Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-07-11
VOL. 3.----NO. 81.

Ehgiahuers III ages 10 come, AZ mod
ell s.sell."
THAT lady, my dear fellow, is a.
widow"
You don't say so,' says Dodge.
Yes, but l do, though, and more
than that, she's rich! rich as mud. sir
rich as mud! and worth $75, 900! young
and beautiful in the bargain! good
chance fora Yankee boy, JUS. commen-
cling in life like you, sir!
shes certainly very beautiful OBJ
served Dodge.
Beautiful as an angel!' says the Cap
tain.
"A very fine musician. too says
Dodge.
'Unequalled on the river rejoined the
Captain, sir; she sings like seraph!
How long has she been widow!' in
quired Dodge.
"A little over year now, since her
Captain was placed under the Sod
'Ah, then her husband was Captain,
was he! says Dodge.
Yes, he was Captain, but he 60,
blowed up, poor fellow! This steam
boating is risky business for a man
that cares anything about life, sir! risky
business, but then if you get the widow,
and you can do it, sir. like knife, if you
can only cotton up strong enough, for
she likes you already; saw it in her
eye-you can retire on some large plan
tation, and spend the rest of your days
in indescribab.e and unbounding luxury.
We'll, Captain, hang me, If aint a
good mind to spread myself for the
young widow, and try my hand a, court
ing for the first time in my life.'
Go it, my boy, Ill back you with all
my influence; if wasn't already mar
ried man, I'D surely go in for that wo-
man myself; but you'll win-young-
good-looking!'-
j .Don'., don't if you please, Captain,
says Dodge.
Hang il. Dodge, don't be SO modest.
says the Captain.
But, Captain. gas. soap, put,y-think
of my feelings
Then you sing and play ike book;
J the widow loves music, she loves music
J To distraction; and now, boy, strike while
! the iron is hot! Why, sir, il | could
sing and lead the guitar equal to you
I'd
Hold on, Captain, hold on; under
: stand all about that: but now tell me all
about the young and beautiful widow;
give me her name, age and residence.
'Her name,' replied the Captain, lis
Amarantha Bronson; age about "a; resi-
, dence New Orleans, and we shall prob
ably be about ten days running down;
SO now take my advice, and make the
! best use of your time.'
) Il will says Dodge, and he didn't dc
: nything else; for always having an eye
open. his suspicious were aroused by
the Captains attempt to flatter, and his
. seemingly disinieresiedness 10 bring
. about hasty avowal of love for the
young and accomplished and really
J beautiful lady. So, setting his wires
10 work. he lost but little time in discov.
J ering that the Captain had been unde,
, the delightful chains of Hymen, bu,
) about two weeks, and that the widow
! was no other than the identical, charm
ing, idolized wife Of the Captain.
!, Now then, says Dodge to himself
. 'as the Captain has planned, joke, he
! shan't be dlsappoin,ed; shah only
change. or alter the plot, and if dom
in the end, give him regular "eye.
+ Opener,' then he may have the pleasure
, OF informing his friends how he 'done
J the Yankee up brown
Dodge had, something like week
} previous, sent on his bills and advertise.
! ments to the editor at Natchez, stating
, that he weuld be at that stirring little
; town during the races, and would, al fif
; ty cents ticket treat the inhabitants and
{ visitors with series Of mir,hful, music
: al and social entertainments.
Not letting any person on board know
: at what place he intended TO stop, telling
] the Captain he would settle his fare wheI
he left the boat, he improved every mo
: mens with the widow over the music OF
! the piano; until the old steamer came
alongside the leyee at Natchez.
!. Ascertaining from the Captain that the
steamer would leave in about three
quarters Of an hour, he gave his baggage
. in charge OF resident in town, who wa.
, just about leaving the boat. Then watch
} ing the Captain until he had entered the
counting room Of fone OF the large store.
under the hill, for which he occasionally
brought goods from New Orleans, tht
vocalist Immediately went to the Cap.
,ain's wife. and very coolly informed hel
that through mismanagement Of one
Of the agentc. the boat would be obliged
10 remain about twenty-four hours a,
j Natchez. and that her husband had ac,
cordingly accepted an invitation Of some
friends to visit lhe background, and wish.
ed the vocalist to come up as soon as con.
venicnt in carriage with the Captain e
wife. Not dreaming Of ANYTHING wrong
the lady hastily threw on her shawl and
bonnet, and declared herself ready for q
start. Stepping on shore, Dodge hailed
a colored coachman, gave him shining
doubloon, and, IN smo,hered voice or
dered him TO drive ten miles in an east.
erly direction, and then, without sim