The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1879-01-31
IRBNR'S LOVER.

Int-nlh | viii. He s a jewel I hav
found among fherubb; sh II MANKIND j,
general said Irene Elder, laughing.
2 There, rnAt .qnofation is not quit,
correct. But she diasnnce bstween th,
elegant 11isFenes n sris L., .i,.sss
-~TISFi7s7s srfETTgs asla asSner, recEcties and
whole get-up IN the l&Les5 fashion, and
Mr.. Clayton, plain and unassnming, with
gsrments more Tor use than eleeauce
v
Nellie,p and Irene faced quickly
round upon the speaker, "don't you dare
to make any comparison between those
two men to the dispsrs seement of Ernest
Clayton. 9'ou cannot judge him, for you
have only seen him once, under the most
tDfsvorsble oiFcwntanees. He isas fs,
above Careue morally, intellectually
and physically, as Clsreuce is above the
meanest beggar that walks the streets OF
London"
" Wen, ofsll things, Irene, who d have
thought this? You, tue belle OF three
seasons, refined, fasti9ious to nicety,
aristOcrstie-to tbink of you preferrine
that ploddipg lawyerto a gentleman OF
leisure, taste and fortune, like Mr.. Ne-
vile 20
Nellie" spoke Irene, " never knew
the capabilities OF my nature until
made the acquaintance of Mr Clayton
l sometimes vaguely wondered, when in
the society Of Clarence, it I was not ca
psble of nobler thoughts than his con
versation ever aroused within me;
whether there wss not something higher
to discuss than the senseless twaddle o.
fashionable society. Ernest Clayton
touched a secret spring, and disc'os ed
recezses in my nature b, fore unknown
70 myself I found in him vigorous,
highly~cultivated mind, too elevated to
be interested in mere frivo.ity a heart
capable Of priceless affection FOR the oh,
ject o his love, morality unquestionable,
man to lean On, to respect and love
with eveT,increasing attachment-in
SHIRT a r1e.hesvted, manly man"
"How enthusiastic you rrowp ex,
claimed Nellie, looking a5miringly at
the iair face OF her friend, whose eyes
lighted with 8 proud, tender gleam IS
she.thus dilatea ontLe character OF the
man She loved.
Nellie, though trifing an5 vain, yet
respected Irene now more than formerly,
end ssw that sbe had passed into a
higher, purer atmosphere than that in
which she herself now existed. For a
momeut he almost wished for some in
fuence ike this to come into her own
lie; then, in the next. she was again
rallying herfriend.
Won't Mr. Neville break his heart
over your desertien Of him? I thought
he looked rather disc3nsolate last eve
ming"
The butterfly had, fancy, got tired
of hutteIing around me. Don't fear for
him he viii soon console himself with
new love. know he sdmires Miss
Warner, r,>aud she sdmires him; perhaps
she win receive his attentions" F." looking
mischievously at Nellie
"I shah not receive them" ssid Nell
lie, though with heightened color & But
au reuoir, Irene. must leave YOU with
your pleasant thoughts OF Mr. Clayton
for company. You are expecting him
this evening, ase you not ?" And Nellie
fitted cut the room and down stairs.
Left to herself, Irene drew up her easy
chair to the glowing gate, and, resting
her head on her white jeweled hand,
gave herself up TO pleasant thoughts, il
one might Judge from her countenance.
Very fair she looked, woman whom
any man might llv almost reverence
for the casket was not more lair than the
jewel it enshrined Her form and fea-
lures W re very teautiiuI, but her face
was expressive CT sll sweet womanly
sympsthiesi true and tender heart was
choice. What man most prizes in woman
is her affection, not her intellect.
"a gentleman in the drawing-room
wishes to see you, said her maid enter
ing the drawipg-room at the moment.
With heart puls4ting more rapidly
and q heightened color, she d, seeDded
to meet him and was soon elasped in the
arms of her sover.
He was all that Irene had. described
him-a man whom bis fellow men in
stinctively respected and trusted, and
one to whose firm and tender sway
true woman would gladly, happily bow
her head, and fnd it her greatest happi-
ness to honor and obey.
"Ihave something TO tell you, dearest,
to show you why 1 prize your love so
much." he said, as they sat side by side
with clasped hands. "Shall it be
now?"
She timidly raised her eyes to his with
an asserting glance.
"When lived in my country home I
wss younger, aud trusted your sex more
fully than now do / met p young
lady, lively, fascinating, aud beautiful,
who was visiting some of her country
friends short distance from my fathers
store kas in Oak.
house. We walked. rode, sailed to-
gether, and she put forth ali her power to
captivate me, an succeeded. But when
declared my love for her she rejected me
scorniuiiy, and you cannot conceive the
Tsvulsion of feeling that took 1iace when
her utter heartlessness was Laid hare to