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

gion and morality. A man to win .
high place among men, to make his
name a shining mark /; man to wor-
ship, yet, alas hardly one 10 love.
His very virtues held him exalted and
aloof, yet in the inmost sanctuary Of
the warm, throbbing heart he covered
with such an iron mask, he had placed
the image of his betrothed. He saw
her as she was, a girl almost spoiled
by her unnatural life, full Of good inn
pulses, generous, afiectionatc, and tai
ented, yet not III his love could he
smile upon her faults, or withhold his
Censure from her. 1'anities. Above all
he was keenly panied by her firtations
with every admirer, above all by her
daring encouragement of Horace Eli
OTIS devotion
And Horace, too, came under the
keen scrutiny of Amt Helen's mild
eyes, and was read truly, as hand
some, brilliant adventurer. Maude
was rich by Inheritance from both pa
rents, and heiress to her grandfather's
immense wealth. Horace Elliot was
her slave. Yet while she tested his
devotion by thousand feminine wiles,
accepted his homage, sang his songs,
walked, rode, danced, and flirted with
him, ever and anon she would shoot
him glances of stinging contempt, and
let her eyes wander again almost i'm
ploringly to Rodney's impassive face.
| Matters stood thus when one hot
June day was set aside for picnic.
All Ross Haven was to GO, and Mande
was queen of the festival. 1t was to
be horseback ride to Glen Cove, q
favorite resort of picnic lovers, day
in the woods, and moonlight ride
home again. Boats were to be provi-
ded for those who would row on the
river, hampers full of provisions were
sent forward in a wagon, and every
preparation was made for day of en-
joymcnt. -.
Maude was restless and miserable
Already preparations were on foot for
her wedding, and sewing was going
on vigorously at mantuamakers and
seamstresses to furnish such a trousseax
as her wealth demanded. She fairly
sickened over the details, as she
thought of the cold censorious hus-
band with whom she was to link her
life.
One proof of love, one word or look
would have chained her heart to Rod
ney's, one action that even betokened
jealousy would have gladdened her,
but he stood coldly aloof, giving her
only contemptuous smile AT her most
daring encouragements of Horace Eli
OTIS devotion.
1t was nearly noon, and the picnic
party were strolling through the woods,
in couples, trios, and groups Rod
ncy had Maude's hand on his arm, while
Aunt Helen sauntered near attended
by Horace They had neared steep
bank, sloping down to the waters
edge, where the shrubbery grew thick
| ly, but where, from the edge of the wa
ter, the bank still made dangerous
slope downward Rodney looked
down, and made some remark upon the
danger of fall, drawing Maude as he
spoke farther from the edge. A wild
scheme crossed her mind, she would
test his love for her. With a sudden
yet stealthy motion she loosened her
hat strings, and in a moment it was
rolling down the bank, stopping only
on the water arrested by long bough
that reached out into the river.
"Oh, Rodney, my hat !"
He looked coldly down.
"The footing is too insecure there
T he said, gravely, ito tempt a man to
risk his life for lady's hat. am
afraid, Maude, you must go home bare
headed" Es
/ But even while he spoke, Horace El-
liot was going down the declivity with
quick, light steps. A frown darkened
on Rodney's face, then with grave
bow he took Maude's hand from his arm,
offered himself as an escort to Aunt
Helen, and walked forward. leaving
Horace and Maude to finish their adj
venture at their leisure
i Half laughing as she saw the light
boots and gray pantaloons, so spotless
before, sinking into the treacherous
mud, and frightened at her position
and Rodney's displeasure, Maude saw
, Horace clutch low bush and lean far
over the water for the hat, another
second and the bush few from the sod,
the hand and arm were wildly thrown
forward to grasp again, missed, and
, Horace sank into the water. Prisoned
by the clinging mud around his feet,
he struggled vainly to rise, while the
, air rang with rMande's shrieks.
A few moments that seemed an eter-
, nifty, and then Rodney passed her
!. with rapid steps, and began the de-
scent. Cautiously, one arm irmly
; wound round the tree bough where the
. hat still tioated, he stopped and raised
: his rivals head on his disengaged arm.
. All consciousness was gone, the feet
] Jlseemed immovably fixed in the mud,
: and for moment the risk Rodney ran
seemed almost useless daring. Then
q his voice rang ont clear and firm, to
4 the terrified group now collected on
: the bank above him" Don't come
g down here, any OF you, this mud is too
! soft for any weight. Bring the boat
E round Quick, for cannot hold up
! any longer, my feet are almost as far
: in now as Mr.. Elliot's'
: Oh, the long agony of those minutes
before the boat came round to the as
sistance of the two men. Rodney's
face growing more and more pallid az
!, !, the strain upon his arms became al
J. most unendurable. Horace still utter
: ly insensible, and both perceptibly,
! though very slowly, sinking into the
mud To Mande, the minutes seemed
a years, and when at last the boat came
i to the rescue, and she saw Horace hit
y ed in, and Rodney slowly ascending
the bank again, her limbs failed her,
\ and she sank down upon the grass in
% an agony of remorseful weeping.
,fI No loving word or touch comforted
d her. Rodney was on his way to meet
!, the boat, and Aunt Helen had started
0 at the first word of Rodney's to send a
d carriage for the still unconscious Hor.
n II Il. t<.l.