The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-12-20
LIFE IAsITIs.

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city stood large boarding house, whose
white marble front and general air bespoke
the aristocracy Of it's inmates One could
tell ittxss boarding house, from the many
faces-fair and plain sitting at or near thu
windows IT was Ave o'clock the fashion.
able dii.ner hour. , Y
Already the public drawing rooms and
private parlors:wsre Allied with youth and
beauty. In one bevy of fair women were
grouped together, talking rapidly;and excit
edly. A-@-ss = &>
~ tell you, it is mighty strange. Jane
saw himcome outsof her room twice to-day
and last night, after the southern train came
in, at one o'clock he went straight to her
,sors" t "a 6
"Are YOU sure you can rely on James
" ord, Clara Pr am sure that ! should not
trust my maid in a similar case, They ara
al fond Of the marvellous"
? "You are really complimentary. Miss
j B,adley. Ifyop keep servants whose word
v. Il cannot trust, I do not"
"The halls are dimlv lighted at the hour
said another kindly voice; perhaps it was
+, NJ Leeds she saw" --,,
"No, Mr.. Lee Is has dark hair and ewes.
T is man had fair hair and b'ue eycs--real
stocrutic-lookinc Jane said"
"For PHYS sake, do let that poor Mrs
Leeds alone. OF course il was some rela-
tive. or he would not I've going to wake her
upat that time of night Az for being In
her room in daytime. that is nothing strange
=. he,had gone thirty times AT n hotel
on g room is ones home and who wants
to run to the drawing rooms to see every
on that calls?' @
sWel,, 7 agree with Clara Wilbur" said
an. ,her voice. 81 Dc not think we should
notice Mrs. I,seds any more shan't for
one. She is too secrctive and mysterious" J"
Il shan't notice her, either
Nor I-nor I,' said one and another
We'll ladies, am very sorry for the
course you have taken-for my part con;
de n it. I cannot blame Mrs. Leeds, she
is ,sot disposed to be communicative regard
ing her family affairs. | believe she has
so esorrow that we, do not know Of. i
an interested in her-her pale, sweet face
>ton chcS me. J., for one, shsil treat her po
iitely-having seen nothing to cause me 70
do otherwise. We none of US have more
thon speakin acquaintancs with her, at
=
ia rate. II is not at all likely she would
CO fdc her troubles, or the motives of her
ac ions, to almost a stranger" AID the lady
pa sed into an adjoining room. s1
Dear me! how independent we are" II
Sc, ms to me that Mary Bradley p'umes her
self a great deal upon her wealth" e
..Oh, Clara how can you say ~ said
III. kindly yoice before me ntioned. MARY
has less pride aud cares less for money, than
any one of US, @ Il
"Well she needn't be 6; wonderful
straight laced d-but girls, there comes Cen
e,al lane. Let us get up our very prettiest
niles. "f4.t. ~ ass, 81 : 50 usi4. q"
A tall, noble form, in full regimcntals-
eiapeau, sash. .epanlettes, etc,--entered the
ROOM. 4 He was handsome man of fifty,
Gark-eyed and olive skinned--the beau of
the house. Though Fifty years had passed
over his head, his lofty form was still uncc
bent, and his heart as young rs it was
twenty years ago.. Hewas noble specl-
men of rnslhopd; and notwithstanding his
\ of ha al
around him would have refused him her,
silly hand !" for was ne not handsome and
wealthy? And, although he had seen many
bloody'feid, his deep voice was almost
gentle, and an almost womanly tenderness
brooied in his eyes. As approached the ne,
ladies, hasad: e PTS
Good evening, fair danes. What is the
news ?"
General you have missed asrars dish of
scandal. Mrs Leeds was done to q turn.
am sorry you missed it."oyt
ssNo need for sorrow, my dear young lady
as was sitting out on the verandah, enjoy.
ing my cigar, heard it nil. | suppose
should have u.oved ;sbut was too lazy, and
L FL
you were talking so loud did not suppose
it was a secret 'a'1
Clara Wilbur ''wilted" down considers.
bly-for it was her custom to ''do" the soft
and gentle before the General.
What do you think --of Mrs. Leeds 2
said gentle Maud Miller.
"Well, Miss Maud, think she is beauti-
ful, graceful and perfect lady. If she
were widow tomorrow would try to win
her." ,s9s q,
As he finished speaking two persons came
pacing slowly down the broad hall. The
woman was slight and GRACEFUL with dark
hair ard eyes. She wore a robe OF black &c.
velvet--her only ornaments being coral
broach, clasping collar ofrich lace around
her white throat, and coral comb that con-
fined her jstty curls. The gentleman was
stall and aristocratic," with Stair. hair and
blue eyesD--being, doubtless, tho identical
man who Jane had seen enter Mrs. Leeds
room the night before. While they watched
the graceful movements ofthe two, the
gong sounded, and the ertire company Moy-
!