Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-09-22

love would have done. #
They we're cosy couple. sitting in
the old begrimcd parsonage. There wa:
no happier man under the dome of heav
en- than our hero during this teie.a tete.
He had never talked famiIiarly to lady
in his life, and his felicity and perfect
bliss can be easily imagined while sitting
and conversing with the fairest and mos
enchanting of her sex.
Clara held crochet needle in her
hand: and after dexterously catching a
stich by The head lust as il was about to
escape her. she turned to the doctor, and
laying her hand gently on his. said. in a
voice OF seraphir music, .doe,or!'
The doctor bounced like an India rub
Der ball. Madam he cried, rebound
ing. and by lucky hi, falling back into
the projecting arms of his chair.
Glara's large eyes sparkled, and the
provoking dimple dived deeply in her
glowing cheek. She began To suspect
that the gentleman was in love. and ev.
cry novel and extraordinary feat Of his
only tended to confirm her suspicious -
She quietly proceeded thus: doctor,
requested you to come this morning, be-
cause kne W should be alone, aud
felt it my duty, both to you and myself,
10 acquaInt you with the circumstances
which forced me upon you on that terri
bic night aa"a ...s .aa-srr H
The gentleman laid his hands upon
his knees, and bending forward, listened
eagerly. s"a a .-
You haze seen the Rev. Mr.. Hays
continued Clara; now tell me honestly
and candidly what is your opinion Of
that mau!' .a. 10
A villain!' cried the doctor. frantical
ly; "a wolf in sleeps clothing; rascal
Or there is no truth in the stamp upon
his brow rs #" s r-
e Cara's lip quivered. Take carer
she exclaimed; do you know he is my
beIroIhedr fs# 8. # F"ar.- se
i don't care Of he is, cried the doc
tor, boldly. i have my eye upon him,
sleek and oily as he is. And, madam,
i, is my opinion that he has about as
much religion as could conveniently
carry OH the point of my penknife!'
You Judge him harshly, perhaps,
said Clara. .r@s# q
Il think not. madam; you should not
have asked me my opinion--indeed, you
should not; but having spoken boldly. |
viii MAINTAIN my ground. You have my
honest and candid opinion. have no
more 10 say A ..s- # H. sos
Bot allow me to say tina, agree with
von.' said Clara. naa..
And yet he is your betrothed!' inquir
ed the doctor. -s. s.
Yes, but | do no, think him a model
man-nnr do love or admire him. y %
'Stranger said our hero, turning his
hat ihoug hifuliy. This was new idea
in his idol W, man. Alas! lie felt that
he hac yet much to learn concerning
those fair creatures. .--.--a.
No, it is not strange replied Clara.
Il certainly cannot marry one whom |
neither admire or respect; but is there
any crime in engaging ones self condi
t;onally TO a gentleman TO please one's 8
sllcg fdtfOcfv. ! I.
.Ah! must confess know nothing OF
these matters said the doctor, shaking
his head. i had though, that an engage
ment was promise TO marry, and iha,
a promise was thing TO be regarded as
rather sacred. Blu, | suppose was
mistaken. a.a d..
My friend, you do not understand
me- said she. i spoke only of con-
ditional engagement. For instance,
promise to marry a gentleman, provided
he be what he prelends to be, and dc
lhis only at papa's earnest and repeated
request
And you do this exclaimed our he
70. believing the man 10 be cheat
YOU promise to marry one whom you
cannot respect or admire!'
Yes, said she, seriously, but under
uncommon circumstances. She then
proceeded TO relate her little history
which We will take the liberty TO lay be
fore our readers. a&a
Clara Ann Moreion was the only child
Of The Rev. Jeremiah Moreton, and Jane,
his wife. This fair. eccentric damsel,
having lost her mother at very early
age, was reared and educated solely by
tho parson; and this reverend and most
es,imable gentleman. in, order to atone
for his early sin in marrying an heiress,
worldly minded and dashing lady. de,
iermined 10 make perfect saint of his
daughter. The catechisms, hymns, and
psalms taught this sprighly and interest,
ing child were truly astonishing. Nc
pains. no fatigue, no physical or mora
obstacle deferred our pious clergy man ia
lis work OF aionem ent and love. In
his zeal, he only overshot the mark, and
gave mis- nursing disrelish for those
wholesome doctrines which Il was The
sole a,m of his life rightly to instil into
her youthful mind. Perhaps a mlldel
practice would have made her all he
could have wished. The parson saw
his child grow up. under his very eyes
the same brilliant, siquah, beauty which
her mc,her had been in bygone days. -
lie saw her as gay, as careless. as fond
OF dress and show. as coqueliisffy ia
clined. as was once his lamenled and
beautiful partner. But she was kind
and dutiful daughter; and. though she