New Ulm weekly review., 1882-03-29
INNOCENT FILTRATION;
The Beauty Met on the Oars.

':Pshawr' said Harry, and tossed the
paper away.
':Don't you like it? I ventured to in
quire.
''Like it?-no! 1t is made-up story.
The only good stories are true ones.
''Do you mean to say that all the
glorious fictions that have enchained,
that have thrilled the world are true?''
asked, a little triumphantly.
''Not true in all their details and COM
binations, of course said he; .'but
whenever you find any incident really
affecting, you may be sure that it actual
" happened. Now, in this story which
l have read at your recommendation,
there is no such incident The charac-
ters are not alive, and the events never
occurred; at least, within the writer's
knowledge. I can tell you dozen real,
true stories would beat it all hollow.'
''Doubted.'
''What will you bet?''
'Who to decide?''
s'You shall decide yourself. Come,
I'll tell you one to begin with; and if
you don't say it is better than this
namby-pamby affair have been read:
ing, I'll pay for the SUPPER
So set myself to listen.
Il took the night train at Columbus"
said Harry, settling himself back, to
spin his yarn more comfortably.
''Then you are the hero of your own
story" said I.
''Don't interrupt me. Who said
was hero? You will see. The cars
were full; but found seat behind q
lady and gentleman, who had appropri-
ated couple to themselves, and were
wrapped up in shawls, sleeping very
comfortably.
''The light from. the car lamps fell on
their faces. The gentleman, who seemed
a foreigner, and who proved to be a Mex
ican of some distinction, was of middle
age-a dark, fine-looking, sombre, quiet
man: But the lady, young enough to
be his daughter, was Of dazzling beauty.
A pale complexion, flushing with the
slightest tint of rose; an oval face; feat
ures regular as those of Grecian statue
wasn't she beautiful?''
II suppose she was,'' said /, wishing
to be amiable, when thus appealed to.
II don't want your opinion on that
point. had been among rough people.
I had seen few that could be called re-
fined, or beautiful, for long time; but,
making allowances for all that, she was
certainly one of the loveliest women
ever beheld.
"When she opened her eyes in the
pale morning light, they were of that
tinge of violet7grey, shaded by long,
dark lashes, so rare and so exquisite.
Her little hand, with its long, tapering,
white fingers, tipped with rose; her
slender, delicate feet; her form and
movements of perfect grace, all held me
in kind of enchantment.
''The cars ratified and roared along
down the Little Miami, and we were
nearing Cincinnati, when I heard her
speak. 1t was some trifling question.
It had the petulance of spoiled child
and a spoiled beauty; but there could
be no mistaking the pure, high-breeding
of her articulation. BY the time it was
broad daylight, I had studied her well,
looking over my newspaper. 1t was
Sunday morning, and no train left Gin
cinnati until evening. Werode uptown,
from the depot, in the same omnibus,
and sat opposite, and SO quite near
her.
.'As I looked, what presume must
be my last look at her, and must have
expressed in that look all the admira-
tion and interest felt-sas7ing, with my
eyes: '.Who can you be, Q beautiful
one?' she appeared to see me for the
first time. Something must have told
her what l was thinking. A flush came
over her face-ver slight, indeed, but
still perceptible. It was little surprise
and something which was not indigna-
ton.
Il had given my checks for the Bur-
nett House; it was with a pang that l
saw my new acquaintance prepare to
alight at the Spencer. But while the
general, as l heard him called after
ward, was picking up shawl that had
been dropped, l sprang out into the
snow, and with look-I doubt not Of
mingled respect, and admiration, and
grief-gave my hand to the lady. She
thrilled me with the lightest and quick
est touch possible, as if she did not wish
to offend a stranger, by declining what
he meant for civility; but did not say,
thank you.' The husband touched his
hat to me with cold, proud look, which
shall never forget.
II re-entered the omnibus, went to
the Burnett House, took a good bath
and breakfast, and then went and heard
some fine music at the beautiful cathe-
dral. My railroad vision t laid away,
with sight or two, in the storehouse Of
memory.
t.At nine o'clock in the evening / left
in the cars for Cairo. The Ohio was
frozen. As entered the ear, my heart
beat as | caught sight of La Signora.
The only vacant seat was near them.
received no salutation, and made
none. knew that she saw me; but
she did not raise her eyes. The gentle