Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1865-11-02

scarcely hoped to see you again, when
your grandfather's kind letter sum-
moned me here to remain with you un-
til after your wedding. Now, to-day,
Maude, will you not let me take your
dear mothers place, and tell me"
What 2" Short, almost fierce, was
the interruption. ..
What trouble lies between you
and Rodney Coleman?" ...'.
" wonder how girls act and feel
who have mother? Z" said Maude,
moving restless hands among some
laces and flowers ON the table before
her. al wonder if they learn to know
their own hearts better than l do
mine? You ask me fof my confidence,
Aunt Helen, when l cannot tell my
self what this vague heartache is, ly-
ing so heavily hidden under the gay
manner the world censures. l am a
firt, yoa know All Ross Haven will
tell you that !! You cannot guess
what an unnatural life mine has been.
II have never been to school, and
grandfather hardly trusted me ont of
his sight, until was engaged to Rod
ney, then, like bird whose cage door
is suddenly opened, was allowed per-
feet liberty, only fettered by my en-
gagement to a man who is about as
tender and chivalrous as block of
ice s.....- ......a..... .....
But, Maude, you love him >"
"Do /? don't know !"
" But you have promised to be his
wife"
"Yes--it is kind of business ar
rangement, in which hearts have no
voice. He is an orphan, a sort of con-
nection of the family somehow, and
was adopted by grandfather when
quite a child, trained to the same busi-
ness, and finally made partner in
the firm when he was invited here
last spring, he understood that he was
to propose to me, obeyed the implied
command, and gave me about as much
Of his heart as he took of mine. Yet
-yet--sometmes fancy if he would
once uubend from his cold dignity and
give me one look such as Horace Eli
OF lavishes upon me, could learn to
love him as-pshaw where am
wandering ?" ..... ....... .....
And Horace Elliot, Maude? ?"
Horace Elliot loves me While
Rodney stands aloof in his grand,
stately manner, treating my whims
and fancies as beneath contempt, Hor-
ace is my slave in my widest caprice" :"
But, Maude, this is dreadful !"
sis it? am half afraid something
more dreadful will follow, for | am
half tempted to break my engagement,
and reward Horace Elliots devotion
Better that than to marry with a
divided heart" . -
:" A divided heart There lies the
whole story, Aunt Helen. love nei-
ther of these men, yet both trouble me-
Horace has every charm of person and
manner, and is devotion itself, yet
Rodney is a man worth ten of him. ]
could almost worship him for all know
of his noble heart, his integrity, and
his intellect, but-but-hc despiscs
me ~
!" Such man could not marry where
he did not love, Maude,'
"Love Every day some harsh CEN
sure, every meeting ending in bitter
ness. He is SO perfect himself that
there is no charity in his heart for a
fault. Marching through life with his
head erect, his handsome face set as
if chiselled in marble, every action
governed by rule, what does he know
of the wayward impulses that lead to
the follies he condemns so harshly. II
could once see him moved But all
the advantage is on his side-If | ven.
ture on one escape more daring than
usual, he is sure to catch me. When
| waded out into the brook last week
to fish up the butchers baby, who had
fallen from the bank, and came in
! dripping, with the ungrateful brat yel
ling like mad in my arms, there stood
Rodney on the bank, noting every rent
and spot in my attire If | ride on a
hay-cart meet him if | go into a
cottage and am betrayed into game
of romps with the dirty brats round
me, l am sure to find his face at a win
dow or door and, try as i will, car
never retaliate. He won't 60 into alb
surd positions for me- / tried to make
him wade into a mud puddle last weel
for my shoe, which fell of, accidental
ly Of course, as l crossed the plank
but he gravely condoled with me OF
the inconvenience of walking home il
one shoe, and my slipper is in the pud
/ H. H., .tataf,nnps, ~. ta,, ,n.
like a blister. never see him cross
room without desire to trip him up
and his perfections are the bane of my
existence. YETI and her voice soften
ed, "when see him with grandfather
and mark his respectful affection, hi
, grateful devotion, would give tn
I world for one look from his eyes a
: full of love as he bestows upon tn
|, dear old man. Auntie dear, copL
! give him love for love, but Inc endure
me, that's all"
) The luncheon-bell interrupted tn
!. conversation, and Aunt Helen foun
the confidence she had already wo
| must suffice her. As if ashamed {
y her own confessions, Maude shunne
any further private talk, and day a
! ter day the loving heart that yearne'
to her so tenderly saw her throwing
! happiness further and further fron
her.
!. She was very handsome, this way
ward heroine of mine, with the riches
, brunette charms, very accomplished
and, alas very vain and wilful, Ii,
! ing upon hattery, and craving hon
!, age. sHaE
! As Aunt Helen watched the dram
r daily enacted before her eyes, she tel
g her heart grow sick over its complies
0 tions.
s That Rodney Coleman loved he
s niece, she could not doubt, but sh
II saw that he was proud man, full {
II noble impulses. governed by rigi
!, rules Of justice and right. An orphan
4. alone in the world, he had learned t
IL, Al hand N