The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-09-12
A LITTLE ROMANCE FOR THE Hor WKA-
THKR IA mnnD the sanntarera in tho Ram

v,
ellie figure, very girlish in manner and APP
pearance, which flashed upon me with a
suddenness of one Of Professor Peppers
famous ghosts for some sharp turn or an
gle in that delightful promenade. The la
dy was attired in the deepest mourning,
and her features wore that air of superhu-
man loneliness which one sometimes sees
in old paintings of the Madonna. She was
never accompanied-always alone-and
appeared to be possessed by settled
melancholy which rendered her thousand
times more interesting in the eyes of the
frequenters, some of whom began to notice
her with marked attention.
Her apparent want of friends by degrees
attracted the sympathy of romantic
more time than he knew what to do with,
was energetically cultivating the Park
Open to all outside impression, the soul of
this chivalrous youth was soon impregna-
ted with passion for the fair unknown,
which grew all the more intense from the
fact that 1t had nothing more tangible than
an image to feed upon. For weeks our
ed, growing daily and hourly thinner with
corroding thought. No prospect appeared
of obtaining the desired Introduction; the
lady was distant as ever, and cold, withal,
as an icicle. He doubted whether she had
noticed him, and yet with such marked OBJ
servation as he had bestowed upon her,
such blindness seemed hardly possible
At last the fates relented. One afternoon,
during the performance of one of Dod-
worth's waltzes, the eyes of the fair lady en-
countered his. Observing his regards, she
rose, and with sad smile, led the way
to the Ramble. Strephon followed, at that
respectful distance prescribed by the rules
of ordinary politeness. In remote corner
of the Maize he found her again. She was
seated on bench, and was observed in
pensiye revery, her cheek leaning upon her
jeweled hand, as pale as that of a statue
"Now's the timeif ever" thought Strephon
as he pumped himself down by his inamo-
rata. A hap hazard remark respecting the
romantic loneliness of the spot elected
brief response, and heavy sigh. "What
sigh was thereW quoth Strephon, ''sure-
ly some secret grief, some irremediable sor-
row must underlie so profound a melan-
choly. If my humble endeavor might cause
blush to come upon that cheek" &C., &c.
He had studied it from the latest novel, and
had not miscalculated the effect. The lady
was both fiustered and tiattered, but the
manner and appearance of StrephOn were
so much in his favor, that she could not
feel otherwise than tiattered with such at
tentions.
The unknown was an heiresS in her own
right, residing with her parents in a fine
brown-stone front, in one of the avenues
adjacent. Her story was sad one. AT an
early stage of the war she had bestowed her
affections upon noble youth who had I'M
fortunately taken service in the rebel army.
An only brother commanded one of the regi-
ments of the opposite side. During a recent
engagement these two had come in cOlliS-
ion, and the sword of the brother had drank
her Theodore blood. This was why she was
so sad; this was why she haunted the Ram
BILE and the Mall with such persevering as
siduity, since she had once delighted to
stray with the object of her affections. eek
cuse me, sir" she added, 'but you look so
like Theodore
Now she had described Theodore as be-
ing very handsome, and, encouraged by
this compliment, the youth ventured to
offer his arm for a stroll. The intimacy
thus begun resulted in an invitation to the
paternal mansion. Pa and ma were alb
sent at Newport, but she thought there
could be no possible objection to step,
(which gave her the acquaintance of the
son Of one of the most unexceptionable
families in the neighbOrhood.
Strephon became exceedingly infatuated
and finding that, owing to her parent
Absence he had the whole field to himself
he laid vigorous siege to his OdOred. I'm
derstanding well the influence that money
Yields, even in affairs of the heart, he
piled the lady well with costly presents,
DeSOuSIlU LeT W IIlake use Oi Ills ClleChS W
any amount, and acted more like one de-
mented than as the possessor of a fortune.
AT last the climax came as come 1t must.
The lady had given an entertainment, at
which were present number OF invited
guests. The music and refreshments were
of the best, the beloved one had laid aside
her mourning, aud came out in the most
respondent of butterfly costumes. She
would dance with no one but StrephOn.
He was intoxicated with love and happi-
ness.
But bark! What sounds are those that
rend the air without? There is a Cabling
of voices, a banging open of doors, a
trampling of footsteps, rush, and enter a
portly, red-visaged, elderly parsonage,
whom our enamored Strephon was speedi-
ly taught to honor as the proprietor of the
mansion. G
Adored one tainted, and was carried out
in Mysteries. The irate father, followed up
by the mother and the genuine daughter,
suddenly cleared the house, and Strephon,
to his dismay, learned that he had been
paying his addresses to the servant in
charge!
These are the simple facts of the case,
but names are reserved. as the matter will
shortly be made the subject of judicial in
vestigation.
THE KING OF DAHoMEY.-The following
Va
Wellington from the celebrated lion hun
ter, M. Jules Gerard: .
MONSIEUR LIE DUC-Your grace is well
aware that few men gain by being seen
close, unless they are men of intellect and
merit. The King of Dahomey, despite his
cognomen, which signifies the Eternal -
or the Infinite" fully justifies that rule,
to which he is no exception. Physically
he is similar to the other blacks of his
country-tall, well built, Il head like a bull
dog. The most usual expression of his
countenance is that OF cunning and cruel
ty. His moral qualities are in perfect
keeping with his physical conformation.
l have just spent two days at Kama,
where the king was staying for the celebra-
ton of the lesser ceremonies. On the day
! of my presentation l was conducted across
the market place, where twelve corpses
were exposed to view on separate sides.-
Six were hung up by the feet, the six 9th
ers were upright like others about to walk.
Those whom I saw close were horribly
mutilated and not beheaded. An enormous
pool of blood covered the ground beneath
the scatfold, giving unmistakable evidence
| of previous sacrifices and of the tortures
which accompanied them. Our reception
by the King was brilliant, very cordial for