The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1869-01-15
Clarmeco Gray.

dull town. It is four weeks since
I left the Seminary, wish vacation
were over" remarked Blanche Mer-
ton, slipping her coffee, after the
family had left the breakfast table.
"You certainly cannot wish togo
child, until you have seen Clarence
Gray" replied her aunt Rachel, =
wealthy and sristocratic lady Of
sixty. a.. - ..a"1
''It's of no moment to me to meet
Mr.. Gray, or any other Mr., at
present. I am only nineteen; be-
sides, I have too mneh spirit in me
to BE- bought or sold by anybody. I
am neither Circassaiu nor. Ethio-
plan. 0..
"You talk very silly, Blanche
your girlish follies pain me beyond
everything. You have heard me
say, repeatedly, that l should set
tie my estate upon Gray's wife, let
her be who she would. He is very
superior young man. and most girls
would have good sense enough to
appreciate such an offer"
"But it has all been arranged.
If I had seen the fellow and liked
him myself, without any help from
other people, the affair would be en-.
tirely different; but the idea Of mar
rying = man because somebody says
l must, is intolerable. You can
settle your estate, aunt Rachel, up
on whom you please" aud throw
ing on her bonnet and shawl,
Blanche took her botany and
sauntered towards the woods in
quest of flowers. -~- -...
Hour after hour she wandered on,
regardless, Of the route, or the dis
tance she was straying. Blanche
was close student, in spite Of gay
ETY., and many rare specimens were
analysed, and the Natural Order,
General, and Species carefully
noted on slip Of paper, IS she now
and then rested on the trunk of somc
fallen tree. BY and by she grew
uneasy, as she was unable to de-
eide in which direction her aunt s
residence lay. Then there was q
rustling noise in the underbrush,
not q great distance of; this rust
ling was succeeded by two or three
harsh growls. .1.. g. s........
This so much terrified Blanche
that she rushed toward an opening
in the forest, regardless Of the d.
rection. Leaping over logs or
whatever happened to be in her
path. on, on she went, almost flying
= sometimes sinking in marshy
spots almost to t:,c tops of her gai-
ters, but onward and rapidly, fur
nishing herself with . new slit in
her dress ct almost every bound.
With garments ruined, she at last
found herself in an opening, and .
little farther on, through a clump
of naples; loomed the stately walls
|rof mansion. The building was
both high and deep, with = gray
stone front and gray shutters. II
was located in the rear Of = park,
constructed with various drives, IN
artificial lake and fountain. y
Everything was prepossessing to
the eye, and it Was no small relief
to Blanche to know that she was
out Of danger; but her soiled gar
meuts looked shookingly-entircly
uniting her to appear among we'll
bred people. She at last ventured
in the back-door to enquire Of the
servants respecting her route home.
Surmounting > stonewall. she walk.
ed up grassy lawn, and passing
through small gate, soon found
herself in the garden.
"Will you walk inf' said .
gentlemanly looking man, emerging
from > group Of frs on the right.
''Do come in and rest your" urg-
ed . young lady apparently bis sis
ter. .-f
Blanche glanced upon herself and
then blushed with modification.
Tho gentleman was apparently only
three or four years older than her
solf, with . cast Of countenance de-
eidedly intellectual. His forehead
Was broad and high, surmounted
with black glossy hair, : handsome
moustaehe gracefully curled upon
the upper lip. with heavy whiskers
completing the finish.
The first impulse that came over
Blanche was to Ay; the next Was to
pull one little ourl Of the fellows 8
whiskers in revenge for . smile
which rippled over his face in spite
Of his efforts to suppress it. Her
last resolve Was to accept the young
lady 8 invitation and brave il out
or conquer through her sympathy;
for eertsinly one girl can certainly
feel for another when CATERS are
mud to tho tops. and dress torn to
atoms.
They entered the front hall, and,
ascending the stairs, were socn in
Clara's own room, where fresh gai-
ters and . eleaa muslin dress we're
at her disposal. Arranging her hair
carefully. she was soon presentable.
for Blanche owaed bewitching
eoquetish face, entirely her own.
The two young ladies descended
to the library, whore the brother
was waiting, Of course; luncheon
had been ordered. and the young
| people we're not long in getting ac-
ana Initial