St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-02-03
@tst6ara tbe Course Of empire takes its 0otap.
CITY, FLOYD COUNTY, IOWA, THURSDAY FEBRUARY g. 1859.

| X
tccl in his appearance, but he was al
abandoned desperate in his converse
ton: and from some remarks which
he and his companions let fall | was
struck with sudden suspicion that
he was no less parsonage than my
worthy namcsake, Mr.. James j. Smith
himself. Thus, in the midst of theil
laughing and whispering, | overheard
the expressions, "Old Rusty" a. the
girl" erich and confoundcdly hand
some" /" hard headed old hunks" &c.
and Mr.. Redhead himself swore with
an oath, if the blood suckers would
give him puG two days, he would hold
up his head again with the best OF
them.' tried in vain to catch the
young fellows name and soon after
he had uttered the words related,
another young man came into the box,
and told him, "there were hawks on
the wing )" upon which he looked
alarmed, his companions laughed, and
they all Immediately left the theatre.
| could then attend to the perform
ance without interruption and ! had
been for some time absorbed in the in
terest Of the scene, when | was sud
denly aroused by voice whispering
in my year, 81 say, Mr.. James j.
Smith, if you please, this is no place
for gentleman of your inches. There
arc buzzards abroad, who'll stop all
marrying and giving in marriage
And ifyou mean to give up that chance,
hang me, my fine fellow, if shan't be
the first to arrest you "
looked around, and was cnraged
to perceive the note holder, who gave
me significant nod, and Immediately
walked away. How provoking
thought |, "to have all these vaga-
bonds take me for that rascal, my
namesakc. Yet there is something,
after all, in his counsel. 1t would not
be agreeable to be arrested, even by
mistake since there is no one in the
city to whom can appeal for charac-
ter and identity. Tomorrow Brown
will be here, and then | shall be safe
enough
These thoughts determined me to
leave the theatre, and go home. But
| had scarcely got the distance of a
square before had the misfortune to
be tapped on the shoulder by an Off
Ger, who told me he had writ for me
on the suit of Messrs Snip and Shears;
and requested me to favor him with
my company to the nearest magis-
trate's. At the same time | perceived
the tailor's clerk, who had evidently
kept me in view, and pointed me out
to the officer. 1t was in vain for me
to protest | was not the manintcnded
Mr.. Clerk said "the gentleman was
very good at that story" What, |
asked myself, if it should happen not
to suit the convenience of Messrs
Snip and Shears to attend at the mag
istrate's | felt very well assured
should be liberated as soon as they saw
me but they might have delegated
the whole business to the clerk, who
would not hesitate to swear | was
James J. Smith, because l had ad
mittcd | was and then bail would be
demanded, and, for want Of it, | must
be Immediately packed off to prison
The thought of this degradation filled
me with sudden fury and, without
taking time to reflect upon the consc'
quenccs, | knocked the officer down
though he was burly fellow, twice
as big as myself, kicked the little
clerk into the gutter, and Immediately
ran off, hoping to make my way tc
the boarding-house, there to lie con
cealcd until Brown should arrive il
the city.
This proved a more difficult under
taking than expected for there was
Immediately great hue and CT,
raised !; and, the streets being pretty
full of people, (for it was not yet elev
en- o'clock, was followed and headed
and assailed Oh both tlanks SO tina
it was only by tasking my activity t.
the utmost, and diving into every al
ley and by-way that offered, that
managed to avoid my pursuers. M.
greatest fear was of losing my way
for knew but little Of the city, ant
the uniformity of its streets, and th'
great family resemblance between al
its houses, are very perplexing to
stranger. Yet thought l was keep
ing the run of the streets, notwith
standing my various doublings am
by and by was sure that larg
house now in sight was my boarding
house, because it looked exactly lik
it, and was similarly situated near a
alley which-or one the perfect fal
simile of it-I had taken notice c
during the day.
As came nigh the house foun
myself cut off from the doors by som
persons, who were running from tn
opposite direction to intercept me.
therefore plunged down the alley
} which was badly lighted, and 500
conducted me to another still darke
one, which. | perceived, ran at tn
back of the houses, bounding til
yards or gardens, which were merel
inclosed with walls and fences, wit
| garden gate to each house. I'll
| idea struck me that | might perhaT
| enter the clearinghouse through II
garden gate, which l knew must
: the second one, for the house itse
. was the second beyond the alley.
tried the latch it did not yield b'
= had not withdrawn my hand whe
the gate itself was thrown open ; an
4 upon my rushing in, it was immediat
!. ly closed again, and bolted behiI
q me and all this, l was certain, wit
). out my having been seen from wit
I out for none of my pursuers had G
!. into the alley Besides, the gate WI
o overhung by great tree, whi'
darkened the alley and the who
yard SO that | could see nothing
!, the person who had let me in, exec
A that it was woman. And this s.
I made still more manifest. by takiI
v me round the neck, and giving me
i hearty buss, exclaiming,
n sis it you, Jimmy, my dear? Al
s. how came you SO late and what is
d makes all this racket and running :?
% "Oh." whispered !, in some con-