The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-01-18

chin and throat, were beautiful; but ma
ture, by some strange caprice, had given
her eyes as black as midnight, and eye.
brows of the same color. These features
with her perfect blonde complexion, gave
to her beauty style at once piquant and
brilliant. Perhaps [ appreciated her
beauty all the more, viewing it, as | did;
in the midst of unattractive faces for
the ladies Of Flanders have no pretensions
to beauty. 1t may be prejudice upon my
part, but their faces have a crafty ex-
preston, particularly about the eye,
which resembles the Chinese, and has
the same cunning look. Their features
are generally coarse, and their figures
stout, (without that symmetry that the
Freucn have to such remarkable de-
gree and their hands and feet are very
large.
1t is strange, but it has been remarked
by trvellers, how many deformed persons
there are to be found in Brussels, espec-
tally among the aristocracy. 90 into
the park on any pleasant Sunday, and you
will be surprised to see the number OF
misshapen forms that throng its avenues.
An English resident told me he thought
it was the careIessues5 and cruelty OF
nurses to children during infancy, togeth-
er with the Indifference of mothers, that
caused so much human misery.
While | was moraliziOg, the curtain
rose upon the last act Of the opera, aud |
became all attention-so much so, that |
did not miss Lester until our party rose
to 90. I asked Lord Marsgate where
George had gone, and he replied by
pointing to the box that contained Miss
Thornton. | looked and beheld George
helping the lady tc arrange her opera
cloak. His face had lost the haggard
look it had worn, and he seemed meta
morphosed into happy lover.
Declining Lord Marsgatc's invitation
to supper, [ returned to my hotel, and
was soon locked in the embraces Of Nor
pheus.
The next morning when I awoke ]
found a note from George saying that he
was going to accompany Miss Thornton
in drive some miles out Of town, but
would be with me in the afternoon.
Having the morning to myself, | bent
my footsteps toward the Museum, hand
soue building of white marble or granite,
l have forgotten which. It contains one
of the finest collections Of paintings in
Europs5 having rany cf the original
paintings Of Michael Angelo, Reub9ns,
Titens ard many others whose names are
enrolled in the temple Of fame. Any one
might spend a week, with pleasure and
profit. viewing these great conceptions,
The Museum coutains, also, some mas
ter pieces of sculpture, the most beautiful
of which was a yelled Madonna, which
was 50 delicately carved that the marble
seemed like a veil Of the finest lace.
There is one charm to the ear of a
stranger that is particularly pleasing. 1t
Is that chimes Cf bells are so numerous
that they are almost constantly to be
heard. A good bell-ringer is sure of a
high salary.
Upon my return to the hotel, l found
George waiting for me. He said, as |
entered, "Well, now come! You think
| am a strange being to bring you here
from London almost BY force; then i'm
mediatcly after our arrival, leave you
alone for the society of almost an appa-
rent stranger, eh 2"
Really, George" I replied, ~ have
not been thinking about the matter at
all, but have been spending most de,
lightful morning in the Museum"
"Ah !"laughed George Lester, "That
is just like you, with your Scotch nature,
to abide your time for explanations there
fore, Henry, (his toae changing into one
of deep feeling I shall tell you the secret
that has made me wretched for the past
year. My father, Sir Gilbert Lester, is
proud, cold man Of the world, and has
not any sympathy for those deep feelings
which God gave to man to make him a
better and nobler being than he other
wise could have been.
"Niss Helen Thornton was But girl
IF eighteen when [ returned from college.
shall not fatigue you by gong into the
details of love story In a word, l met
SOoed and ore her. I asked m5 fathers
consent to our union, but he laughed at
what he termed my boyish passion, |
waited patiently, thinking in time to win
lis consent; but in vain was nv patience.
He privately obtained for her father bet
er living in the north Of England. l
followed her, and implored her to consent
% private union She refused We
parted. | travelled, and tried in vain to
owe another woman. Her image vas too
irmly woven within my heart,strings to
Danish it. Two years ago her father died,
aud her maternal uncle adopted her and
made her his future heiress. Some
weeks ago | read the rumors Of her mar