The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-01-01
10I U-NO &c. WHOLE NO. 49, ~".~.ar
4 hate books, and hate summing worse
than anythingnsi retorted the perverse dam

Il hate books, and hate summing worse
than anythingv;; retorted the perverse dam
sci, pouting.
John looked dowa at her half -grieved and
half admiring. She looked prettier than
ever when she was rebellious. 'Now, Lima,
that's just to plague me- said he; 'as if
were not bad enough without. Just give
me ono smile before go-there's your
father coming
sLa, John, how silly you are! Well, Pm
going to Bartinglas feast on Thursday, and
you may 60 with me if you like-does that
please you!' John showed by his face that
it did, and then as Lina's father reeled
round the hedge be departed; for old Fernie
was quarrelsome in his cups with friend and
foe, but especially with friend.
TO Bartinglas feast together went John
and Lima, it. being generally understood
now by the friends and relatives of both
parties that they were keeping company
But If John anticipated that he should keep
Lima to himself all the dav of the feast he
Sas woefully mistaken. The admiration Of
one was by no means sufficient to satisfy
her craving, and she gadded about from
place to place in search Of other acquain-
tances, letting John see that he was fur
from necessary to her. But his greatest
grievance was, that when it was decent time to
60 home, Lima announced her determination
to stay for dance that was to take place
in the long room Of the public house. John
was not frequentcr of public houses, and
the idea that Lima should wish to enter
such place and join in such revelry
IA fhn0a ln oil ,EnJ
and astonishcd him. lie demonstrated and
she pouted; she said he might go homo and
she would return with her cousins; but
to this he would not agree, and the end was
that Lima capcred through half dozen
country dances with half-a- dozen fresh
partners, while John propped his back sulki-
ly against the white-washed wall and looked
on disgusted. If he had broken with her
that night, as she tried her utmost to make
him do, it would have been oil the better tor
him; but John was infatuated; and, though
it hurt him to see his mothers grieved an
Cry face when he told her the reason of his
late return from the feast, still he would
not listen to n single word said in dispar-
agement of Lima, and he would have bitten
out his tongue rather than utter one.
From that evening at Bartinglas poor
John never had happy hour again, never Il
days peace or ease Of mind. Though
Lima soon after pledged him her word that
she would marry him in the Fall of the
year, she could not resist the often recur-
ring temptation to exercise her attractions
on other young men; and, as John was nat
urally of sudden and violent, or rather
jealous temper, her couduct tried him Sc
verely. In vain he expostulated, in vain he
reasoned, in vain he pleaded, Lima would
only pout in her dissatisfaction at his lee
lures, and tell him if he did not like her he
was free to leave her; but poor John fell,
to his sorrow that he was less free than
ever. Ills modification and disappointment
had a wretched effect on his temper; he be-
came morose and irritable, even to his
mother, and with Lima herself high words
became quite common-rathcr, indeed, the
rule than the exception when they met.
Mrs. Ilarland, when she knew that her
son and Lima were really promised to each
other, made duty Of the necessity, and
tried to know her intended daughter in law
better; but Lima always showed her q re-
pulsivc, unfricndly face, and, finally, the
widow losing all patience. gave up the vain
attempt, and left her to her own devices.
To one thing, however, she made up her
mind, and that was, that she would not con-
tinue to live in the cottage with her son
when he brought home Lima rs his wife, and
when the time for the wedding drew near
she began to make preparations for retiring
elsewhere. Lima made no secret Of how
glad this arrangement made her, for she was
afraid of Mrs. llarland's serious integrity:
but John regretted his mothers resolution
1t wanted but three weeks of the day fixed
for the marriage, when John, going one eve
ming rather later than usual to the Fernies'
cottage, found seated there in the most
friendly way, conversing with Lima, smart
young clerk out for a holiday, whom Lima
told her lover she had known at her aunt's
in London. The clerk was II good-looking,
conceited young sprg, who evidently had a
comfortable assurance of his own personal
attractions. He called Lima, I.inny, and
made hundred illusions to past events and
amusements, while John sat by chafng and
CALLED at his impertinent familiarity which
Lima had not any notion of checking. To
do the young city clerk justice, he had no
idea whatever that the ponderous young ma
son, who was SO slow Of speech and heavy
Of step, could be wooer Of Linny, whom
he thought of seriously for himself; and he
gave him several broad hints that his room
would be more acceptable than his company
But John stayed perscveringly on, until Lima
contrived him an crrand to the top of the
village, and sent him away, whether he would
or no.
'Who is that fiery faced clown, Linny
He lords it over you finely p lisped the gen
teel clerk.
Lima colored and stammercd. She was
ashamed to acknowledge John before this
Young spark, who dcspised a far better man
than himself.
'Oh! he is n mason. lie works with my
father said she.
There was fine bush of monthly-roses
trailing over the cottage walls, from.whlch
Lima always cuiled few to embellish her
work table. 1t happened that some had been
newly gathered that afternoon, and she had
taken one out of the cup and was playing
with it while John was in the cottage. When
John came back from the errand on which
she had dispatched him, the rose had chan
ged its place from her fingers to the city
clerks button hole-a transference which
caught his jealous eye IN moment. Lie
gave her a glance, to which she replied with
one of coquettish defiance; and, rs the young
stranger presently went away and left them
together, he began to be very angry.
Il tell you what, John Harland,' retorted
she, passionately. 'if you had not got my
word, I'd never marry you. like Tom
Feelings little finger better than your whole
body!' Johns eyes blazed, and he dashed
away from the cottage in fury. The heart
less girl had quite warped his honest, manly
nature. lie scarcely knew what he did for
the next hour or two.
| 1t was late when he arrived home, and his
mother was waiting up for him. 1t had be-
gun to rain, and distant rumble of thunder
echoed in the sky. Mrs. IIarland got ur
from her chair to bolt the door when he
came in but he impatiently forbade her, as
he was going out again very early the next
morning. She asked where he was going to:
but rs he seemed not to hear, and did moi
reply to her question, she said further
Need sit up, Johnny, I'm tired with wash
! ing to- dayf' He seemed startled by hel
weary tone, and turned round to kiss her.
This touch of now unusual tenderness quite
broke down the old mothers reserve. 90
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