The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1851-09-17
LEAF Ill.
A CATASTROPHE.

three days afterward, in the morning, while at
breakfast, was disturbed by message from
Mr. Nixon, to ask if knew what was become
of Lucy. The servant added that she dis
appeared, and " Massa was mos crazy about
Rather gricved than astonished at any thing
the wilful and over-indulged girl might do, l
hastily swallowed my coffee, and rode imnedi
ately out to Nixons villa
found the unhappy father racing about the
house, winking and nodding, and expressing his
opinion to every one he met, evidently half-dis-
tracted, bat showing his pain and anxiety in a
way that was almost irrcsistibly ludicrous.
When l appeared, he ran up to me, and, placing
his elbow cnergetcally in my ribs, as though
about to utter the most laughabc thing in the
world, he shouted in pteous tone:
"Doctor, for goodness sake, where's Lucy
not in her room--ddn't come to breakfast
house searched-not about the premises-and-
and-the fact is, shes gone Lords sake
what's to be done George to be here to-lnor-
row-wont see her, nor she hm-plot spoiled
and all that! Ill dsinherit the minx-will, by
the laws,-makc over the family property to
George within three hours after he comes,-it's
too aggravating- provoking-that my OPT
nion-what's yours
"But, did she leave no letter, note or mes
| sage for you - asked.
| "No! not ayes, she did forgot and
unclosng his clenclicd fist, where he had crush.
ed, not from anger, but from anxiety, sealed
note, found by Lucy's maid in her mistress
room, he opened and handed it to me, desiring
me to read it aloud. 1t was without date, and
| ran as follows:
".My Dearest Papa-rhe enclosed leaf Of
your mem. book, which picked up yesterday
| will show you that have learned your intention
! of dcceiving me, and fly t, avoid meeting thai
odious cousin. / have no intention of leaving
you permanently, nor shall be so far from you
| but that can learn when that hateful George
has departed then shall return to you In the
meantime shall be staying with friend, per-
| fectly safe, but where it is useless for You to
| seek me. You have ever been good, kind Ia.
Their to me, far better lhan deserve. love you
dearly, and my greatest affection now Is (and Il
| makes me cry bitterly while | writc), that mus
spend one, two, or more weeks without seeing
| you.
| 81 have nobody to thank for it but that abo
minabIe George whom hate verse and worse
every time l think of him. You may be per
fectly easy about me, dear papa, tor snail DC
entirely safe I hope you will forgive me, but
| if you suffer much anxiety shalr never forgive
myself. ,,,
| "Your affectionate. daughter, Lucy
The leaf Of the memorandum book showee
! only the following
"Item-To have blue room put in order
against the 6th-day after to-morrow-George
to be here that day. Wonder if Lucy will
be sick again ?"
AS looked up from the pcrusal of these, !
saw that old Nixon was wiping his eyes,
"Ah what a Standardization
charming - obstinate - affectonate- undutiful
little mink Of an angel she is, he said, seeming
to change his mind with every adjective he used.
" Did you ever see such letter 7" he proceed
ed. s. BY the laws, sir, General Jackson $
daughter couldn't write such one that's my
opinion-what's yours? What's to be done
next Wait till George eoecs, suppose, and
And as could suggest nothing better, while
Lucy's note re ieved both Of us of much anxiety,
| did not oppose the conclusion he came to-, and
soon after departed.