St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1858-09-30

just in season to secure himself from
loss Of debt or usury.
He hurried off to Gracic's house to
see Sally and talk over this strange
proceeding of her father. But Sally
was not to be seen. Old Oracle re.
ceived him in the parlor. His deport
ment, very cordial hitherto, was irigid
enough.
Pray, sir, what could induce you
to seize my goods ?"
"Just to secure your debt to me-
That's ALL
But it was already secured. You
had your mortgage"
know that, and | forcclosed it
and took possession because you were
going on in such foolish and extrava-
giant way that you would soon have
made ducks and brakes Of the whole
l must take care of my family"
SO you should. But you have
made me believe that | was soon to
be member of your family"
1t takes two words to that bar
gain now. I'll have no spendthrifts
in my family. So, you may take your
self off, as quick as possible. There
is the door"
Jot was petrifed. He begged hard
for an interview with Sally but that
indulgence was sternly refused. Some
people crush hearts with as little com.
junction as they would feel in squeez.
ing lemon.
So Jot walked out of the house a
ruined man. He felt himself com.
pletely in Gracie's power, and instead
of calling on his brother Joe or his
mother for protection against Gracie's
rapacity, he gave up all in despair.
The goods were sold by the sheriff,
bought in at a ruinous sacrifice by an
agent Of Oracle, and subsequently
sent off to the city and resold. People
said that Oracle, on the whole, must
have made very good thing Of it,
realizing some thousands of dollars by
the operation.
Meantime Jot, in his despair, after
several Intellectual attempts to obtain
private interview with Sally, wan
dered of to a neighboring village,
where lived and fourished Aunt Ruth,
Uncle Andrews widow.
Aunt Ruth, in her own peculiar way,
was somewhat of a character. Tall,
stout, and masculine, with broad
red face, fierce black eyes, heavy,
arched, black eyebrows, harsh voice,
and a temper that Xantippe might
have envied, she was q terror to hel
own household, and "frightful ex
ample" to the neighborhood. How
poor meek Uncle Andrew ever came
to marry her was mystery to the De
Winter family. My own private opin
ion is that she actually courted Uncle
Andrew herself, and compelled him to
marry her. They had not been pros
porous in the world. My grandfather,
on Uncle Andrews marriage, gave
him farm in Il distant village ; but
although Aunt Ruth hcctored the la.
borers and practiced the most stringent
economy, they did not succeed. Uncle
Andrew got in debt, his farm was sold
by the sheriff, and they came to the
village near De Winter Hill and set
up tavern.
Here Aunt Ruth was in her element
She kept the guests in order. When
a rowdy was disorderly, she would
take him by the waist-band and collar
and incontinently pitch him into the
street, and return to her dccanters and
glasses behind the bar as coolly as il
nothing unusual had taken place. She
was II model tavern-kecper and she
soon took the conduct of affairs S,
completely into her own hands tina,
/ Uncle Andrew was fain to betake him
self to privatecring for quiet life
and his ship was foundercd and lost
during the last year of the war. His
prize-money was considerable, and a
the time of Jot's misfortune the taverI
had been enlarged and beautitied, ant
its business greatly increased.
! Fatigucd with his long walk, ant
worn out with sorrow, poor Jot en-
tered Aunt Ruth's tavern to rest him
self, and talk over his wrongs ant
grefs with her. He found her in tn,
bar-room, all alone. Jot sat down ant
began his story. Aunt Ruth listened
with apparent sympathy. When h
came to the cheating and overreach
ing part of the business, she comfortet
him, in her own peculiar fashion, by
telling him that he was great foo
for placing confidence in such noto
rious old hunks as Oracle. "All tn,
neighbors knew how it would be from
the beginning, Jot," said she. "Olt
Gracic let you marry his only child
Catch him doing anything Of the kind
You were great fool, Jot, not t,
see right through his plans"
"But Sally loves me, Aunt Ruth"
} "Does she? Well, what of that
What do you suppose old Gracic carel
about that 2"
"And l love Sally, Aunt Ruth"
81 dare say you think SO. Blu
what does old Oracle care for that
Take my word for it, he will never le
you marry her"
"Oh, l can never live without her
We were SO happy! And now an
miserable outcast, and shall neve
see her again. What shall do?
shall go mad. l can't stand it.
will shoot myself! Aunt Ruth. lent
me pistol, and | will 60 right of ant
} shoot myself, and rid the family Of al
incumbrance."
! ~ haven't got pistol, Jot /; and j
, l had, l would not lend it to you. Blu
. l will tell you what l will do. l hav'
got nice Kings arms, as good ;
musket as you'll find in the country
1t is standing there, in the bar, loade'
with an ounce ball, ready for thieve
and robbers. Do you just step on
there in the lawn, at fair gunsho
/. distance, and I'll shoot you. 1t shal
, never be said that De Winter sho
, himself"
At the conclusion of this speech
Y Jot, suddenly convinced of the foil
;, of suicide, took a hasty leave of tn
|, virago, and, five minutes after, wa
@ Saan coharly DloIdipr hi, vyay ouf ,