The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-08-13
A Daguerreotype in Battle.


pretty drawiny-r0om tables, and were seized
upon and commented upon by the group
there assembled II was not party-mere-
ly dropping in, such as Miriam Lacy had
every evening there are four young ladies,
and two gentlemen as much of an even
balance as one usually meets in "these
tuoublous'tlmes
The ladies were cut out after pattern,
and had nothing in particular about them
the gentlemen were worthy Of more special
notice. The elder one--of middle hight, in
clining to corpulen,y and baldness--had a
fine face, rather snpercilions in ITS express
ion, and characterized by general air OF
knowing everything and believing nothing.
He was elegantly dressed, thoroughly self.
possessed, answered to the name Of Or.
Moynton, although he never practiced, had
rooms at the Clarendon, abundant means,
and did nothing in particular except lounge
about among pictures, and talk "Art'--a
subject very absorbing to those who appre.
ciate ii, and very bewildering to those who
do not: This man admired Miriam Lacy, a
person whom every one concurred in pro-
nouncing just about right:
The other gentleman was younger, not
more than ~, had tall, manly figure, and
nothing else remarkable about him, except a
pair Of gray eyes, that looked up and at one
with such clear reflection of a great, hon
est. hero soul, that they irradiated the
whole face. twas the beauty of express
ion, for in themselves they did not differ
from bushels of other eyes. Gilbert Fletch-
er was a distant cousin of Miram's: and
although he was as quite and undemonstra-
tive as gray-eyed people usually are, she
knew, to her annoyance, that down in his
inmost soul he cherished wild hope that
made HIM glad that the cousinship was 80 dis
ant.
"Miriam hersclfr' exclaimed one OF the
young ladies. as the vignettes came to hight,
"Mi,iam to life - and exclamations and
criticism fell fast and furious on the bites
of paste. board upon which had been left the
impress ofa living soul.
DIR. Moynton never admired when other
reorle did and when some addressed him
enthusissticly with the remark "Isn't it
excellent?" He rejoined
"Yes--an excellent likeness of Miss La
cv in enc Of her very worst moments.
were only invented for men,
and any woman who will consent to be thus
must be influenced by one Of
two reasons She is either inexpressibly
ronceited, or she is quite superior to the
weakness of caring how she looks"
THANK you," said Miriam. who had qui.
ely glided in II am quite at loss how to
classify myself The inexpressibly conceit-
ed division ia not attractive--but the stern
Angel Of truth guards the entrance to the
where women are superior to the
weakness Of caring how they lcok. do
care how look. and always try to look my
very hest"
Gilbert, who had said nothing, blu.fed
gniltily Mt Miriam's entrancc--while the
zeal criminal smiled fascinating smile, and
said with perfect cemposure. "Do you re.
member the scene in Peg Wellington Miss
Lscv, where Peg steps cut of her own por-
and confounds the critics? It
Is about the finest thing in the whole vol
nme."
These men were both in love with Mari
am Lacy /; and Marian was piqred by DR..
Moynton's composure, and irritated by
Gilbert Fletcher's want of confidence.
"Ahout these Photographic continued
the doctor, carelcssly. "What avile inven-
lion they are If one has glaring defect,
they magnify il ten fold, and leave every
mark Of beauty to be guessed at. As to
the very life and soul ofa face,
the wretched photographs tramples it to
leath, or clothes it in 80 hideous an aspect,
that one wishes 1t were blank. Look at
his caricature Of Miss Lacy. now-why is
Ihe made to look dissatisfied, woe-hegone.
md desirous of making face At some body,
III at one and the same time -
"That is only the perversity Of human ma
tnre," replied Miriam, laughing. "the poor
photographer. in despair at the benumsing
gravity that always possessed one when re-
,uired to cali up alook that knew is to be
stamped upon glass and copper. said sug-
ycstively. Conld you think Of something
pleasant now, mum p and Immediately
elt severe and awful expressions settle
IN my features. Had he told me not to
augh as valued my picture, the effect
would have been what was desired. Blu
am tiret. of the subject" she continued
mperiously 'let rs talk Of something e'se.
What are you studying there, Gil.
bert 7"
Miriam had not been described, and, to
tell the truth, she was rather indescribable.
Her girl-admirers, and she had hosts Of them
,lwa.s said of Miriam, Not pretty at all,
gou know, because she hasn't single good
feature y and yet, in the aggregate. they
pronounced her ''lovely." She was taller
han the average hight. and her finely
moulded figure seemed TO float along the
streets, 40 that men would turn their heads,
's she passed and say. "13y Jove ! what .
splendid figure that woman has r. Her
abundant dark hair. worn very low on her
neck. has classic sweep that carried sort
IF facination in II and the cheek it shaded
r~s,p1 s1I f~aoh hat ~-~:l.l