Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1867-01-11

IL and unreservedly, gaining true insight in
to each others minds, and slyra ever,
day was more surprised at the cultivation, re
tfnement and real talents Of her little friend
| With her limited advantages, in comparison
with her own, Myrtle was equally well educa
ted. accomplished and well read. When they
emerged from some shaded avenue into the
open meadows, the loose rcns firmly held, the
spirited horses gaily urged on, it was q pleas
urable sight TO see them speeding over the
smooth ground, or perhaps gallantly leaping
some brook or stile. Myia, riding like n
queen, with her firm, upright, graceful seat,
, while Myrtle, in reality practised and expert
enced, to oil appearances careless Of danger
face up into alyra s. shaded by the broad rid
ing hat.
Well did Myra remember these bright in
noeent days. She entered with such hearty
zcst into all the country pasttimes. and
charmed the whole family with the unaffected
sweetness of her ways She insisted. with a
pretty wilfulness- on sharing Myrtie's light
| tasks and the two girls cemented n firm
friendship that summer.
1t was after Myra return to the city in the
full gloom Of recovered health and spirits.
that she met Morton Hastings. and her ems
gage,ncnt followed brief acquaintance.
But her choice, though hasty, was we'll
!, made. lodng and handsome, talented and
refined, Morton was the very beau ideal of
hero. and in their case all would have been
! fair and prosperous but that the besetting sin
in Myra's schsracter-pride-mu rutfle the
flowing of the stream.
Some triAing misunders,andi ne, not soon
enough followed anexplanation. u trifing
oversight, magniied by her scnsitiveness into
serions neglect, and Myra eoolly refused to
! sec him, receive his opologeiic note, or in any
way allow him to justify himself. Having
oacc made this decision, she was infexible,
and her native frmness aided her in subduing g
! the yearnings OF her heart.
50 Mya made herself utterly miserable,
wilinlly resisting any gentle impulse that
prompted her TO pen note Of recall and in
short, as deliberately persisted in making her
self iaiserablcas did ever a young girl in love,
and with all the means Of happiness within
her reach, simply through ignorance Of her
sell.
And now rs Myrs met Mertcs fond trust
full gaze, she ;elt pangs Of rcmorse ,ha, she
had bcieo the open candor Of her nature, nev.
er more openly shown than to this friend, and
must appear proud and worldly
You are not looking quite 50 bright as at
L--. last summer said Myrtle, Affections
ately. Ill take you off with iue, furnishing
sensational mysterious disappearance arti-
Gle for the papers, and bring you back with
equal mystery, change' for the better But l
know the carriage,is waiting for you. Can't
! YOU see that I'm dying to be a!noe and unpack
my trunk ? Peculiar mortal. DEPART"
Il would much rather stay with YOU said
j Myra, laughing. as she turnod away at her
tragic Dismissal; good night once more
| The next day was genuine December pic
t,,rc, Sc, in cleaning crystals. The sky was
cioudless, anI Of such stcely blue, the air
| so freshly inspiring, so healthfully bracing,
/ that it wasa pleasure but to breathe it. Myr-
tie was rejoiced by an early unccremonious
call from her bachelor uncle, who brought his
pet an elegant skating suit, everything COM
/ pletc down to the bright, steel toys themselves
Remember how we used to play catch on the
ice on the river down to l., and how
you used to run the long race? .Nom, it's so
fashionable. happened to think perhaps you
could have the privilege and not be thought
! horrid, US You would have been then il any
city ladies had seen you cutting circles on the
J ice. BY the way, pussy, have you cut those
initials with your skates lately"
Myrtle prudently made her escape with the
suit to another room, and presently rc-appcar-
| cd, a,tired for skating, and SO bcw,ching in
her piquant beauty that her uncle must needs
catch her up triumrhantly and survey her at
arms length.
81 declarc,' said he, "my little country lass
will carry the palm away from all. lpropose
that you go to Central Park to-day, Myrtle !;
it's perfectly safe, and the ice may not last
| long. Perhaps III snatch few minutes from
business and 60 down too. Now, I'll deposit
you in this velvet arm chair. and sit still for
five minutes, if you can, and be a good girl
But Myrtle was ut the front door in time TO
give him srarting slnile as he stepped into his
sleigh and drove off.
Myrtle created sensation by appearing in
the breakfast room, where Myra and her moth
er were awaiting her, and in her jaunty cos
tune waltzi ng around the room
you're breeze, ray Of sunshine and
everything else that's light and substantial r
said Myra gaily capturing her. "Now sit
down and prove your gross mortality by a lit
tic attention to coffee and toast. am SO glad
you skate, my love" she continued. passing
Myrtic's small, delicate china cup smoking
with the fragrant Mocha II will be so proud
Of you, and you will look SO cilerial gliding
over the ice. We have some graceful skaters
among our ladies, hut think many prefer
the support of masculine arm to the appears
ance of sclf-reliance implied by the bold conf
dence Of fearless skater. That good uncle
of yours has told me Of yonr skill and very