The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-06-27

AsmArRIMoNrAL 4 STORY.

81 e ADVERTISEMENT.
AmArRIMoNrAL STORY.
Quiet and lonely as the old statue that
lies and looks at the dark oaken roof con-
tinually in an old church; but not 80 happy.
Ny wife-for am married, gentle reader;
would that Iwere not!-has gone to the
theatre. have rumaged out some letters,
sad and bitter remembrances, and read them
through and through, and now it strikes me
that the world should and ought to know
some Of my misfortunes. So it shall; and
may it profit by the lesson.
One autumn day last year, believe six
months ago this very week. Charles Cow
ley and were sitting in my counting house,
cracking walnuts and bad jokes. Our talk
wasssf sundry things; and at last it turned,
as it often did, upon Charley's bride, for he
was never tired of hearing Of her, and l
was willing to give him pleasure. It's just
my way, and the worlds too; everybody
first and self after. But have learned a
lesson; though have said SO before. In
time, Cowley began to tease me about my
old bachelor habits; the primness of my
room; the polish Of my boots; and other
signs as unmistakable; and spoke of little
Emily, who, people said-and, in fact, l
thought, and she thought too-was just the
wife for me. We got tired of this, howev-
er, and sat spelling our teeth in silence;
when at length he burst into a laugh, and
pulled a paper from his pocket.
''Arthur,o he cried, | have it. Here's
the London Journal, and there's (and he
quoted from it) Alice B, twenty, fair,
with beautiful eyes, splendid teeth, Grecian
nose, and considered very pretty, has f60O
a year in her own right, and wants to meet
with young man, who must be dark and
tall, to whom she would make an affection
ate and loving wife! Now then, write to
her, and your fortune is made. Think of
$500 a year all safe, safe as the Bank, if
you try. Come consider your whiskers!''
And we laughed in concert. He handed
me the paper, which took with a s'pish, %
but looked at notwithstanding. Cowley
went Oh teasing me some time longer, and
then left me, and the paper too, and went
home to his ireside and wife and happiness.
Now, to tell you the truth, though the
world did not know it, was engaged to as
pretty little girl as ever you saw, with
such'a sweet face and loving blue eyes,
which were more charming far to me than
all else. q! what fool! | was! The re-
membrance almost drives me mad.
Well, if | didn't write to this London
Journal, just Sin fun" and sought for a
meeting with this Alice. For week |
waited; but there was no notice. A fort
night, still none. At length there was a
request that Leonard c., for that was
the name l had adopted-would address
"Alice B, Post Office, Rugby"
l thought it a good joke, SO l sat down
and wrote to her. l described the color of
my eyes and hair, the shape of my nose, my
height and the state of my teeth, and-let
me see; no don't think did my weight
And said what fond husband would
make; and told her how her Eb00 and my
f600-for thought it would not do to seem
poorer than she-would keep us in such a
handsome way, with such nice carriage
and ponies and servants, and don't know
what. And grew quite enthusiastic on the
selectness of the society in which visited, i,
and the great folks knew; and | remem-
Der that remained her Sever deeply at
tached Leonardo o! how laughed, when
! finished the letter, but it was hollow
laugh, though the walls and hosiery cup
boards rang again. o dear! the memory
almost can hardly get on; but ,ciH not
let my feelings overcome me.
lposted my letter and then went and saw
Emily, who was starting the next morning,
for rather long visit-very long, thought
it then-to fashionable watering place.
What pleasant night we had, and how she
played and sang to me, and said how soon
should forget her; and then she laughed
and looked so pretty for she did not think |
would; no, not for moment. And those
blue eyes of hers looked blue and more
loving gly when they reflected my own, as |
gazed into her lovely face. But was not
quite happy. felt had done wrong; and
more especially when kissed her as | said
goodbye. 1t was the last, last time.
Three days after, a letter came from Alice
full of the most romantic illusions to birds
of love and kindred hearts, mutual attach
ments and unknown passions; and smelling
uncommonly strong of patchouli; and end
ing with request that would meet her ut
Rugby on the following Monday, at one
O'Clock, near the bottom of High Street,
where she would walk, with sprig of myr-
tie in her hand, and she hoped i would car
ry thin stick. ..=.
do, not know what evil spirit tempted
me, but went to Rugby, ''iust for the fun
of the thing" and l walked up and down
High Street, expecting her, for upwards of
an hour. AT length saw thin, fair, grey
eyed girl coming round the corner, with a
sprig Of myrtle. l was very nigh running
away; but didn't. We neared each other;
and she spoke. and called me Leonard.
"Miss Alice," | exclaimed. -as.
s'The same, dear Dear Leonard, how late
you are! Here's my sister coming" And
She introduced us and continued, 81 am SO
fond of you already; are not you, Emily.
This appeal to her sister recalled to my
memory my angel-love; and l stammered
out something about moi. being in earnest,
and it being all a joke. Certainly, she was
quite in earnest; and did not mean it for a
Joke at all. She knew that marriages were
made in Heaven, and ours among the num-
Der.
She never thought-though have often
how many marriage notices must have
changed their envelopes in the act of COM
ing down.
This was getting awkward; and l asked
her if she lived near, as | wished to have a
few serious words with her. #.e
s.To be sure" and she simpered, "dear,
dear, Leonard, how glad mamma will be to
see you! We live just round the corner"
| wished mighty chasm had opened
then, as one did in Rome once, that might
have offered myself sacrifice for my own
love, as Curtius for his country; but, alas!
it didn't. | was aroused from my reverie
about Rome and Emily and Curtius and my
self by Alice's teasing me, and saying that
did not look much like lover.
If she had said that did not feel like
one, she would have told the truth; and she
did, may be, as it was.
so! here's Mamma" she exclaimed, as
we reached the door, in front of which, a
tall, matronly looking woman, stood, partly
hiding from view a brass plate, indorsed.
"Oakes, Plumber" Alice B.! Oakes!
who ever spelt Cakes with B? Hoax
enough, though.
"Won't you walk in, sir?'' said Mamma.
/ did-into the best parlor, suppose, for
there was sheet of fancy pink and white
paper in the CRATE; and shepherds and shep-
herdesses, looking very stiff and dirty, and
in awkward positions--not near so awkward
as mine, though--On the mantle piece, over