St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-02-17
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to go with them.
Not now, Fitz; go and sing with
Emma, and will go soon"
He went off reluctantly, but their
voices were soon heard singing.
"When do you return, Mr.. Talbot ?"
she asked.
I" Tomorrow morning My friend
here is anxious to go back. We only
came at ReginaId's request to tell you
from his own lips to hope on, and to
carry back some word that should
soften his captivity
Winitred wrote a few lines in pencil
and gave him, saying that she should
not see him III the morning. trust
they are words that will give him
comfort" said Mr. Carnington, War
ren's friend. Poor fellow he needs
all you can say to him"
A different scene was that which
took place on the same evening at a
little town about eight miles distant.
"A long, low room in small country
tavern, fitted up with wooden chairs,
a clock and two pine tables, stained
red, was occupied by three coarse
looking men, and one etrem;nate look
ing youth. The rain was pouring in
torrents against the windows, but it
was unheedcd by the four worthless
who were engaged at cards. Two
bottles containing spirits, pitcher of
water, and a jar Of olives stood on
the table.
And now tell us, Ralph said one
Of the older men to the youth, chow
you came to meet us here without any
warning from us that we were to be
here"
"Well, you see, I was waiter at
Green's Hotel at South Beach, when
the one that put Mr. Churchill in prison
i don't call names-was there with
the fine lady he was going to be mar
ried to. He and she were sitting at
the table i'll the private parlor, and he
was writing letter. A piece of pa
per laid on the other side of the table,
and the lady took it up and wrote on
it. "Now see here,' says she, calling
him by name, l can write just like
you.'
So you can," says he. 81 declare
| shouldn't know the difference" Well,
she tried it on dozen pieces of pa
per, and he finished his letter, and
they got up and went out together
Then went in and cleared away the
litter, and Tom Cowdin came in and
helped me. One pitce of paper slip
ped down behind the lady's chair and
she had not noticed it.
"That's good writing" says Tom.
"Ycs," says |, land a lady's too"
looked over his shoulder. 1t was
the gentleman's name, written half
way down the paper, and again at the
very top.
He held it sometime in his hand, and
| was going to take it and burn it up
in the firc-but he held on. looked
at him and he was as red as blaze.
Says he, Ralph, I'll keep this to r.
member that lady by, and if you'll
never say say anything about it, I'll
give you something handsome and
i'll course, took the money, and said
nothing. But now | think that Tom
made mischief out of this, for you see
Tom owed Mr. Churchill, and that very
day he paid him with a check on the
Grocer's Bank. was with him when
lac paid him, and Mr.. Churchill took
out two hundred dollars and gave
Tom The check was for four hundred
and fifty, and Tom owed it for rent of
his house in Bedford Place. MIR.
Churchill put it with many other pa
pers in a large pocket book
We'll, Ralph, what do you mean
to do 2"
"Go down to South Beach to-mor
row, and tell Miss Harper, who is
there, just what | think about this af-
fair. She knows the lady who wrote
that piece of paper, and somehow,
Miss Harper always knows how to
manage everybody. She will make
it all straight, and Ralph Sanders will
help her, too"
Hoorah for Ralph Sanders" said
the oldest of the party, and the roof
rung with three deaiening cheers.
We've done many foolish deed
together, Ralph said the last speak
er, "let us do this good one to make
up for it. Mr.. Churchill was very
kind to me when | broke my leg last
year, and Pm bound to get him out
, of this if | can. But don't see how
you are going to know that it is the
same paper"
Ralph took out small new pocket
book from his vest, and displayed a
carefully folded paper, on which there
was a single name written at the top.
"See," said he, "here is what Tom
, cut off, and after he was gone out, |
, took it out of the CRATE where he threw
it. Thinks if one half is 50 valua-
, ~ TO Tom, the other half may be to
me. They do say that poor Miss Har,
per is crazy, but guess my news will
bring her round"
Ralph Sanders was simple but not
| vicious fellow, who, losing his situa'
ton by carelessness, as head waiter
at South Beach, had got entangled
with a set of reckless, if not unprin
i cipled men. One of these, however
seemed to have some sense of graft
tude left for Churchill, and it was
. proved by his setting out for South
/ Beach the next morning with Ralph.
4 But their funds were all exhausted
with paying for their lodgings and
: breakfast, SO they were obliged to
l walk the whole distance. The rain o
the previous night had cooled the road
and as it lay mostly through the woods
+ they got on famously.
y $50 you think the forged check is
Il the other part of that paper, Raj phi 2
- do. And yet l should be sorry
9 to have Tom take Churchill's place
4 Do you think he will have to go tt
+ prison?"
j. Mabbee, and mabbee not, Ralph
If you are friend to Tom, tell him t(
k clear out beforehand"
"Well, there is South Beach Hotel
d at last. must wash my face before