Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-12-23
oMAHIN & CLEMENS.
A Tale Of Thrilling Interest.

Ing 10 you last night, when he put on you
shawl p hs7Elsi it t o 81
cob, nothing
sNothing. Why did he whisper it, then
And why did you dance with him nearly al
the evening" You had no time to speak to
he, and went only to have the pleasure Of
seeing you"
sOh, jealous, jealou!s' laughed Clara.
mo, Clara, only hurt aE5 aag
'Why, because polked last night with
George Grey? What nonsense Harry
you IRE positively absurd og girI
am sorry you think so, Clara, but il
yoa had paid me the compliment of remem.
bcring my wishes, you would have recollect-
ed the aversion have to seeing you either
waltz or polk
sHow ridiculous! Really, Harry, you
might as well forbid my going out at all.
II you don't like me to polk with young
Grey, why don't you learn it yourself p
sMe! My dear Clara, what are you
thinking of p
'Yes, to be sure, it would be rather out 0
character to see surplice and bands going
the toe and hcel,' said the giddy girl.
1How you pain me, Clara, when you
speak so thoughtlessly. How can hope
you will settle down into my quiet little
home, and act the part of Christian cler-
gyman's wife, when you talked so lightly Of
the dignity of his calling.'
sYou are in very queer humor to-day,
/ think, Harry first, you began scolding
about George Grey putting on my shawl,
then about my dancing with him, and now
I cant talk even to please vou.'
MY dear Clara, do not think you will
fully misunderst stood me, but, indeed, you
gave strange Interpretation to my words.
have no objection to Mr.. Grey's putting
on your shawl nor your dancing with him
as well as any other partner, but think
that, considering the terms on which we
stand, have right to demonstrate against
your allowing any man the freedom of
whispering in the familiar way he did last
night; and at one time, not very long past,
You did not think my dislike to seeing you
whisked around the room in a polka at all
unreasonable
sWhy, Harry, yom ideas belong to the
good old days of high heeled shoes ana
farthingales; you would be laughed at for
them now
very possible, but yon knew them when
you first permitted me the happiness of con-
sidering myself your betrothed husband
they were not Objectionable to You then,
and cannet think they are really 40 new
was the wish for dance so strong as to
make you risk my comfort to indulge it?'
Clara made no reply, but pulled to pieces
rose she held in her hand, and walked on
quickly.
Il hope | haye not vexed you, Clara; you
will give me credit for sincere affection, and
no wish to annoy you, when beg of you
to prevent the recurrence Of such things
again, and will, am sure, give me prom
ise not
sTo waltz? cannot; / am engaged for
three tomorrow, at DR.. Chambers ball.
sThree waltzes Oh, Clara, to whom p
sWhat does it matter? Imean to dance
Them
q hope not he said, gravely.
4 do, indeed;I was laughed at enough
last night, because Emily Chambers said
you did not allow waltzing, and dared not
do it,
sAnd so, to show you were above the fear
of giving me pain, you did it p
'is is your own fault, you are so precise
/ am in perpetual check of saying or doing
something you will not approve. You be-
gin very early, l think
And the rose being now quite destroyed,
she commenced the work of destruction
upon her glove buttons.
Il have no wish to exercise my authority
over you, my dearest Clara but when you
accepted my offer. much, much more lowly
one than you deserve, ventured to tell you
how unfit for clergyman's wife were those
amusements Of which you were so fond, and
you agreed with me, and promised to subdue
that dove of admiration and flattery which
caused me such uneasiness. For some
weeks you faithfully kept your word, but
lately have seen, with deep sorrow, that
the evil il still in existence-it threatens
the ruins of my happiness you must for
9 give me, then, dearest, il prising you as l
do, I entreat you to give up this ball to-
morrow
Indeed can do no such thing-it is
most unreasonable; every one would say
was afraid, and should be laughed at
sThen if you cannot give it up altogether
promise me not to dance those Dances
sNonsense-I have promised George Grey
and his friend, and will not be made ridic-
ulous.'
sGeorge Grey the very man you know l
object to your intimacy with, libertine
and gambler. Clara, ought to interfere
You must not co.
sYou have no right yet to interfere Il like
Mr.. Grey, and choose to dance with him.
81 viii speak to your mother; she can pre-
vent it, If have no inau ence.'
1T will be of no use mamma knows am
going, and am determined to waltz to NOR