The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-01-22
1-01 u-NO. 80. WHOLE NO. 91
AwOMiN OF NERVE.
HOW SHE GOT OUT OF A scRApE,

ascended the stairs-this was what saw as
went up to my room in the Spread Eagle
Inn. Grace Church street, on the night Of
the 18th of September, 1858, as am a
/ Christian.
| stopped short and looked at the figure,
as it was looking at me. had not been
drinking, was not walking in my sleep,
and, more than all, knew the face and
! form-but what, in the name of common
sense, was Young lady doing in the passage
/ of an old inn at that hour, alone, and in
such a dress. She blushcd scarlet as |
drew near, and wrapped her dressing gown
| more closely around her; but the next mo-
meut she was as pale as before, and spoke
to me eagerly and hurrietlly, but in very
low voice:
sSir, are you the landlord of this inn p
! 81 am not, madam
sDo YOU know where he is -
Down stairs in the coffee room, think.
But what is the matter? Are YOU i'll: Has
ANYTHING gone wrong"
She stamped her foot slightly with impa-
tience, and looked at me in the face. Fine
eyes she had-blue and soft in general-but
now they were blazing.
Don't stop to ask questions, sir! Bring
him here at once; and come back with him
yourself. Bring pistols if you have them;
do you hear? And run for Your llfe-for
your life.' she added, leaning over the
banisters, and speaking in the same low hur-
ricd tone.
. was away in an instant, though | knew
no more of my errand than the man in the
moon. But | should like to see the man
who would not have done the same. Apart
from the fact that she was claiming my aid
and protection, there was something III the
ring of the voice, warned me that she was not
to be trined with. She would have made
I good general, had she been 4 man, and,
wager nv head, not soldier would have
dared to retreat, had she spoken as she did
to me that night. But before finish my
story, must begin it. am but blum
der;ns fellow. My wife always says, if a
mistake can be made, am sure to make it;
and believe was 90 ny to tell You about the
landlords coming, before said What he had
come for. Now, then will commence the
thing rightly.
The Spread Eagle Inn, which is still
standing, and may be seen any day, by the
curious traveller, is a clumsy, lll-lghted
house, situated in the heart of the city, yet
keeping alI its oddities, which were just in
tie fashion sCmc two or three hundred
wears ago. 1t is built around court yard.
shut in hv gates, across which galleries are
thrown, from one door to the other, with
tive paved yard below. 1t has baIustradcs
and starcasrS cpntalning sufficient oak to
bnili hnlf Il moG!rrn house with; and deep
window seats and big, queer shaped, loomy
rooms, and little closets, and landing places
and passages, carpets, chairs, and pictures
that Mrs. Noah might have kept house with
in the ark, to say nothing of the curious
old china Oh the side boards, and the wine
glasses and decanters to match. TO an
EngI>hman it offers the snuygest Of homes,
and the roast beef and mutton there are
uncxceptionabIc; while the waiter is as civil
and as steady as If he had been breathing
the atmosphere of the old place for years.
1t makes one feel ''respcctable,'' merely to
live there for time; and who bad i'ecn
4 wild enough college lad, found myself
Soldering down day by day, as poured over
my manuscripts, or dined quietly. by myself,
under the eye Of Charles, the waiter, of nv
slice of mutton and baked potatoes, my pint
of porter. and my apple or uamson tart =
Quite ike a family man felt, at times
though my wife and children were with my
y.
bring me IN immense fortune. did not
know how long the voyage might take, not
knowing even from what port the vessel
Wis to start. and so lived under the wings
Of the Spread Eagle, and worked at my
manuscript and waited.
WAS not, by any means; the only dwclcr
in the eyre. People were coming and
going all the time, but scarcely ever saw
them. or heard their names. The sitting
room next mine, on the floor, would be
teuantcd one month, with an indefinite nun
Der Of children; and the next, it may be by
an old gentleman, who made no noise, aud
rarely spoke, except to call his servant to
bring more wine: then would come travelling
artist, with his skctch-hooks and his great
Newfoundland dog, and they would play
at rough tumble together, after he had
done work. till the house shook, and the
nervous lady above nearly went into fits
and he would be succeeded by a musician,
who would play all day and part Of the
night. till the same lady declared she should
be ready Tor Bcdam; but she never was
ready. and never wcnt-at least, to nv
knowledge. For my part, | was always
satisfied. When tie children were there,
and playing SO noisly that could not think
used to lay down my pen and wonder wha.
their names were, and how they looked, and
f they were playing the same games
played in my boyhood $50 many years ago y
with my brothers and cousins. The great
dog used often to meet me in the passage
and give me friendly wag Of the tail, if
pattcd his head, and after that his bark
WAS music in my ears: for defy any one,
who has heart, to make the acquaintance
of a dog Newfoundland especially y-and
not love him. Aud the composer, who
played all day the sweet creations Of his
soul God knows what loving tender fancies
came to me now and then, as the melody
wovo itself in with what | was writing al
most before knew it. am happy fell
low, naturally, and disposed to make the
best of everything; but setting this entirely
aside. am sure was better and kinder
man for the ncighbors had.
One day the room was taken after it had
been standing empty for week, and heard
, the voice of an old man, his wife. and the
fresh clear tones of young girl. otter
Judge people by their voices before sec
them, and pictured the lady to myself
quite correctly. There was ring in he,
words, buoyant, lark-like tone, that CAV,
me the idea of a happy spirit and perfect
health. Now and then the voice decpcneG
and softened, and deepened, and knew
that her face had lost its smile, and that sh,
was looking grnve-perhaps sad. SO
knew that she suffered, and as dav after
day wet on, and the voice grew familiar,
judged she had suffered deeply. There was
something behind that natural gaietv, known
only to herself and God, 1t may be, and ve
It threw Il gloom over her whole life, anc
would always do so. And thought | shoult
like 20 see her, and judge if my surmise,
were correct.
asked the landlord about the party. H.
looked at the book, and read the names
'Rcv. Edward Williams and lady. Mrs
Arnold, New York city.
They are Americans, thcn?' IexyIaimed
D., so it seems. They came here TIRE
weeks ago, by the packet, and are going tc
Paris next month. Very nice people the,
seem, but they have queer ways. All Amcri
cans have, am often told'
'les-they seem odd to us no doubt"
said. musing gly-scarcely knowing what
had answered. And then went I'm to m,