The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-12-04
Alisffllanfuus.
THE BELLE OF The PRAIRIE.

THE BELLE OF The PRAIRIE.
THE vO!uptuous music floating out
on the ndnight air, that was already
laden with the perfume of rich and rare
flowers, the glcam of tho lights from
the huge windows, the starikc twinkle
Of The points of fire among the flowers
aud shrubbery of the garden, the hand
some men and the magnificent women
whi'ling in the bewitching mazes of
the dance, the perfect db0ndon to the en-.
ioyment of the hour: all these formed
one of those scenes Of earthly pleasure
such as delight and charm the iniagina-
lion Of the observer as well ~ the par
ticipant.
1t was on this evening that Florence
Evington had called her friends togeth-
er, that they might behold her, and she
them, before she took her final de part
urc for the new State Of California. She
was an orphan and an heiress, and her
uncle, who was her guardian, had sud
denly decided to go TO that new coun-
try, and Florence, to the surprise of all,
had determined to accompany him.
Her whim--for it could be called moth
| ing mOrc-was unaccountable 10 all
| There was none so universally poyuar
rs she among gentlemen and her own
seq. Rich, beautiful, accomplished, II
splendid musician and painter, well
read in history and general literature,
there was n perfect absence of every
thing liked condesrension in her man
ner. Her modest and womanly de-
lncanor, her sympathy with wrong and
her hearty appreciation other own sex,
disarmed the shaft of envy that might
be directed against her. Even those
whose charms were dmmed by the
/ splcidor of her mind and person could
but agree that it was natural that it
should be thus; and among the scores
o; ardent lovers who had knclt at her
feet aud been refused, there were none
| who could experience the least ill-feel.
| ings toward her.
| Over II dozen of those who were whirl,
| ing through the dance and who, Las they
found occasion, were chatting with and
endeavGring to pursuade her to foregO
! her determination to so to the Pacific
coast, had at one tire or other propose ed
Eo- hnr hand. Had she been a c0gttetfe
it's N9rdiy probable that they would
haze been thc'e at this time.
~ the m"mcnt we introduce her, she
was sitting in one of the reces-es of the
room fc;e G.'eie with the Hon. Mr.. D.,
4 i-'iuguished senator from neigh
boring State The h norable gentleman
had Just given over every attempt tC
disSuadc her from leaving her native
place for what was then little more thar
a wilderness.
"N"u in Congress must lcgisIate wei
FOL us, or yOu shall hear from me-" sale
size, purposely avoiding all approach tc
sentimrntaliIy, which her friend seem
81 strongly inclined to launch out up
on.
"lf that be the penalty of il-legisla
tinn, think you are attempting I,
brlhe me Ia neglect your adopted
State"
"You would not think so if you ha,
any idea how you wuu d hear from me
and if you do your duty,I will give go,
my thanks Gitedys."
EVERY man has his price, and hav,
been purchased" replied the gallan
senator. "lf the Calilornians have an,
pet T. cheme to lobby through Congress.
let them send Miss Evington and VIII
dare to refuse" said he, assuming ira
gic air, sis my eternal foe"
Strive as much as she might, she coul
notskeep her friend from the all-absorl
ing theme. Propose he would, and pro
pose he did within the next fifteen min
utes. The lady-like declension of hi
offer, given so kindly, so unequivocal ly
and with such rare and modest simplici
ty,mutlled the bell that rang the dea III
knell Of his hopes and he looked in tn
downcast face, Feeling that he woul
gladly exchange all his political honor
and ambitious aspirations if he coul,
, receive in exchange that peerless jewt
that he had hoped might be his owr
but that he now knew could never be.
Like a true gentleman, Mr.. D. wa
as polite and assiduous as if already n
a accepted lover. Not until courtesy de
u manded it did he yield his fair charg
' into the lands of another, who in q
: extraordinary short space of time uad
|. a vehemently eloquent offer of his hear
!. and hand, In short, it may be safel
said that never did n lady receive :
many Oilers as did Florence Evingto
ON thi, farewell evening. Each an
all were kindIy but unmstakably d
cliutd.
a few days later our heroine was
n Independence, Missouri. with part
; of some iihy eniarants on their way
.H al q . i.