The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-10-28


once more at liberty to return to her knitting,
the elegant Joshua established his chair and
bis lanky person in such position as to form
barrier between her and the rest Of the com
pany, and opened conversation in loud
whisper, that was unavoidablY audible to
Charley.
vi say, Gracie," he commenced, "who is
this ere chap? Takes great airs, don't he ?''
Grace's answer was inaudible.
"Ohi Going to stay here long Hope not
Spoil all our fun il he does, won't he 20
"Confound the brute % muttered Charley
under his breath.
"What's the matter, Oracle ?'' persisted the
undaunted Joshua. "Got the sulks this even
ing, eh f--.See here, now. brought ye some
thing Got it real cheap too. The pedlar
bought it of asked me shilling BIT told
him we weren't so green down this way, and
beat him down to sixpencep'
And, after fishing out jack-knifs, piece
Of string, lump of chalk, an old bandana,
and quid of tobacco, from the bottom Of his
pocket, he finally captured and held out to.
wards Grace, q small cake Of shaving soap.
swell, why don't you take it3" said he, as
Grace sat, motionless.. SITS real good.
told the man it was for yonng lady, and Le
said he knew you would like it."
s.By Jove ~ exclaimed Charley, ""that is too
much,o and he sat off in shout OF laughter,
in which he was heartily joined by the rest OF
the company. Ix5
"Well, now, I'd like to know what your are
laughing at suppose that's city pohteness P'
said Joshua, tnrning on Charley.
"oh oh p' groaned Charley, "You forgot
he razors !"
Another burst Of laughter, and Joshua rose,
indignant. - ~ ~
swell, / amt going to stay here to be
laughed at. There's Hetty Van Orden, just as
pretty as some other folks know of, and
don't give herself half as many airs. She
lives deal higher, tool"
In spite of Mrs. Hopper's expostulatory
Snow Joshua ,lstay a momentr' he departed
in great wrath, slataming the door violently
behind him.
81 don't know what's the matter with
Joshua, to-night % said the good lady, apollo
getically. 81 have known bin since he was
no bigger than Johnny here, and never seer
him act so before. He is thought to be very
nice young man,"
But Charley was destined to be atonishec
by further Developments in the economy oi
lIal np bof fnll ln1y
ing morning, as he was saantering idly along
a pleasant green lane, wh.tling softly to him
| self, and thinking of Grace Hopper and tha
unlicked cub, as he mentally termed Joshua
he encountered the object of IFS thoughts, to
his own intense disgust, and the evident EN-
barrassment of that extraordinary person, wht
seemed, at first, about to pass him with ;
| snlky nod but changing his mind, he halted
stood irresolute, aad finally called 5tt:.
"Halloa, you! say. mister, look here p
Charley wheeled suddenly around, SO as t,
| face him.
"You see, mlstert' said Joshua, shifting
from one foot to the other, ''being as Yoa arr
stranger, thought I'd just give you waln
| ing that you needu't be taken in"
"Much Obliged" said Charley.
ssSo, - continued Joshua, gathering courage
| ''if YOU have any notion after Grace Hopper
you might as we'll know it's no use. He
father and mine laid their heads together abou
US when we wern't neither US 'knee-high 10
grasshorper,' and l calculate Grace will b.
Mrs. Joshua Skeels afore another spring comes
around.o
"But are you certain Of the young lady's
consent ?" asked Charley.
81 am certain Of her fathers, and mine,'
returned Joshua, 'sand that's more to the pur
pose. Our lands will join nicely together
and farmer Hopper never breaks his word"
Here Charley was seized with violent de,
sire to collar the interesting Joshua, and trea
him to summary ;hrashing but he was, by
this time, quite conscious that, awkward and
stupid as his adversary appeared, he was quite
as dangerous as contemplate. So Charley
prudently suppressed his wrath, and played tn.
cool and dignified.
sInfnitely Obliged, Mr.. Heels-ah, hunt
Skeels, mean. To be sure, the trouble was
quite necessary on your part, though, as the
little girl is tolerably good-looking, might
have taken fancy to fiirt with her,"
Aid he walked of, leaving Joshua greatly
disconnected at the indifference with which hli
communication was received,
Meantime, Charley was raging, Charley
was boiling over Charley was effervescent.-
That awk kward, lounging compound ofpie and
bear i that incarnation Of mean cunning aud
vulgarity, marry that dear, little, roguish
sparkling Grace? Caliban and Miranda =
Beauty and the Beast And, then, the fel'
lows impudence asif farmer Hopper, to say
nothing of Grace, wouldn't perfer hun Of
course ="
He revolted, more than ever, at the idea, Al
he sat watching her, some houls after, busily
compounding those delicious destroyers Of di'
gestion, termed pies. How be wishe he wa.
lemon, to be squeezed by those taper fingers
or peach or an apple, to be pared Che proba
bly, spelled it paired). That delightful little
creature marry Joshua Skeels, and make pie'
for him to eat2 never!
So he asked her, one day, to take charge Of
him, his NOR ais, and his shirt-battons for life
and Grace consented, il father and mother
were willing.