Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1866-02-01

| ti'at Ills latnef, once iona and lndu
gent, now turned to dislike him, la,
fishing all his love on the young child
ren given to him in this second mar
riage.
Notwithstanding all the unkin,
treatment that he had received, Phil,
grew up to be a handsome, active ant
Intelligent young man and now tha
he was able to do for himself, he woul
have emigrated to America, where h
had an uncle settled for many years
but that old associations and old mem,
ries bound him to the place of his brit
SO said the villagers, though it was
plain case that Philip had fallen in love
as the saying is, with Widow Clare
pretty daughter. as-F .
Well, it was hard to say whether lii
tie Ally favored young Philip or not
At one time she seemed to prefer hin
above all others, delighting his hear
with her sweet words, as he stoo'
waiting for her at the church porcI
after the Sabbath service. Then j
would do ones hear: good to see then
both, side by side. so young, so comel,
and so happy. Why did cloud lowe
upon them, darkening all the sunsllin,
OF their youth On more than one OF
those blessed Sundays have | seen lit
tie Ally place her hand in Philips, ant
while her mother fingered behind il
friendly chat with the neighbors, thu
two would trip away across the mead
ows, where the grass was green ant
bright beneath their feet, and the bird,
sang around them as if they shared il
their happiness. At other times again
that same pretty hand would be refu
sed to Philip in the dance, and mischie
veous Ally, tossing her, head with af
fected Indifference, would turn away
with some more fortunate swain to join
in the merry reel. r-... p. :
Well, things had been going on in
this way for some time @shen one Sc.
summer evening as little Ally sat al
the door of her mothers cottage, sing.
ing like a lark, and spinning in the
meantime, a foreign looking gentleman
suddenly stood before the startled girl
lie held his hat in his hand with as
much respect as if he was speaking to
a lords daughter, and with voice as
low and soft as woman's, asked her
some tritling question about the village.
The Widow Clare, who prided her.
self ON her good manners, ON hearing
the strangers voice was at the door IN
an instant. And well pleased was she
to see the respect that was paid hel
daughter by one whose dress and ap
pearance betokened a gentleman. She
immediately invited him to rest him
self in the cottage, saying that she
hoped she would be able to give him
the information he desired. As may
be supposed, this wasn't his last visit
to the cottage. His name was Colam.
Der Fitz Arthur, and he had taken lodg.
lngs in the village, as he intended re-
for a few weeks taking sketch.
es. lie was no painter, as we had sup
posed at first, but gentleman from
shropshire, travelling for His amuse-
ment.
Tie whole village was full of surmi-
ses about the stranger, and while some
were greatly taken with his handsome
lace and winning manners, Time will
show who and what he is" As to
Widow Clare, she was highly indig-
nant that anybody should look with
suspicion on so grandlooking gentle
nan though | smiled at her notion
1f his being great lord in disguise,
agreed with her in blaming those who
were so hasty in declaring their judg-
ments on the stranger.
The following Sunday, Mr.. Fitz Ar
thur was bright and early in the little
church, but instead of paying attention
to the service, he never took his ewes
off of Miss Ally's sweet face, that
dropped lower and lower under his
steady and admiring gaze-so every
body said, and. moreover, that the
young girl felt fattered by his notice.
Didn't everybody in the church remark
the half triumphant smile that played
around her pretty mouth all the time
that MIR. Fitz Arthur's two eyes were
upon herr Yet everybody seemed as
attentive to the services as little Ally
herself.
Mr.. Fitz Arthur went out with the
congregation, not without casting a
over-like look towards Widow Clare's
pew, where little Ally still sat with her
head bent over her book, though fear
me that she knew little of its holy con-
tents that blessed day. When a min
ate afterwards Philip Hart approached
ler and spoke to her in low voice,
she started as if wakencd out Of a
trance.
What passed between them, never
knew, bnt Philip went alone across the
meadow that day. Little Ally had
pleasant company though, for Mr.. Fitz
Arthur joined her and her mother as
soon as they left the church. He walk
I'd as far as the. cottage with them,
md, of course, on being asked in as
before to rest himself, he was but too
glad Of an excuse to enter and gain
irmer footing in the cottage.
could see all from my own cottage
loor, where | was standing, looking at
he people passing along the road on
heir return from church, when was
startled by the form of man rising
Up from clump of bushes that had
hidden him from view. In moment,
knew Philip Hart, and on seeing that
he was observed he came quickly to-
wards me, saying. in broken, hurried
voice
"Mrs. Malahide, you always pitied
ne when boy-do SO now"
He was off i'm an instant. Never
shall forget the look of hopeless love,
grief and anger that was stamped up
IN his face---and that face itself dead
y pale--nor the strange harshness of
lis tones that used to ring on my ear
ike rich music. While the tears stood
II my eyes as | watched the poor lad
lashing away across the meadows to.
wards the home that was no home to
i'm, ! was wicked enough to wish Mr..
iolamber Fitz Arthur at the bottom of
/