The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1866-05-23

sanity developing itself in mel Ii you
think SO, speak it out, beseech you'll"
She was paler than ever, and tAe tears
were streaming down her cheeks. His
heart We rned toward her as she stood there
before him, distressed and imploring The
tears rushed into his own eyes.
- because, If you do, would like to tell
mother. II would be best. Perhaps some
thing could be done for me. DO you re
member, Ernest, it was only q few weeks
ago that Miss Sinclair became insane? She
was SO young, SO amiable-and her own
friends did not suspect it. She is rsving in
the asylum now"
Unable longer to control himself, he took
her in his arms, pressing her tenderly,
again and again, to his bosom, kissing the
fair white forehead which should circle
only noble brain.
"What put such dreadful fancy in your
head, my darling! No, no, I beg of you,
do not mention anything SO appalling Your
words and actions were quite too consecu-
tive and sensible; your madness had too
much method in it. No, no! your bur-
lesque and mimicry were not at all those Of
o diseased brain; far from it They were
characterized rather by q sharpness quite
acute, but not precisely Of your natural
order. l do not believe, come to reflect
upon 1t, that even were your wit exalted
and excited. by wine, it would be Of that
style. think 1 read the impress Of another
m,nd--a mind we are both of US we'll ac-
quainted with. Sit down, Helen, you are
pale and worn here, by me, on the sofa.
You will sit by me, will you not, if | have
been cruel to you for the last two weeks 7"
The light of happiness which had been
quenched in her eyes, was relit. She sat
by him, quiet and conteBted, while he,
holding her hand tight as if to keep her
with him, relapsed into a brown study
He had CHANGED upon train of suspicion
which he was following up carefully in
thought. While they sat thus in silence,
Cousin Annie came, unawares, into the
room She started upon perceiving Mr..
Thornton; their eyes met: he held her
| glance with his own for a full moment; then
her black lashes dropped. and slow blush.
which she tried in vain to keep down, crept
up into her thin, dark face. She laughed,
however, saying, with a slight sneer:
81 did not know you lovers were here, or
l would not have intruded."
"You know, Annie that you never in
trude, even upon us lovers" said Helen,
affectionately; but the young lady refused
TO be seated, and went out OF the room,
AumHluS y gay uiT.
~ am sorry Annie has such DISPOSE
tion," remarked Helen, after she was gone.
!" She is too sensitive. We try all we can
to make her feel at home. love her as
sister, and wish her to feel as if she really
were such, with equal righs and privileges.
But, she persists in calling herself depend
ent, and in making herself unhappy about
it. wish che were not so sensitive"
"Ypu are mistaken bout its being sensi-
tiveness, Helen-at least. OF a noble kind.
1t is envy. She has q ranking, jealous dis
| position"
"Oh, Ernest, how can you speak SO? |
know she is not very affec'iona,e-at least,
she does not love me as do her; blu, you
must remember how much she had to make
her bitter and suspicious. II must be hard
to be poor, rs she was, before mother adopt
ed her"
"And homely. If she were a. beautiful
as you, my Helen. she would be less bitter,
assure you; read her plainly"
"She has always said that you did not
like her, and I'm so sorry about it. | would
wish you to be good friends. think she
admired GU very much; indeed, Ernest. if
you'll never breathe it, I'll just whisper
that believe you could have gained her
| love ii you had solicited it. Now she is
cold TO you, because she fears you do not
like her.
~ have always treated her with the most
courteous friendliness. for your sake, Helen.
She is girl Of talent; admire her talent
more than do her disposition. But must
go, now Stay to dinner? Thank you, not
to-day; am coming again this evening.
Be bright aud cheerful, my darling, and
will promise to blow away this cloud which
has darkened you-blow it all away with a
breath If you, your mother, and Annie.
will all be at home this evening, would
like to call with friend"
He kissed the inquiring look from her
face. and went away.
That evening Mrs Marshall and the two
young ladies awaited, in the well-liehted
ROOM back of the long parlor, the arrival
Of the expected company. Helen had chosen
thie room, Us being retired from chance
callers, as she inferred from her lovers
manner that something connected with the
recent unpleasant affair might be brought
on the ca pet, What it could be-what re-
violation could be made. or explanation
given-what breath could blow away the
memory Of her remarkable state and be-
havior, she puzzled herself in conjecturing.
As for Annie, thinking that Mr.. Thornton's
friend nigh be some one of the other sex
worth pleasing, she had dressed herself
carefully. smooh hing the heavy braids Of
her black hair. aud relieving the sallowness
of her complexion with warm tints, until
she looked almost handsome.
Those keen black eyes betrayed nothing
Of their inward disappointment, however,
when the servant admitted Mr.. Thornton
and Mrs. Kole Oyl. Mrs. Marshall and her
daughter were quite surprised: for, al
though they attended Mrs Kole Oyfs grand
parties, and she theirs, yet there never had
been any Of that intimacy which warrants
social evening visit. That lady laid aside
her hood and cloak, took the comfortable
chair offered her before the glowing CRATE,
and the circle were soon in animated con-
yersation. Only Annie kirkland expert
enced an unaccounta bile, uneasy sensation.
She was more audaciously gay and glitter
ing than usual, seeming in the highest spir-
its. linging all kinds Of sparkling sallics at
Mr.. Thornton, who sat opposite her, and
who gave her all, and more, attention than
she coveted 1t was the consciousness Of
his eyes continually upon her, which made
her SO restless; this restlessness she en-
deayored to conceal by brilliancy.
For once, the subtle, mastering spirit
had met its master. Strive as she might,
she could not keep up the flow Of gayety;
she gradually sunk into silence, oppressed
and anxious. The rest of the circle were
all unconscious of the influence =. work:
but to one who could have read the inner
consciousness Of those present, It would