The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-01-01

lady and her aunt descending.
Naturally enough we stopped and ex-
changed friendly inquiries. Surprise
was expressed on both sides that we
should have been residing under the
same roof without knowing 1t. show
ed my pleasure at the discovery, and
begged permission at suitable hours to
see the ladies in their apartments. At
the worl "see,"I really looked-for my
curiosity again arose-towards the re.
gion of the horrid mole, but a thick
shawl, carefully pinned under her chin,
covered the young lady's breast and
shoulders, and therefore I preferred to
look at the angelic, beautiful face
| above.
They went down the steps, aud |
went hastily into my room, in order to
have another sight of thatdelicate form.
from my window. They gotfnt0a car
riage and drove off. All, sighed I,what
a pity that such an angel should be so
terribly disfigured
| / did not forget the permission they
had given me to come and see them,
and from fine to time made the ladies
a visit. They were, like myself, stran-
| gers in Vienna, and had been introduce
cl TO my friend, at whose house, few
evenings bslorc, | had become acquaint-
ell with them, by an Augsburg firm,
from whom they received their funds.
| | attended my fellow. boarders to the
promenade, to the theatre, and to all
places where there was any thing to be
seen. The beautiful Josephine-fcr so
her aunt called her-.manifested the fine
qualities Of her mind and heart the
| more | became acquainted with her.
! But it did not escape me that the longer
our acquaintance lasted, the more care
fully did she conceal her unfortunate
dishSured breast. Josephine was the
most perfect woman that | had ever
seen in my lifo; bat nothing under the
sun is quite perfect.
y, we saw each other daily, we he
came every day more intimate. At
last 1t seemed II, if wholly belonged to
them. The aunt treated me with the
familiarity which grows out of travel
ing in company. In Josephine's nan-
ncr of addressing mo | fancied that
perceived some tender marks Of friend
ship.
When | was occasionally prevented
from joining the ladies by business, /
was compelled to listen to some slight
reproaches; and when Josephine, sit
ting mOtionless and silent would fix her
eyes upon me as if she sought to look
into my very soul, and ask, Who art
thou ?-ah it is impossible to say how
| then felt.
But at last no business ever hi cred
me, and l came punctually with the
clock.
My heaven, however, did not last
long. | received letter from hdme.
My good father had had an apop,ectic
stroke; he longCd to see me. 1t was
necessary that | should Use the utmost
hase if would again embrace him in
this world.
The letter arrived in the morning. In
half an hour all was packed, and the
pOst-cOach stoud at the door Of the ho-
tel. was almost out of my senses with
anxiety. My servant announced that
all was ready. l went down to the
street like one inn dream. The thought
of taking leave of my fellow -boarders
never occurred to me; and was Just
about to jump into the coach, when a
voice from above called to me, Where
are yOu going?"
1t was tho sweet voice of Josephine.
/ looked up; she stood ut the window
and repeated the question. My re,ol.
lection returned. flew back into the
hotel and up stairs to obey the dictates,
if not Of friendship, at least OF polite
ness.
% | knocked at the door, and it serang
open. Josephine, still in hsr morning.
dress, came towards me, but starting
back with an expression of the liveliest |
alarm
"Gracious heaven - cried she, what |
is the matter with you? What has
happened How pale and CHASTITY you
look -
As she said this with great emotion,
and stretched out her hand to seize
mine, the Cashmere shawl which she
had thrown loosely over her fell open
in front. And-may the shade of NV
honorcd father pardon mc-hut curiosi-
ty is most unfortunate sin-I forgot
journey, apoplcxy, ana extra posi-, aud
had eyes only for the revealed secret Of
Josephines breast.
Jmsoine NV o.toni,hmeutl-T saw a
breast ne white and Iror os ivory and
two iochns b.Ioy tbr dirnIo Of ber
alabaster throat, the unfortunate mole.
But it was no mouse, no camel; only
a dark. brown SPOT on the skin about