Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-06-18

monlous movement, away from the
crowd
| They had known each other for a
long time. Nicolas van Benshatin was
| very cordially received-almost like u
relative-at the house of Van der Has
sen, although he was poor and an arti-
san. But in those days labor honored
the laborer, and, beside, Nicolas. a son
of an officer of the Marines. killed in a
1 naval cont bat. belonged to good fam
| lily and had been well brought up.
| Forced by necessity to enter into some
| industry, he had chosen profession
| highly esteemed, and at this epoch, alb
I solutely artistic-that OF silversmith.
| pupil of Lutona-a mastcr-he was
full OF talent and could in his turn have
become patron had he possessed the re-
| sources necessary to establish himself.
Unfortunately burdens which he had
| generously assumed day by day con-
sumed his modest profits.
When the two young people were at
little distance from the noisy crowd
| they broke the stiffness preserved until
now.
| 1t was Nicolas, who in a penetrating
and excited voice commenced thus:
| ''Jacquine, / have searched for you
| among all this crowd-I must speak
with you
An roguishly replied the pretty
| child, hundred times more fascinat-
i ing in her brown flsr bonnet, which set
| off her fresh, pink cheeks and her beau
| tiful, sweet eyes.
| ''Jacquine-I must have courage. W..
ought to cease seeing each other"
| But why?"
'Because-I feel that / am going to
| love you-too much. That would make
unhappiness for both of u.s."
Then you do not love me - too
much?"
Alas. do not laugh. Do know how
to calculate exactly the point at which
one can love without exceeding the linn
| its of right? All that L am sure of is
| that l still feel the power to go away
from you as the most alluring of dan
| gers. Tomorrow should l still be ca
| pable of it? l doubt it. 1t must be
| done at once. l wanted to explain to
| you-that you might know-that you
| might not accuse me-when l shall no
| longer come
The voice of the young man failed
him, chol1ed with emotion.
Jacquine, firm and brave, replied
| daringly:
Goodness! what are you tormenting
yourself about? What misfortune do
| you think could happen, my poor
! Nicolas?'
Your father must have dreamed of
wealthy marriage for you
| She tossed her head with an adora bic
| mutiny.
Yes, it is possible. But as for me. l
dreamed of something else. 1 am an
| only child-without a mother, very
| spoiled, Nothing will eyer happen but
what will please me-"
''Jacquine, reflect; do not utter
words lightly, implore you. 1 speak
seriously"
What do you hope, then, may hap
penn"
She caressed him with most tender
look, most confident smile, and he
murmured:
You know very we'll"
Their Joined hands were clasped
more tightly. Their eyes shone with
an honest light. With one stroke of
the skates they regained their move
ment, for an instant retarded, then cut
the dlT like couple vi uONcS hNl
through space.
About three months after this day,
which had been at the same time the
last of the winter and the first of the
secret betrothal of Nicolas and JAG
quine, the town had totally changed its
aspect. 1t was warmer than one would
have believed it possible to be in Hol-
land, where the humidity joined to the
| least warm ray of the sun creates
dollhouse atmosphere, favorable to a
| rapid development of vegetation
Upon the banks of the canals at that
| time stood regular. symmetrical houses,
yet at the same time each having its
| special physiognomy, its historical IA
| cade, it's gables, its devices and feat
| ures, proclaiming not only the profess
sion of its proprietor but also his tastes
| and even his opinions.
Amsterdam at this period had ar
| rived at a very hourishing point of
| prosperity, due in part to the cele
| brated bank of the India company.
Since 1909, the date of its foundation,
| the commerce of Holland had taken
great strides. The enlarged capital
had enriched and increased it. Upon
| the Amstel and upon the gulf, bridges,
dilles an entire superb city built like
| fan out into the very sea, aroSe-pro-
digious monuments of human will over
a moving soil. The republic of the
united provinces enjoyed the benefits
, of peace after terrisle vicissitudes, and
gave itself up with joy to intellectual
pleasures. The artistic sentiment was
developed. The taste for curios awolte,
in face of the continual Importation
from Java, Brazil and the Indies. The
| theater became the rage. Writing and
painting progressed daily. Every body
| desired to have a portrait of himself,
that they were compelled to practice a
trade aside from their art, in order to
live. Even the great Rembrandt died
insolvent. Sculpture alone did not eX-
list. and that because of 4 pre- judice.
The model was considered infamous.
The wealthy residence of Van der
Hassen, it goes without saying, was
reckoned among those which contained
the most of splendor and luxury. A
displayed in the vestibule of marble.
from which assembled a stairway with
sculptured balustrade entirely of violet
ebony. Thick carpeting covered the
floors. Below the windows, on the
side opposite the canal. garden. kept
like parlor, charmed the eye, with its
walks in straight lines, sanded and
sown with fine gravel. blooming with
tulips, anemoues, hyacinths of varied
Il