The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-07-14
PERFECTLY HEARTLESS.

"Pretty yes, rather pretty, but per-
fectly heartlessp said old Mrs.
Holmes to DIR. Stanley, with whom
she was conversing at large brilliant
party.
"Heartless! with that sensitive
mouth, and those eyes so full of ex-
pressiOn," said the gentleman, mus
ingly.
81 don't admire her style of beauty
at all. She looks like a wax doll, aud
her heartlessness is proverbial. Since
her uncle left her so wealthy, she has
had lovers by the score, and she flirts
with every one. Why, look at her
now u'
DIR. Stanley's eyes followed the d.
rection in which the lady waved her
fa and rested on the central figure of
OF :. group around the piano. 1t was a
lady young and fair, with a tall, ex-
ceedinglyigracefull figure, pure, Greek
features, and large blue eyes. Her
hair was short, but the soft full
curls made a lovely frame for tie
| fair face. Her dress was of q dark
lace, ornamented with flowers and
dark green leaves. She was eonvers-
ing quietly with n knot of gentleman,
and DIR. Stanley sauntered over to the
group.
Miss Marstol," said one gentle
man, "what has become of Harold
Graham ~
Her hand swept over the ivory keys
Of the grand piano, in the measure of
a brilliant waltz, when another of the
group, suppOsing that Miss Marston did
mid not hear the question, said:
perhaps he has committed sui
eide"
"Itis three weeks since he disap-
peared,n said another
"Ah, | hope nOt,n said Miss Mars |
ton, - ''we want his tenor for our next |
musical soiree. 1t would be too pro-
voking for him TO commit suicide.
Mrs. Holmes was right,h thought |
DR.. Stanley; "she is perfectly heart
less. Poor lIaroldw
He turned from the piano, but
stopped rs the full rich voice broke
out into n song. Miss MarstOn was
singing Schubcrt's last Greeting,n
and into the mourrful words she pour
ed such wailing energy and deep pa
thos, that group after group in the
large rooms ceased their gay converse
to listen 70 the music.
Can she sing so without heart or
fceling?' muttered the doctor, again
drawing nearer to the place.
"Etta, said young lady, rs the last
note Of the song died away. "Etta,
do play polka now
i cautelnptuOUs smile quivercd for
4 moment on Eta Marston's lips +;
then Ho3ding good naturally, she
dashed oil into lively polka which
soon melted the group round the piano
into merry dances, and DR.. Stanley
with the rest.
The next morning Miss MarstOn sat
iu her room writing a letter Peep
over her shoulder at one sentence: ,
'.Ali hollow and heartlcss Miriam,
you blame me for flirting; you are not
here to see how they follow me mere
Is for my money. Not one true hear.
all Of them. There was
\ knock at the door iutcrrupting
her.
"Comc inu and woman entered
with a large basket of Washing.
Good morning" said Eta, pleas ;
lntly. Glow is Torrance, this morn
ng ~
"Oh, Miss, its beautiful ye is to-day $
sure, marm, Pm sorry ye had to wait
90 long for the wash" |
Mover mind that How could yru
wash, with that poor fellow so sick ~ {
-iSuTe, Mis-, it's many one expects {
heir clothes, sick or well; and isn't
Terrence sitting up the day playing !
with the toys yc sent him, and Pat
hat / kept from school u mindiug /,
.im."
How many pieces, Mary?" said
Eta, taking out her purse.
son, Miss, you don't owe Mary
.iinuis cent. There's the money ye
eft to pay the doctor with, and the
wood yc sint, and preserves and milk,
sure Miss, it's in your debt am for
washing the rest of your life"
"What l gave Terrence has nothing {
% do with my bill, " saiG Eta, rapidly !
counting out the pieces. ii
Miss Eta said Mary, and then |
he stCTped. +
"Well, Mary" a
"Sure, Miss, you do 50 much good .
with your money ! am ashamed to !.
ell you
''Iell me what ~
"Weil, Miss, it's about the young
nan that's rinted my room. Temind Il
where the widdcr died last fall. He
anne week back, Miss, SO this morn I
ng went up, and he is sick with the -
ever, ont Of his head intirely, Miss. If '
,ou would come nov" 7
"Wait, Mary, I'll 90 with yon. n
Throwing off her silk wrapper, Eta a
,ut on dark gay dress and cloak,
md addel close silk bonnet with a ,
hick veil.
"Come, Mary" and the two left the I
rouse together. !
In low, close room, on q pallet bed, =
ay Mary IGinnis lodger. The face, "
which lay against the coarse ticking
# the pillow, was such rs one fancies ]
or that Of his favorite poet. The hair
vas dark, waving over a broad, white a
and the deep set eyes were {
IaZel, large and full, and the features /
lelicate. Unusually the face was pale, a
Iut now it was crimson with fever. II
The eyes were fierce and wild. But |
wen with all this, the face was beau a
iful with an almost unearthly beauty. =
IN that poor, low room, Eta came =
ike saving angel. She gave one !.
glance at the sick mans face, she :
.Tossed the room to his side. a
"Etta ~ said the sick man, "Etta ~ n
"He knows mc,n she murmured, :
lrawinG back. But the young man :,
noaued her name again and then
broke forth into wild, delirious raw
ngs.
MARY" said Eta, "scnd Patrick to ;
ne.n d
Mary left the room, and Eta turned t
o the table TO find paper and pencil. /
She wrote hasty notes, one to her {
lousekeeper for pillows and sheets, C
and another to DR.. Stanley, who did "
not guess the friend who sent him so s
much practice among the poor pa
ieuts and saw that he was well paid.
Having dispatched Patrick with the
notes Eta tried to make the desolate
'oom seem more homelike. Lifting =
'Tm the table waistcoat, something