so soil.
tary9" asked: ''you live in the ns;ghbor.
hcod:" ...
"ln the house up yonder just peepipe
from behind tina, clump Of naples" and he
pointed as he spoke toward Z respectable
farm house.
Sand you have friends-a fAmilysn
"Ah Sir, they are kind enough to me:
but they must be very tired Of me BY this
time"
''Come," said encouragingly, laying nv
hand on his shoulder, ''come tell me all about
yourself. I'm a good listener; beside, !
am interested in you. Bob, here, looks ~
it he was anxious for n story. This is .
charming nook that We are in 80 l'li iust
light a cigar, and hear you talk" b"
The free and easy manner assumed seem.
ed to surprise him.. He glanced shyly at
me out Of his large blue eyes ms il suspi.
e,ous Of my sincerity; then he heaved q
little sigh, stroked Bob's feathers ss il to
assure himself OF the presence Of ut least
one friend, and saying, "As you please"
commenced:
81 am eighteen" he said "you would
not think it, for know | look younger
than am. Confinement and suffering have
made my complexion pale and transparent.
and the sun aud tho winds that harden other
mems skins and age their features. have
had but little 20 do with mo. Ever since 1
can remember | have been paraly ed in the
lower limbs. For years lay upon an in.
chnsd plane OF board looking up ut the
ceiling with u mind very nearly as blank 40
the white plaster gaIed at. Nv father died
when was a mere infant, and there was no
one left in the but mother, Cousin Alice
and me.
"Cousin Aiice," l said, "who is cher,
His eye wandering timidly toward ths
house behind the naples. as il he expected
some apparition to start from thence on the
very instant.
"Co"sin Alice" he repeated vaguely,
swell, she's Cousin Alice" ...
Excessively explanatory" }" l said, laugh.
ing, "ls she youbgf"
"My age.'
''Is she pretty %
One deep, reproachful look Of thoss large
blue eyes told me alI. Poor fellow, there
he lay niaimed, useless, passing his days and
evenings in the presence Of acme beautiful
creature whom he could never hope TO DOS.
sess, but loving her with all that copcentrs.
ted intensity which belongs to the passions
Of the deformed.
He seemed to know what wns passing ia
ny mind for without word from me he
continued: "She is engaged to Ralph Farm.
well who lives down yonjer. She is vevy
fond Of him, and he Of her. Il is they who
bring me down between them to this rlacs
evrry fine day. and | sit here with Bob
while they 20 OF and pick nuts, midland"
and here the picture was too much for him.
and the poor fellow burst into tears.
No wonder. To have his misfortuns
paraded through necessity before woman
he loved. To be carried about like piece
of furniture by her and his rival. How often
that poor heart must have been smitten bit.
terly How often those crippled limbs
thrilled with agony!
sny word. There are times when cousola.
tion is cruel. 1t was better than oil words
to let him feel by the pressure Of my hand
way for some time, until ~as aroused BY
n painful reverie into which had fallen BY
long. black shadow being projected ncross
the spot in which we were sitting. looked
up and saw tai, handsome young man With
bronzed cheeks and curly chestnut hair, on
whose arm was hanging IN exceedingly
lovely Young girl, whose face was a perfect
treasury Of archness and Innocence. They
looked rather surprised At seeing me, but /
explained how il was that came to be there.
an they seemed satisfied.
"Iiarry, isu't it time TO come home % said
the Young girl. "Ralph and are come for
you." aa
"Tbank you, Alice; but I'd liks to stay
an hour longer. The day 10 90 bright and
sunny that it is shame to be in doors
You dom, wan, to 20 homo yes." and hs
looked at Ralph as be said this with bit.
ter expression Of countenahcs that perhaps
alone observed, but which seemed to say.
II will give you IN hour more 10 wander
together. Of course you don't want 70 70
home. |
swell. as you please, iIarry. Ralph and
will 20 of to the pond in the cedar grove
and come back in about an houf. Bot !
say. Harry, look here, isn's this pretty s's
and ~ che spoke she held oct little boz
for bis inspection. lie opened IL, snd die.
closed pretty little ring set with garnets.
While he looked At IL, Alice stopped over
ard whispered something into his ear which
made him tn my keener sight quiyer in al
that part Of HIM ths. was alive. II vas
momcpiarv, however, for he restored the
box, saying coldlv swell, ~i.h you
both every happiness. You will hod me
here when you return.
As they walked slowly sway, he followed
them with his eyes, then turned to me.
"They are to be married next Sunday" hs
said.
/ fel, al the meaning Of these words. I
pi,ied him. Solitude is need to him at
ihi. moment ] vii! leave him. As | pulled
out my watch and prepared for my depart
ure, he said to me: 81 am esceedipsiy
Obliged to you, Sir, for your coDpasy, bus
want ou to do one more favor before you
coyciroEp os yoraJ1 RAGS