The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-03-05
LIFE As 1T Is.

the aristocracy Of It's inmates. One could
tell it was a boarding house from the many
iaces-fair and plan-sitting at or near the
window. 1t was 5 o'clOck-tha fashiona.
bic dinner hour. Already the public draw
ing rooms and handsome private parlors
were filed with youth and beauty. In one,
bevy of fair women were grouped togeth
er, talking rapidly and excitedly.
tell you lt's mighty strange. Jane saw
him come out Of her room twice to-day,
and last night when the southern train came
in, at one o'clock, he went straight to her
ROOM
Are you sure you can rely on James
word, Clara ? l am sure should not trust
my maid in similar case. They are all
fond IF the marvellous
You are really complimentary, Miss Brad
ley. If you keep servants whose word you
cannot trust, l do not
The halls are dimly lighted at that hour
said another kindly voice; perhaps it was
Mr.. Leeds she saw
'No-Mr Leeds has dark hair and eyes.
This man had fair hair and blue eyes-real
aristocratic looking, Jane said'
For PHYS sake, do let that poor Mrs
Leeds alone. Of course, it was some rcla-
tive, or he would not be going to wake her
up at that time Of night AS for being in
her room in the aytme, that is nothing
strange-if he had gone thirty times At
hotel, ones room is ones home and who
wants to run to the drawing-room to see
every one that calls p
We'll, agree with Clara Wilbur said
another voice. Il do not think we should
notice Mrs. Leeds any more. shan't for
one. She is too secretvc and mysterious
Il shan't notice her, either
Nor I-nor H. said one and another.
Well, ladies, am very sorry for the course
you have taken-for my part, condemn it.
| cannot blame Mrs. Leeds if she is not dis
posed to be Communicative regarding her
family affairs. believe she has some sor.
row that we do not know Of l am inter-
I ested in her-hcr pale, sweet face touches
me. l, for one, shall treat her politely,
having seen nothing to cause me to do 9TH
erwse. We, none Of us, have more than
a speaking acquaintance with her, at any
rate 1t is no. at all likely she would con-
tide her troubles, or the motives for her &C.
tons, to almost strangers and the lady
passed into an adjoining room.
Dear me how independent we are! 1t
seems to me, Mary Bradley plumes herself
great deal upon her wealth.
~, Clara how can you say so p said the
kindly voice before mentioned. Mary has
less pride and cares less for money than
any one Of u.s.
We'll, she needn't be so wonderful
straiy yht-laced but, girls, there comes Gen.
Lee. Let us get up our very prettiest smiles
"A tall, noble form, in full regm entails
chdpeau, sash, epaulettes, etc, ,--,entered the
room. lie was a handsome man Of fifty
dark-eyed and olive-skinneth-t beau of
the house. Though fifty years had passed
over his head, hi. lofty form was yet un.
bent, and his heart as young as. il was 20
years ago. He was a noble specimen Of
manhood and, Notwithstanding his half
century, not one Of the Fair beauties around
him would have refused him her lily hand
for was he not handsome and wealthy -
And, though he had seen many q bloody
field his deep voice was almost gentle, and
Al almost wornanly tenderness bTooaed il,
his eyes. AS he approached the ladies, he
sud:
Good evening, fair danes What is the
news?
General you have just missed rare
dish Of scandal! Mrs Leeds was done to q
turn. ain sorry you missed it,
No need for sorrow, my dear young Ia.
dy; as | was sitting out or the vcran lah
enjoying my cigar, heard it all. suppose
| should have moved but was too lazy
and you were talking SO load did not sup
pose it was secret
Clara Wilbur 'wilteT down considerably
for it was her custom to do the soft anC
gentle before the Gen.
What do you think Of Mrs. Leeds |?
said gentle Maud Miller.
We'll, Miss Maud, think she is beauti
ful, graceful, and a perfect lady. If sh,
were widow tomorrow would try to wiz
her.
AS he finished speaking two persons cam,
pacing slowly down the broad hail. The
woman was slight and graceful, with dark
hair and eyes. She wore robe of black
velvet her only ornaments being a. cora
brooch. clasping collar of rich lace arount
her white throat, and the coral comb tha
confined her jetty curls. The gentleman
was tall and aristocratic,' with fair hai
and blue eyes'-being, doubtless, the idcn
.ical man that Jane had seen enter Mrs
Leeds room the night before. Whilst they
watched the graceful movements Of the tw,
the gong sounded, and the entire compan,
passed into the brilliantly lighted dining
roop,. 1t so chanced that Gen. Lees room.
tadjoined those Of Mrs Leeds. He had onl,
returned to the city a fortnight before, after
an absence of seven weeks, during which
time the stranger Mrs Leeds-had com,
among them. immediately after dinner, h,
had retired to his room, much to the dis
comfiture of the ladies. AS he sat rcadin:
in his room-MrS. Leeds and the world for
gotten he heard knock at the lady's
door, and, as it was opened, heard wo
mans voice eXclaim
oh, dear, Charlie, is it you! Come in
you look tired and worn out Come in ant
lie down on my comfortable lounge and rest
while We have real good old fashioned
talk
The Gen. was surprised to find how plair
he could hear, till he remembered the dool
between the rooms
How long can you stay, Charlie? p
Only till ten, Carrie. / have an engage
ment at ten to meet Lace Canterbury. But
Carrie, you too look tired and worn out
What is wrong my pct?'
| Nothing, Charley you only fancy so.
You cannot deceive me, Carric-you arc
changed. Something is missing from your
eyes; and the rare old gladness of spirit
that was my pride, is gone now
Then, ere she could reply, he added:
| Where is Harry tonisht?'
The clear voice was unfaltering that re-
piled:
lie has business out tonight
lie was out last night, when came, a,
one o'clock. Is it his custom to leave you
thus alone at night, Carrier
oh! no, indeed 1t just happened so.
Come into the inner u ON, dear; have
much to say to you; it is now ho.ne.likc.
Their voices only reached the General S
/ .an In li.,l &c .,,ll.,nl