The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-01-23
THE WHITE POWDERS
Or, Tried for His Life.

1 y
en- oyster suppers in New York,
polked at Saratoga, taken lonely
and romantic walks at Niagara
caught delicious whito fish in the
translucent waters OF Mackinaw.
and shot buffalo on the praries of
Nebraska. | might have dug for
gold in California or Columbia. had
| not been taken suddenly with n
great and inexplicable longing to
see again the white cliffs, the green
fields and hedges, and the quaint.
pretty and most comfortable vii.
lagos of dear old England.
| can speak now Of the reason OF
this long absence. My father, who
had saved for me a small property,
which he hoped | would increase.
had educated mo for tho noble pro,
Iession Of the law. | was reading
through my terms with the usual in
dustry, and was not quite insensble
to the Establishments OF society,
when it was my misfortune to fall
in love The expression seems to
me an appropriate one.
Isabel Goodwin was certainly one
of the most beautiful of those who
are, in their own right, queens Of
society. To the fairest type of Eng.
lish beauty she added graces, &C.
complishments, and a boundless
ambition. Without rank or wealth
she held her place, and aspired to
rival those who had both. | was
dszzled by her beauty; | admired
her queen!y bearing; and | became
her passionate worshipper.
She was fond OF admiration. III
was sometimes grieved, jealous, and
maddened at the encouragement she
gave 10 one or another OF tho crowd
that fluttereG about her, and burned
the incense Of hattery to her charms.
| still had a sort OF pride in her at
trac,iveness; and a tender look, f
word of ioniness, a sikh or the soft
pressure Of her hand, would send me
home intoxicated with delight.
believed myself to be the favored
lover; the admiration sho received
was my triumph.
The best friend | had was Arthur
Mellon. He was two years older
than j; was in good position in a
Government off 'e, with fair pros.
poets of adv8n cement, and some
expectations beside. We we're true
friends. Arthur had saved my life
when we were at school together.
| lay cramped and paraIyzed on the
bottom OF u deep pool in the river
where we were bathing. We had
been trying our skill with other
boys in diving to SEQ which could
remain under the longest; so, when
had disappeared, and remained for
q long penol, no one was surprised.
They waited to see my head shoot
above the surface. lay on the bot.
tom sensible but powerless. could
see my comrades on the bank:
could even hear them talk. The
sounds Of their voices grew fainter
aud fainter, but WAS not afraid. =.
knew that, as soon as they uuder,
stood what was the matter, Arthur
ii no other, would come and save
me.
lie was already dressing on the
hork when he exclaimed, "Where
is Harryg' HIS voice sent a thrill
to my heart, as lay, paralyzed in
every limb, drowning. In a mo
ment more he had stripped off bic
clothes, and plunged into the pool
He was cool and cautious even in
his haste TO save me. He swan
round, and took me by one of nv
ankles. felt an impulse to GRASP
Ihin, so strong that it might have
given me the power; but with an
effort of self-coutroI, | did not even
to help myself. | was drawn into
shallow water, and quickly taken
out; and after u struggle, far more
painful than the half-drowning had
been recovered.
Need | say that Arthur was
hencetorth, more my friend than ev
ier. In London he spent half hiq
leisure hours in the chambers, or in
the excursions We took together to
the mountains or the sea. He had
been away on public business wher
tirst became acquainted with Isa
bel. | wrote to him about her. raw.
cd about her. was inpatient tc
have him see her at the earliest mo
nent after his return. Not less hac
| told her OF Arthur; ami | had ex
cited the expectations of both.
There was party on the very
night of his return to London, and
intended that he should go, tired al
he was with his journey from Do
bin since morning, and be present
cd to her whom | now dared to cal
my Isabel.
| saw, with twinge of jealousy
which felt to be inexpressibly
mean and contemptible, that Ar
thur and Isabel were much impress
ed with each other. They polkec
and waltz9d together. How mar
rowly watched them! Arthu
was excited, brilliant, fascinating
Isabel danced as | never had seel
dance before, and showed in he
nervous manner and heightened col
or, how much she was interested an,
!. flattered by his attention.