The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-03-13
NTHE AND /.
BY FANNY NEwBERRY.

10 De sure. she was du only Cuuu,
seven years my junior, but a woman
soul looked out Of her beautiful eyes,
a woman's heart spoke III her passion
ate words Conqueriug my own emo
ton, soothed her with encouraging
words, saying thai if she would study
and improve her time, she might
grow wise, at least, and that would
please him more than beauty. She
turned, her face all aglow oh do
you think so? And will you teach
me SO that l can play aud sing as
you do?'
| promised the child, aud received
a rapturous embrace. From that day
Ianthe followed me like a pet kitten,
and was ready at all times to do my
lightest bidding.
1t is but just to myself to say that L
faithfully kept my word to my little
cousin, devOting part Of each day TO
the cultivation OF her mind.
/ found she had great talen; for
music, and an ear perfectly accurate.
She would play, after me, the most
difficult opera airs, but if | attempted
to teach BY note, | found it an almost
Herculean task; so / finally gave it
up, and left her to her own way, only
insisting on a certain amount of prac-
tice every day.
She had a wonderful memory
would often recite whole stanzas
from some poem that happened to
strike her fancy, but would sit in ut
ter despair over the simplest mathe-
matical problem. But IN those
branches which were her delight, she
made rapid progress. Every fine
morning saw us mounted on our re-
speetive ponies; mine a beautiful
milk-white steed, gentle as summer;
hers a powerful black, as FESTIVE and
wicked as a Gagged tiger.
1t was not at all suitable for a child
to ride, but the minute she saw the
horse in the stable she begged it
might be hers. In vain my father ar
gued, and | scolded and pleaded, all
in breath, no other would content
her; and for two days she moped
about the house, looking as If every
earthly joy had been snatched away.
Finally, the third morning, at the
breakfast table, my father said, half
angrily, half laughingly:
Well, lanthe, if you 10iU break
your neck, you shall do it at once,
and not keep US longer in suspense.
Put on your riding habit and be on the
piazza in ten minutes.
He rose and strobe gloomily out of
the room, but in a minute she was at
his side, her cheek lovingly pressed
against his arm, her eyes glowing
through a veil of tears.
You darling uncle! was all she
said, covering his hand with kisses.
"Confound the girl She'll be
wanting a pet hyena next, was the
ungracious reply, accompanied by a
kiss, after which he fastened to the
stables.
The child was soon mounted, look
ing like kitten on an elephant, "
as the grinning groom slylyremarked,
while vainly endeavoring to quiet the
FESTIVE animal.
Papa stood with lowering brow,
watching her flashing eyes and proud
little figure.
: Iantbel aren't you afraid, Pet2"
said ne, as the impatient animal rear
ed suddenly, lifting the groom bodily
from she ground.
But her eyes only flashed with a
wilder light as she replied: Oh, no
let him go. if he wants to; he cGR' {
throw me off, anyhow
Her enthusiasm evidently pleased
my father, who was a great admirer
Of horses and saying only with light
laugh, y gu II do, guess, he sprang
into his own saddle, put his hand on
Ianthe's bride, and dismissing the
groom, the two gallOped rapidly to-
ward the open gate.
l watched them from the plaza until
they we're enveloped in a cloud of dust,
then turned slowly into the house,
wondering at the stIaDgeness of my
| little cousin, and, from thoughts OF
her, naturally revertiug to her com
pogaon de Uoydge. Mr. st. Clair
All this time we had not heard one
word from him, and I could not i'm
agine the cause of his silence. Since
that one outburst of confidence from
Ianthe, She had never directly mea-
/ toned him; but [ saw by her cviden.
/ efforts for Improvement By her in
/ creased care for her personal appear
ance, that -Ae atli cherished the hope
| Of his return. and was anxious to i'm
I press him tav0Tab iy-and / toe. with
a blush l must own it, my whole
/ heart lOnged for his coming.
/ Fanthe was older than | had ex-
peeted when she came to Us, being 10
her twelfth year; but, from her ex-
/ tremely delicate figure, you would
scarcely have supposed her over
nine. though her converse
ton, tastes ana FEELINGS were lar
/ bevond her years I feit Z persona
pride I'll her refined and witty CONVEX
I sation. In her exquisite playing and
singing. for Ianthe was 10 p longer
the shy. silent child Of our first ac-