Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-10-04
THE HISTORY OF A LIFE.

Miss Cameron.
Leonie Cameron, lazily looking out of
a bow window upon garden flaming
with autumn tints and sunset glow, lift
ed pair of soft, dark eyes to Mrs Toll
mans face. 1t was an anxious face just
at that moment, and, being usually full
Of happy content, the anxiety was very
apparent to Leonie. So, after her first
careless glance, she Strengthened herself
in her low chair, and said: quietly, yet
with every appearance of interest:
What is the matter?"
An awkward pause followed that
question.
Mrs. Tollman fgeted under the in
quiring glance of the dark eyes, cleared
her throat twice; and finally said with
nervous emphasis:
John Furber."
Miss Cameron s face seemed to freeze.
1t was very beautiful face, with pride
for leading expression. Sweetness
lurked in the mouth, intellect beamed
from the radiant dark eyes, but pride
Swallowed all. 1t carried the small head
gracefully erect, it swept the folds of
the rich dress with regal motion. 1t
touched the small patrician hands, and
was evident in the well -modulated tones
of the refined voice
There, Mrs Tollman said, despair
ingly, I've made you mad already, and
haven't said anything"
Il am not mad" Leonie answered,
and there certainly lurked a smile in her
mouth at the good woman's consterna-
ton; but you have not told me what
troubles you"
''It's-its-John, Miss Cameron, and" !"
then rapidly, as if the words were for
ced by fear of her own inability to fin
ish her self-appointed task, she hurried
on. Hes my nephew, Miss, as you
know, though his father is rich man,
very rich, and John is above his moth
er's place in her life. She's dead, and
John was spoiled somewhere between
the year she died and two years ago. |
don't know where he took to bad ways.
He was brought up an idler upon his
fathers money, and from idlencss to-
drinking, gambling and bad ways is an
easy road. His father is hard man,
and he thrust him out nearly y a year ago
and disinherinted him. He came here,
for | love him. I've nothing else to love;
husband and children in the churchyard,
so | love John"
There was piteous pleading i'll the
face, but Leonies was blank,
save for an air of polite interest.
He was most desperate when he
came here, but I've coaxcd him up
little. But-but-oh, Miss Cameron,
you know what want to say, You are
beautiful, rich-a lady far above me in
education and position, and only staying
here for country quiet. I've no right to
find fault, but-but don't firt with
John. He is in trouble, Respondent,
and he's falling in love
with you as fast as he can. | believe if
you play with him he will kill himself,
body and soul.
Fairly out of breath with her own
earnest utterance, Mrs. Tollman paused,
looking pleadingly in Leonie Cameron's
face. The expression of polite interest
never wavered, as that young lady
said:
If | understand you Alright. you wish
me to ignore your nephew. 1t is not so
easy, as he is in your house, so | had
better leave it.
Goodness cried the widow, aghast
at this Interpretation of her words. Il
never meant that. Where can you find
another boarding place near here?
" can return to London.
I've put my foot in 1t. John will
never forgive me, said Mrs. Tollman,
disconsolately.
But there was no sympathy in Leo
MES face, and she turned away at last,
and more anxious than ever.
And Leonie, sinking back in her chair
again, looked at the sunset clouds and
variegated foliage, and thought perhaps
it was time to return to London.
She had come to S, weary with a
round Of fashionable life, tired of fiat
terry, incing, flirting, and she had found
rest md quiet under Mrs. Tollman's
mott rly care She was rich, richer far
tina her landlady had any idea of; but
she mad no near relatives, only secoad
cousin to keep her lonely home and play
propriety.
Society constituted itself her ameteur
guardian, and, lying back in her cushion
ed chair in the sunset glow, she Won
dered indolently what society would say
about John Furber 1t would grant
him rare perfection Of manly beauty
Of face and form, and forgive the evil
dent traces of dissipation, if it was only
known that he was the son of rich
man, and had been educated an idler by
profession. But in what holy horror it
would turn away, with uplifted hands,
when it was known he was disinherited,
with no home but room in the house
Of widowed aunt eking out her narrow
income by taking boarders. 1t would
smile at his biting sarcasms, his brilliant
his cynical sneers, if he
was reinstated in his fathers favor,
but how rude these would be in poor
man.
Leonie, from thinking of society's
opinion, quite unconsciously glided into
her own. This dark -browed
man had made fair portion of her
summer pleasures for three months, had
been her cavalier in many country
walks, drives and sails, had quoted poe
try under trees, sung IN superb barl-
tone upon the murmuring waters, looked
into her eyes on a moonlit porch, and
delicately ly-worded fattery-
No more than many another man had
done A beauty and rich, Miss Cam
eron had looked upon more than one
suitor, and forgotten him
when his amusement wearied her.
Scarcely hirt-for she encouraged no
downright love-making- but beautiful
and fascinating woman, who wounded
hearts with merely careless grace.
Musing in the sunset, it was impress
ed upon the proud heart that, uncon-
sciously, she had poisoned heart alrea-
dy sinking. There were capabilities for
better things than dissipation and sui
eide in John Furber, and she shivered as
she thought he might be upon some
dangerous precipice, waiting for the
clasp of the hand to draw him back, or
it's repulse to throw him over. She