Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-09-22
CHAPTER Nv.
On what authority and show of truth
Can cunning sin cover itself withal!


On what authority and snow OF truth
Can cunning sin cover itself withal!
SHAKESPEARE.
Would that | could boast dozer
such heroines as Clara Moreton. Sh.
saw through Hezekiah's cant and pre-
tended zeal, and also saw the real WORT
which lay embedded in the doctors big
heart. Yet. without great cause, ,hi,
admirable girl would not go counter tc
her fathers wishes, for he was not as
anxious 20 secure her good as she was
herself! He dad not wish her 10 marry
an imposter, but as he thought, GOOD
and holy man. Clara, therefor, expos
tunla,ed and demonstrated with her faith.
er: bu, Hezekiah had SO completely won
his heart that the good man could not see
the matter clearly. -as r a .-
DIR. Hinton came no more 10 the par,
sonage. He sent Clara a note, bidding
her farewell, and saying he was about TO
set out on an exploring expedition. The
days and weeks of the allotted @ months
rolled slowly on. Hezekiah's attention
TO his fair .fancee were unremitting and
wearisome. The parson. happy and
secure, fell in his pious heart thai he had
atoned for his early sin, aud given his
daughter TO one who would see perfected
The admirable work he had begun
Poor Cla,a would SIT in silence and
listen TO their plans--how she was to BE-
married iR the old church, and how the
happy couple were to set off immediate.
ly upon missionary excursion to some
foreign port. Dismal prospect for one
SO gay, so untitled for mission like i
was 10 be!
oh! where is my good doclor!' she
would exclaim; and then she would stud y
about her visn TO land filled with savage
heaihens.
Bur, for fear that my readers may
doubt the wonderful good sense which
have claimed for my heroine, may as
well say here thar Clara fully intended
TO pu, stop TO matters before they reach.
ed this climax. s aae
Affairs were very quiet at the parson.
age, while our friend, DR.. Hinton, like
an eccentric and unexpected comet, was
appearing now here and now there; as
lonishing one neighborhood and then
bearing down upon another peaceful wi
age with rush! In hot haste he scam
pered about, from pillar TO post, as the
say ing is, until. to his Infinite delight, ht
began to discover some of Hezekiah'.
tracks. This occurred during the fourth
month Of his alarming peregrmatlons
In remote county he met some sniv
elling SISTERS. who were bewaiiing. iht
absence of Brother Baines. as they call
ed him. who had, they said, run off will
their quarterly subscrlp.ioEs. Here thu
doctor engaged lodgings, and made spe
eial inquiry concerning this famous Bro
iher Bain.s. He asked the ladies abou
him, & they began with appraised hands
OH he was such a dear fellow--suct
dear darling dove Of a man! Such .
perfect slave to the church--wi,h such
handsome pair of eyes. and hair like
the ravens wing! Oh!he was murder
ously siandered,' they declared. Some
hundred pounds which belonged to .ht
church, and with Mr.. Grey's horse AM
gig besides!' And then they would
wipe their eyes, and say, But the meel
Nazsrene was also slanderedp
After gathering all the information
current in the neighporhood. away ou
hero sped to the city,, Here he took tht
police into his confidence. They hae
Hezekiah also in their books, where h,
figured as Bible agent, followed closely
by colleague gathering funds, and ,her
suddenly disappearing. Again the doc
tor speeds away upon The track indicated
by the police. and at place called C.
he finds HeZekiah = man of family
thai IS, with wife and two childrer
living on the parish.
.Hurrah for our sidc!' cried the doctor
with flourish when he heard Of Mrs
Hezpkiah, aud lhe liule Hezekiahs. a
G. He traced this gentleman of famil,
through various parts OF The country
He had performed under divers masks
Somelimts he was a dentist, a piout
young man. a meek prosecuted brother
a deirauded clergyman an eminent di
vine, Bible agent, temperance lee
,urer, and many other things TOO numer
ous to mention. Finally, as Hezekiah
he landed s,fe and sound a. Pa,soi
Moreton's. after circuit of-nearly thre,
hundred miles. 9a8
upon my word. l believe am OF
the verge Of ma.rimony, exclaimed DR.
Hinton, as he traced Hezekiah to III
parsonage.
Poor Clara sat alone with her be,rolh
ed. She was pale anG languid. and ,h
gentleman's winning ways and sof, ad
dress we're unheeded by his victim.
'Deareslr said this dove Of fellow
this day week is our wedding day. d