The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-05-01
NAV not assist to recall your faculties. !,


may not assist to recall your faculties
sNo, no. cried he, Il have taken bottle
Of it already, and, by Joye, rather think my
head isOnly the more added. Do you know
that am in most confounded scrape? |
have run away with that young lady: we
were at an evening party last night together,
and came straight way from the suppcr-tablc
to the train.'
sIndeed! ? said l, laying down my knife
and fork, not a little gratifed that was at
length to learn the secret that had so long
teased me. sAnd SO you have run away with
her!'
sYes; it was no sudden thought however
at least, it was an old attachment; have
known her these two months.' r. --.-
'Oh! ohH said l; sthen there was prudence
in the affair."
tPerhaps you will say so,' said he, quickly,
swhen l tell you she has 100000 in the
Funds, and something like f1, 200 . year
besides-not that care straw for the
money-but in the eye of the world that kind
of thing has its eclat.' .,.. -
$50 it has, said l, sand very pretty eclat
it is, and one that, somehow or another,
preserves its attractions much longer than
most surprises; but l do not see the scrape
after all. ~
q am coming to that said he, glancing
timidly around the room. sThe affair occur
red this wise: we were at an evening party
IA kind of dejuner, was, on the Thames
Charlotte came with her aunt-a shrewd old
damsel, that has no love for me; in fact, she
very soon saw my game, and resolved to
thwart it. Well, Of course, was obliged
to be most circumspect, and did not venture
to approach her, not even to ask her to
dance, the whole evening. As it grew late,
however, either became more courageous
or less cautious, and did ask her for a
waltz. The old lady bristled up at once,
and asked for her shawl. Charlotte accepted
my invitation, and said she would not retire
SO early; and |, to cut the matter short, led
her to the top of the room. We waltzed
together, and then had gallope, and after
that some champagne, and then another
waltz; for Charlotte was resolved to give
the old lady lesson-she has spirit for
anything! Well, it was growing late by
this time, and we went in search Of the auAs
at last; but, by Jove! she was not to be
Jound. We hunted everywhere for her,
looked well in every corner of the supper
room, where it was most likely VIC should
discover her; and at length, to our mutual
horror and dismay, we learned, that she had
ordered her carriage up full hour before,
and had gone off, declaring. that she would
send Charlotte's father to fetch her home, as
Here was a pretty business-the old gentle
man being, as Charlotte had often told me,
the most choleric man in England He had
killed two brother officers in duels, and mar
rowly escaped being hanged at Maidstone.
for shooting waiter who delayed bringing
him hot water to shave-a pleasant old boy
to encounter on such an occasion as this!
'He will certainly shoot me-he will shoot
you-he will kill us bothr were the only
words she could utter; and my. blood actu.
ally froze at the prospect before US. You
may smile if you like: but let me tell you,
that an outraged father, with pair of pa
tent revolving pistols, is no laughing matter
There was nothing for it, then, but to bolt
She saw that as soon as | did; and although
she endeavored to persuade me to suffer her
to return home alone, that, you know,
never could think of; and so, after some
little demurings, some tears, and some re.
sistance, we got to the Euston-sqnare sta.
ton, Just as the train was going. You may
easily. think that neither of US had mucl
time for preparation. AS for myself, have
come away with a ten pound note in my
purse, not a shilling more have in my pos
session, and here We are now, half Of the
sum spent already, and how we are to ge
on to the north, cannot, for the life of me
conceive
ooh! that's it, said l, peering at hin
shrewd'y from under my eyelids.
yes, that's it; don't you think it is bat
enough?' and he spoke the words with {
reckless frankness that satisfied all my scru
pies. Il ought to tell you,' said he, 'tha
my name is Blunden. nm a lieutenant il
my secret, will you lend me twenty pounds:
which, perhaps, may be enough to carry u
forward-at least, it will do, until it viii
be safe for me to write for money!
'But what would bring you to the north,
said |; swhy not put your yourselves OF
board the mail-packet this evening, ant
come to Dublin? We will marry you ther,
just as cheaply; pursuit of you will be jus
as difficult and, Pd venture to say, yor
might choose worse land for the honeymoon.
sBut have no money! said he, you for
get that.
'For the matter of money! said |, smak
your mind easy. If the young lady is going
away with her own consent-if, indeed, sh
is as anxious to get married as you are
make me the banker, and I'll give her away
be the bridesmaid, or anything else yol
please h.s
'You are trump said he helping himsel
to another glass Of my sherry; and thel
filling out third, which emptied the bottle
he slapped me on the shoulder, and said
sHer's your health; now come upstairs
Stop moment, said l, 81 must see he
alone tt ere must be no tampering with tn
evidence
He hesitated for second, and surveyed
me from head to foot, and whether it wa
the number of my double chims or the ro
tundity of my waistcoat, that divested hi
mind of any jealous scruples, he smiled cool
ly, and said, $50 you shall, old buck-w,
will never quarrel about that
Upstairs we went accordingly, and into I
handsome drawing-room on the first floor
at one end of which, with her head burie,
in her hands, the young lady was sitting.
"Charlotte,' said he, sthis gentleman il
kind enough to take an interest in our for
tunes, but he desires few words with yo'
alone.'
waived my hand to prevent his maxim.
any further explanation, and as signal t.
withdraw-he took the hint and left tn
room.
Now, thought l, this is the second act O.
the drama--what the deuce am to do here
In the first place, some might deem it m,
duty to admonish the young damsel on tht
impropricty of the step, to draw an afilict
ing picture of her family, to make her weel
bitter tears, and end by persuading her t.
take a first class ticket in the up-train. Thi'
would be the grand parento-moral line, ant
shame to confess it, it was never my forte
Secondly, might pursue the inquiry sug
gested by myself, and ascertain her rea
sentiments. This might be called the ami
co-auxiliary line. Or, lastly, l might try ,
little what might be done on my own score
and not see ESQ, 900 and f1,7O0 yea1
squandered by cigar-smoking lieutenant il
the Bluffs. As there may be ditfenent opin'
ions about this line, shall not give it {
name. Suffice it to say, that notwithstand
ing sly peep at as pretty throat and al
wcll-ro1nded an instep as ever tempted I
'gov vernmcnt- Mercury | was true to my
trust, and opened the negotiation on The
honest footing. @1 trt z7tEz &5*@