Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-03-16

the softness of her hands, gave vent to
my feelings in a prolonged hiss.
hope the artist has pardoned me.
did not mean it as mark of disapproba-
ton, but intended 1t for my neighbors.
Soon rose, and in my hurry to leave the
hall, did not notice that button Of my
dress coat had caught in the fringes of the
mantilla which the little lady wore around
her shoulders; but l hastily disentangled
myself, not noticing that | had torn a
piece of the fringe, which still hung to the
button.
"You were q real barbarian" here in
terrupted, smilingly, the administered
man.
II admit 1t yes, but they were destined
to be terribly revenged upon mel hur-
ried home, for I wished to return thither
before my landlady.
By means of the key that I carried, /
quickly opened the door Of the house.
One glance, cast into the dark ante-cham-
Der, convinced me that was the first ar
rival quoted by this, l assembled to my
chamber, and tried to strike light, in
which, however, / did not succeed, not
being able to find any matches At this
moment heard the front door open and
close, while at the same time Mrs. Green's
heavy movements left no doubt as to who
the person was that had just entered.
Softly she knocked at my door, but
did not STIR
"How do you feels" she cried as loud
"a little better" I replied, with a voice
that would have done credit to any sick
man.
"Have you not slepts"
"Not for moment"
"Would you like some soup, or some
more tea, or perhaps another mustard
plaster?"
"No! for Heavens sake, nor
"Very we'll shall retire then. I wish
you speedy recovery"
She had hardly left me when Albert's
voice was heard outside the door.
"Well, how is your headache?' he
asked. With those words he thrust open
the door, and had hardly time to throw
myself in bed dressed as / was), quickly
pulling the coverlet up to my eyes. "How
is this Pit is all dark here" said Albert,
astonished.
Eyes, the light hurts my eyes" / re-
piled, fearing that he would light the lamp
"but tell me, was the Judge angry"
Il had considerable trouble to convince
him that your sickness is no white lie. l
had to exaggerate the matter considera-
bly,"
cautiously, at is bad enough as it is.'
at is pity you were not able to go
we passed most agreeable evening"" said
Albert.
A deep feeling Of envy and surprise
took possession of me. Did you have
any music, or did you only converse?"
asked.
"A young lady sang some arias," said
Albert. 81 tell you, her voice was some
thing splendid; such expression and charm
rarely met with"
"She was good looking, of course"
Beautiful as picture; golden hair
contrasting with pair Of velvety eyes,
and lips that seemed to be made to kiss,
while little dimples in her cheeks added
to her attractions"
With CONSERVATION I listened to the de-
scription, for he had portrayed my beauti-
full unknown.
"Who is this LADY," asked with ter
rible voice.
"She was introduced to me as niece OF
the Judge, and is named Aglaja Mel"
Upon hearing this name, the red whisk-
cred man suddenly dropped his cane. He
stopped down to pick it up, his face turn
ing crimson, which the philosopher attrib,
uted to his effort in STOPPING.
Upon hearing the words of my col.
league, would have liked very much to
jump out of bed and give him a good
drubbing--not that felt incensed toward
him, but was SO exasperated at his mes
sage, that any sort of quarrel would
have been welcome. Fool that l had
been! Fortune, who would have smiled
upon me, had gone to the party of the
Judge seemed to mock me now. l had
spent money, told white lies, drank poor
tea, and even allowed myself to be scorch-
ed with mustard plasters, and what had
been the result? My prosaic colleague had
enjoyed the pleasure Of basking In the
smiles Of my beautiful unknown, without
an effort to gain the privilege, and l, with
all my shrewdness, had pursued the course
directly opposite. Aglaja, my beautiful
unknown, had graced the soiree of the
Judge, having undoubtedly given up the
tickets to the concert to her friends, 1.-THE
lady with the Roman nose, and the young
one with the mantilla." Everything was
clear to me now, and, most Of all, the dis
grace to which / had subjected myself
| Ctlll lull Vi tnOuSuL Vi TIC pclodut
evening he had enjoyed, Albert retired to
his room, while tried to find solace in
the aryas Of Morpheus, for my heavy self
accusations.
1t was late in the morning when arose
from bed. had not been awakened, as
usual thought at first that this had been
neglected on account Of my pretended in
disposition, yet ! could not understand
why Mrs. Green, in her well-meant ankle
| ty for my health had not yet made an in
vasion into my room, to impure about my
sickness. dressed myself slowly. Sud-
denly my glance fell upon washstand
which stood before the door that led to
Albert's room. The washstand had been
showed aside, and the huge Candlestick
that usually graced it lay upon the floor,
broken into pieces. Entirely unable to
explain the cause of its destruction, re-
garded the debris with anything but a
satisfied air. How could this have hap
penedg remembered very well to have
stumbled against the washstand upon re-
turning home the evening before, but that
could not have showed it aside, and knock
ed over the candelabra; besides, must
have heard the fall, had it occurred.
While still engaged in arranging the
L