The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-01-20

wintry storms; the friend of night the
enemy of the cheerful fireside; whose
powers extended the human heart,
which he could chill to the very fibres
that send the warm blood rushing
through the joyous body; whose am
bition reached throughout the world,
and was Unsuitable.
Paul Peverell would explore the
island; he would climb the mountain;
and in another book (he had written
many he would describe what he had
seen for the benefit of science, and ex-
plode another fiction for the service OF
mankind in general. X
ii.
Paul made his way Immediately to
the Governors house, tapped briskly
at the door, which in a moment was
opened by neat and lively person,
whom he mistook for boy, but who
proved to be a girl; and in truth she
was dressed so strangely that she might
have been mistaken for a boy without
offence. She wore boots that reached
above the knees white and very dain-
ty), made of skins that had been well
tanned, and then bleached in the WIN
ter air. She was not incased in crinO-
line skirts, but wore IantalOons of mot
tied seal-skins, ornamented tastefully
with cunning needlework. Her body
was covered with a jacket of bright
cloth, lined inside with fawn skins,
and trimmed around the neck and
wrists and lower edge with fur aud
some ornaments of beads. Her hair
was black as the ravens feathers, and
her eyes were blue as the sky when
breaking through the summer cloud.
Her complexion was a rich brunette
and as for teeth, they were SO pure and
perfect that pearls and ivory would be
nowhere in comparison; and they
showed SO finely when she exclaimed,
~ amt a boyW
Paul would have made apology for
his blunder, but she gave him no time.
My name" she said, " is Tabita !;
please tell me yours.
Of course Paul told her Then she
said she would inform the Governor,
and conducted him at once into the
house. From the vestibule he passed
into well-furnished billiard-room,
which made Paul fairly stare to see so
great luxury there. Then he passed
into comfortable dining-rOom, where
pictures of fruits ard flowers were
hanging Oh the wall, and from that into
a parlOr which quite astOnished him.
In fact, Paul had never ceased to be
astOnished from the moment he first
came in sight of Linmark's feld-as-
tOnished at the scenery that was so
grand; at the town that looked SO
quaint and satisfied: at the girl who
appeared SO like boy; and now, more
than all, at the interior of the house
where the girl was leading him. 1t
was so fresh and cUZy. The parlor was
as neatly furnished as parlOr need be
in great profusion; an open piano, with
great quantities of music piled upon
it, stood in the corner; a guitar was in
another; and in the windows, partly
hidden behind curtains of spOtless
whiteness, We're sweet flowers that sent
their perfume through the room.
He had scarcely time, however, to
look about him before the door opened
and lady entered. She was young
and graceful, and her face though dark
for Danish girl, was fresh and love
ly. She introduced herself at once as
Annie Vardsen, the Governors daugh-
ter.
As unprepared as Paul had been to
find SO cheerful house there, he was
still less prepared to meet such a lady
to grace it. Another lady came in
soon afterward, to add to his surprise,
with little baby on her arm, and a
cherry smile of welcome on her face.
Her husband, the Governor, would be
in directly. The baby, meanwhile,
was introduced as Elizabeth, and Paul
caressed it as in duty, if not in pleasure
bound. Then, while the baby was
passing round, Tabita brought in some
wine and lunch upon tray, and, while
engaged with these, the Governor, a
genial and intelligent man of middle
age, joined the group. Then Paul had
great budget of news to unfold from
the great world on the other side of the
Arctic circle, of which they heard so
rarel The recital not being ended
whe{ )Slie dinner hour arrived, he stay
ed to dinner. Supper found him still
occupied in the same way, and he spent
the evening, during which, what with
his own talking, Annie Vardsen's mu-
sic, game of billiards, and some re-
freshment5 such as Danes who are
perfection i'm hospitality never fail to
have, he enjoyed himself as much as
he was capable of enjoying anything
in social way. When at length he
went on board his ship, it was near the
middle of the night; yet the sun was
still shining, and glorious purple hue
was on the hills, wL'fe their shadow
rested coldly on the village, which
seemed to be as quiet as if the midnight
sun was not shining and the air had
been dark.
Paul found himself so agreeably en-
tertained at the Governors house after
his wearisome voyage, that he passed
the following day there. He had many
hours conversation with the Govern
or's daughter sometimes they were
together quite alone. She sung and
played for him, and, for the time
(strangc thing for Paul., he forgot all
about the Linmark's field. She had
not always lived, she said, beneath the
shadow of that cruel mountain, for her
father had sent her home four years TO
Ike educated. They were getting on ia
mously together when the door was
opened and another lady entered, whom
Annie Vardsen introduced, saying to
Paul, 1--WE are old schoolmates, and
the dearest friends. She is a niece of
Chief Factor Lansen, and has come to
spend q year or so with her relations; ;
but more than all to see me. Eth,
Ida?'
The lady bowed very stif1iy to Paul,
and almost. turned her back upon him,
to Annie's great embarrassment. He
bowed stiffly in return and soon after
ward went away.
If a ghost had risen from the ground
or the Goblin of the Ice in all his glO-
ry had stood forth OH Linmark's field,
Paul could not have been more surpris-
ell than he was when Ida Lansen came
into the room; for he knew her well,
and the recognition was therefore mu-
tual. He could not help wondering, as
he went down to the beach to pick up
shells), how she ever came to cross his
world. In few hours he returned;
but by this time Ida Lansen was the
last person in his thoughts. Aicae
Vardsen met him pleasantly as before,
and was much delighted when Paul
explained the different characters of
the shells he brought, and told their
names.
As soon as she found an opportunity
she said, in explanation of the conduct
of her friend: "Ida is very diflident I;
you must excuse her."
"Oh, certainly" said Paul.
"She had heard that you had come
in the ship, but she did not know you
were here" '-
"Oh, certainly" said Paul again.
IA very pretty girl is Miss Lansen:"