The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-11-24

! We VI Inc MISCHIEF. lie repleu Clat CHarles
Arnold informed him that did it, and alst
confessed that he assisted me, but that | had
been the most to blame, as I had urged il
upon him. denied it, and told him all
knew about the affair He refused to believe
me; and called me a liar. hotly answered
him; high words ensued, he at length leav
ing me, vowing that Annie should never be
Z my wife, and forbidding me his house. A
month elapsed ere could get a chance to
see Annie, so closely was she watched. After
considerable trouble succeeded in bribine
servant to carry note to Annie, asking
her to meet me at the house of friend, in
four weeks from that night, for / had deter
mined to leave New Hampton She return
ed an answer, saying that she would meet
me, if she could elude the vigil,nce of her
father. left New Hampton and visited my
parents I received from my fathera draft for
one thousand dollars, and returned to New
Hampton on the Ivy appointed for our meet
ing. In the evening | repaired to my friend s
and to my great joy, found Annie there
After my departure her father had permitted
her to go where she chose. After some
coaxing and reasoning, prevailed on her to
say that she would elope with me the next
night, and become my wife. 7 was to meet
her with a carriage the next evening at ten
o'clock. one-q-iarter of mile from her faith
er's house.
Evening came, and was punctually on
the spot; but hour after hour passed away,
and Annie did not come | waited until
nearly one O'clock and then mortified and
chagrined, left the place, and ere the sun rose
again, was many miles from New Hampton
immediately took passage for California,
where remained until few months ago.
This, gentlemen and ladies, is my story.
have never heard from Annie since went
away, nor do I know as she yet lives"
He paused, and for amoment no one spoke.
Ifelta hand laid upon my arm. and turning,
saw Mrs. Dayton's white convulsed face, and
heard her whisper, "Ask him if he is marri-
ed.' ] turned to Mr.. Irving and asked
Have you ever married?"
"No, madam. Although lost my Annie
have never forgotten her. love her as
never can love any one else"
AS he said this, Mrs Dayton made step
forward, hesitated, and then cried, George!
George! don't you know me? am Annie!"
With quick, glad cry, he started from his
seat, and the two, so long separated, were
claspcd in each others arms. All was con-
fusion and hustle for few moments, and
every one crowded about them, some laugh
ing and some crying, and none knowing
why they laughed or why they cried. As
soon as quiet could be restored, Mrs. DAYTON
was called upon to tel! her story, which she
did in the following words:
"My storycan be told in a very few words.
After my father quarrelled with George, he
forbid my seeing him again, and took good
care that had no chance to disobey. | was
not allowed to leave the House, night or day,
unattended, until George left New Hampton.
was then permitted to wander about as |
chose, without being molested. The day on
which | had agreed to meet and elope with
George, my father brought home with him
young man, who was, as he said, to be my
husband smiled to myself, as thought
how his plans were to be thvarted. Even
ing came, and at nine o'clock asked to be
excused; but my father said I must not re-
tire then, and proposed game of chess be-
tween Mr.. Dayton (our visitor) and myself.
played as badly as possible, and indeed |
could not play very well at best for my heart
was there. Again asked permission to re-
tire, but my father answered more sternly
than before, that he could not permit me to
do so. Hour after hour sat there, every
moment an eternity, until one o'clock, when
he permitted me to retire. 1t was impossi-
BILE for me to leave the house then, and |
waited an hour and then hurried to the place
where was to meet George; but he was
not there, and with heavy heart returned
home. 1t was in vain that / waited and
watched for some tidings from George A
year passed, and heard not syllable from
him, and at the end of that time, worn and
discouraged by my fathers constant entreaty
| gave my hand to Mr.. Dayton, who died
three years ago."
At the close Of her story, the enthusiasm
of the crowd burst forth, aud they insisted
upon their being married then and there !;
and the wedding guests laughed and danced,
and made fools Of themselves generally
| have just returned from a visit to the
happy couple, and have seen their two beau
tiful children, George and Annie. and know
they are happy in their ''mountain homc.''
PARTEs.-The system of giving parties is
toe expensive, and when the thrngis pushed
beyond the power of the purse, it becomes
social evil of the greatest magnitude. No
man or woman seems to be legalized in So
ciety unless cool thousand or two is spent
every season in giving the beau monde one
Of those eternal and never-to-5e- forgotten
squeezes. The law must be remedied---it