Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1867-11-22

~ few weeks after my return we accepted
invitations for large bail. 1t was rare
assembly of youth and beauty. enhanced by
every charm that wealth could lend Oh tia,
y IL could Lave cen Imogene ilat nigll \
robe vi simple Wine with algret'es Of sap
phre confhiug M the temples the lorg %. den
clrIs, illai foated below ier iairtlke waist.
half concca ing neck and shoulders Of fault
les beaa,y she WIS slightly above The Usual
height Of woman, and n complexion rare!y y
( ir, with checks like II water rosc-leaf, or
namen ed with rich jely !ringes her feaiui es
were cassicali, regular. Bui vain and innd-
equata is my description, for none could paint
the ever-varying expiession-sle fascinaicd
every one by her beauty, rs she won by The
sweetness of her disposition their hearts. We
had scarcely entered, when Col. Ri,ington
was presented; he was q sllenad looking
fellow tail ana finely formed his was . f,ce
once seen, could not be readily forgotten = n
'ellectually handsome, with an expression of
peculiar sadness: dark brown hair, and II
heavy moustache Of the same iuc-and thos e
magnificent gray eyes, so seid, m seen. Ills
q astel finely with the fragile figure and soft.
innocent face OF Imog ne; nature seemed TO
have destined them for each other.
'The next morning he called, and soon
tor
"ihe Ummer came. and we early sought
the salubrious mountain air, and R.viuc,on
there joined US
"with an,umn tmogenc again checrcl hy
her presence htr numerous friends ana al
concurrcd in considering her tie he,roi he'd Of
Col Kiyngton. tfs
"Wi'her gli!ei inro spring, but our Imo-
gene ringing laugh, that Q gla1lenel our
hearts, was seldom heard the Colonel was
ordered TO a distance, and shade tia. IVES
neverniore 10 he dissirat,d settled on our once
bright household. y ealiu. change Was per-
cep,tSc in !'tgene: size had los iaer elast! !c
Step; the oninous brill ancy OF her dark eyes.
and the trans parent spiritnai face. 50 Mourn
ful, seemed to whisper passing away. A few
mo tbs and She was rn.iialr; in all the pride
OF fresh YONG beauty. .x tlting in p.rlc,t
health. Early in Jdiy, they sa.!ed for ita.y
with the p most VAN hepe that its mid eli
mate might effect her re>,o,atsoa, rreparato-
ry TO Joining them. visited New O.leans on
business Tor Judge Glarmonie while there
met an old c,asSnaie Of my fathers WHO in
sisted on my staying with han during mv So
while saunfcring through lie spacious picture
gallery, perceived a aoor, neatly hidden hy
n fine statue at the 7 apings OF curiosity
entered ;he only light which penetrated
the apartment was from the entrance, oppo-
site to VIII ch eGrtain Of soabre hue ie,l in
heavy folds to the floor drawing il aside,
discovered a full length portrait of A youthful
and strangely beautiful maiden. with proud
fashiag eyes a1d an eloquent. haughiy smile
just qnivoring un lips alf parted was soon
startled by nm angry exclamation from pr.
Creseeat. instantly explained, with many
apologies
'The evening preyions to ny departure the
Doctor desired me to accompany him 10 the Ii
brary there | listened 10 tile history Of that
painting. Clara Crescent was ther ony child,
aud even in infancy was noted for hes aurac
tivencss. Her sixteenth bir,hmight wa. ce!e-
bra,ed by magnificent cnterta nment: among
the guests was General Riyingion and family;
his son had just graduated with honor at W
Point. Clara and The Lieutenant were nntu-
ally charmed. The intimacy of their families
facilitated the attachment: oa account of their
youth, the parents withheld their consent to
the marriage until Clara SHOULD attain her
eighteenth birthday. Tie Lieutenant was or.
dered North, and Clara was placed in a con-
vent for two years, TO complete her educa,i n.
Two weeks prior to the time appointed fer
thei. wedding, Lieut. Rivngton returned to
learn that " hich Swallowed his future The
influences brought to bear on HE highly ro-
mantle sensitive nature of Clara induced her
to assume he white veil when it was COM
mnnicated 10 her larents, language could not
portray their anguish. Every arg,nmen, fail
ell 10 persuade her 10 abandon her insane in
tention finally she was .orchly taken home
but she hourly pinned 10 return They thought
tha, when the absent lover came II would he
well. In vain he pleaded and welt Sic re-
ma.ned inexorab!e The funeral bridal day
arrived, the house was crowded. though 10
sound of mcrlmen, or joyous faces enliyen.d
the scene; the nup,ials OF Clara Crescen, ard
Frank Rivnston were solemnizcd then one
wild embrace that nearly pressed the life ON
one heast--and the bride o Il moment was
conducted 10 the carriage that conducted her
to tie cloister for life.
Three day after reachsd home sa Il
for Europe; on the steamer met Col FiviI G.
ton on his way 10 lialy. During the voya. Q
he frequently alluded to Tie past, yet otteher
OF his hopes Of a bright future with Im0gens
hopes fair dream He Informed me that the
fatal impcditacnt to his union with imoeene
no longer exi ,ed-Glasa R,ving;on was dead
"0n n lovely lake in Il superb villa, few
miles from Naples, we found the Clairmontes.
i would defy inspiration to depict the me- L
ing of these long parted lovers. lmogene was
even more beautiful, the hectic boom ald
sparkling eye required 10 skillful ply sician
70 predict an early transition.
Ten days subsequent 10 our arrival all
that remained Of our dolizel one was mo ,rr.
fnlly ronSiunel IN ito In ~ enr,hlv hnmn ttl,x