Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-02-19

ence OF her fathers newly chosen
wife, and at times almost wished she
could die.
Amy's favorite playmates and
schoolmates, who had so happily
focked to see her, were now openly
told that young ladies should not be
intimate; that it was very bad taste
to CAD in and out of one another's
houses. Like begcts like. AS the
new mother meted to Amy even so
was it meted to her, for the deepest
channel of reserve coursed between
them, ever blaeker, ever deadlier, till
to the latter life seemed only'to he
teeming with sorrow. af'Hs II
l have said that Amy was beauti-
ful. Yes, her head and throat and
shoulders were like some charming
ideal one can look at untiringly.-
Like every maiden of the Venus type,
she was much courted and admired.
Mrs. Stanton forbade the admission
Of any young gentlemen to see her
because, the woman reasoned, "beaux
were trifiers, filing young ladies'
brains with nonsense" At length,
when Dick Peters, a dashing, bonn
bastic, extremely stylish good-for-
nothing specimen of humanity, re-
turned from Europe and appeared
upon the tapis, he was permitted to
see Amy constantly.
Dick was Mrs. Stanton's only broth
er, ten years her junior, and great
favorite, whom she wished to humor
in every possible whim. He twirled
the long ends of his mustache, rolled
his full black eyes, and termed him
self a "lady killer" He lacked the
noble warmth of truest affection and
seldom courted a beauty for herself,
but, base fellow! to make her sigh
and weep after an awakening from
his merely cunning pretensions.
He had found his match in Amy;
though he might have prayed for the
powers of Jupiter, he feared he could
never victimize her by either real or
imaginary preference. Dick had
never been thwartcd in his life, and
in this instance, more than any, he
was determined to conquer. Did he
watch and follow Amy without cause
when she went to walk of an after
noon? Men like Dick Peters can
fully comprehend the boiling heat of
the blood in their veins when truth
reveals the breathing, living form of
rival. In exaggerated phrases Dick
represented to his sister that although
Amy's old lover, Chandler Moreton,
was declared from coming to the
house, Amy managed to meet him in
the street, and that letters surely
passed from one to the other through
the medium of one Of the servants.
''It must be stopped" said Dick,
''the correspondence, sthe meetings,
everything. Why, sister, | want
Amy myself. If I'm to have a wife,
where can one be found handsomer
or richer or more accomplished?
She has her failings, and ones, too,
that l don't like! but she's good as
they'll average, and l think that / can
tame her down into a respectable,
lovable woman. The girl doesn't
care one iota for me now, but one OF
these days she will wheel around and
adore me to distraction. A man like
me, you know, wants devotion on the
woman's part without-ah! hem!-
equal requital-eh, sister mine? Isn't
that me? My conquests have been
numerous. Minnie Snow was the
last, and, silly creature, she swallowed
my protestations like sweetest nectar,
which turned at length to gall. Some
girls haven't grain of common
sense or stability. She has written
half dozen notes since left her,
begging me to go back; but if any
woman is to win me, Amy is the
lucky one. Sister, you must lend a
helping hand in this game"
After repeated persuasion from IA
ther and her new mother, Amy mur-
INJURED the faint Eyes" that sends an
accepted lover into joyous transports.
Amy Stanton engaged! The an
nouncement spread like wlldtire
among her old friends and admirers.
81 don't believe there is any love
on her side; one can readily tell by
her grave department, when they are
together, that she is far from happy;
that heartless mother of hers is the
wicked instigator of the plan," many
wisely remarked; and the conjectures
of the outside world were right.
With all the gossip, there was
much compassion manifested also.
Though it was plain as daylight that
the selfish Dick Peters would be
well nigh crazed by opposition, yet
people said that was no reason SO
lovely a girl as Amy must sacrifice
her peace for him. Chandler Moreton
could have seen the conceited Dick
beheaded with great composure, and
he wondered, as men always do, what
Amy possibly could find to even toll
crate in ''that coxcomb, Peters,
Three weeks they had been en-
gagged. One evening Amy sat with
her father and new mother before the
bright open fire in the library, dream
lily gazing at the red Goals, when the
punctual, never failing sound of
Dicks ring at the front door startled
her with a chill shudder. Very viv-
idly then conscience warned her of
the falschood she was playing-un-
just to herself, unjust to Dick. Dick
quickly entered the library, and as
was his wont, darted first rapturously
to Amy, grasped her hands, and Civ
ing her an impatient kiss. This time
she tottered-tell-for some moments
weak and helpless. In his strong
arms he caught her, a deep color suf-
fused his whole face. Alas! vain
man, he mistook the strange welcome
as Il token OF shyness and intense
love. He led her away to the front
parlor, leaving the older lovers by
the blazing freight.
"Amy," said Dick, laying his cheek
close to hers, "Amy, my darling, you
are glad to see me to night know
it well, my love-I comprehend ac-
tions better than Words
Strength came again to the Gagged