The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-06-16
AT CROSS-PURPOSES.

Fail Ike storms Of summer rain
AT CROsS-PURPoSEs.
Richard Wargrave arrived in Boston har-
Dor one fine morning in the ship Porpus,
from South America, having successfully
completed his FIRST voyage to sea before the
mast.
Richard was good-iooking young man,
about twenty-five years Of age, of gener-
Gus disposition, well educated, and although
somewhat frank, free and open in his ad-
dress, and caring little for the convention
alities of society, he was one Of those men
we often met with in every rank of life, who
are gentlemen BY instinct, as Falstaf vas a
coward.
Without being addicted to any vice,
Richard Wargrave, owing to an exuberance
of animal spirits, had acquired character
of being wild and unsteady, and caused
anxiety to his parents, by manifes.ing re-
,ugnance to settle down quietly and happily
Ia : pleasant country village, until be had
seen m gre Of the world, and studied human
nature in other lands. He had made this
voyage in a .hip belonging to friend Of
his father, by WY Of an experiment, and
with his fathers consent. who hat'ered
himself with the belief hat one voyage be-
fore the mast would eieo..ally f" Kill tho
sailor" aud that the son OF, bis return
would be sensible Of his folly, and become
submissive to parental advice and author
ty.
Blu. on reyisitins his nativeland, after an
absence Of many months, Richard was still
undetermined in regard to bis future career.
He could not Immediately decide whether
to embrace the exciting, and, to his bold
spirit, attractive occupation, as the business
of his life, or settle down permanently and
at once in the peasan. thriving town in which
be was born, and join his father in respect
able and profitable business, but of a more
quiet and hum drum character than that OF
o sailor.
While he was revolving in his mind the
wisest course to pursue and making arrange.
ments for visit TO his home; having re-
quested the Captain of the Porpus to keep
birth open for him, Ms in all likelihood he
should conclude to join him on another voy-
age, he received "a letter from his father
which upset oil his calculations, and alarm
ed him exceedingly. Tho letter was as
follows: ..a .....
MELRorn, Oct. %.
Dear Dick:: see by the papers that the
Porpus has arrived safe in Boston harbor.
You must have got sick of the sea long
since, and | sincerely trust have grown
steady and reasonable. Your mother and
have arranged plan for keeping you with
us and making you happy for life. We
intend to have you bound in silken fetters
married, you rogue! What do you think
of that? And to the daughter Of my wor-
thy old friend, Colonel Conway, of Tiyoli,
as fine girl as there is in the country!
We have settled oil matters with the old
folks, the parents of your intended, who are
quite pleased with the project. Their
daughter of course will jump at the chance,
as she is a good and sensible girl. Thus
you see oil the trouble of courting will be
taken off you hands. All you have to do is
to haul alongside as the sailors say, throw
your graphing irons aboard, and she will
surrender at once, and FIRE a submissive
salute. -.........
SO lose no time in coming home, Dick.
Your mother and | long to see you, embrace
you, and congratulate you on your delight
ful prospects. 1t is now towards the close of
October. You shall be married on Thanks
giving Day, as sure as there is a Governor
in Old Massachusetts,.
Your loving Father,
ABNER WARGRAVE.
Richard read this letter carefully, and
pondered on its contents, but it admitted of
only one Interpretation. The fact was
stated in the clearest language, that be was
to be married to Miss Conway of Tivoli, on
Thanksgiving Day! He was frightened !;
and with reason--for his father although
indulgent in some respects was notorious
for his obstluaey--an and could not endure
to be thwar,ed in any of his favorite
projects.
d" Married - suoth Richard to himself,
'and at my time of life! The idea is alb
surd. And to girl that never saw but
once in my life; and that was years ago,
and then she wore short calico frock. had
white hair. pink eyes, and freekled face
Ugh, The idea is dreadful. | wort be
marred And so i: seems the fascinating
fair one will jump at the eiiGace. Perhaps
she will. Well, let her iGmp, and miss it,
and tumble overheard if she likes! THE
trouble Of coarfing is 70 Be taken off my
hands, Indeed ought to be under
great obligations for being relieved Of this
unpleasant daty! But the matter looks
serious. My father is in earnest. and If
am net in Meiroth BY Tomorrow night,
be viii be here on thc following day,
accompanied perhaps BIZ the sheriff Of
the county, holding IN his hand bride
moose, and insisting upon putting it around
nv neck have no time TO lose. there is
safety only in Eight, if would save myself
from verse than Egyptian bondage.
Richard Wargraye hastily packed his
trunk, pocketed his wages which were due
him for hi. services on board tho Porpus,
and booked himself in the stsge coach for
Providence and New London with the in
tcn,ien Of .aking the sseamboa; for NeE
York.
On entering the stage coach, Richard
found several persons already comfortably
accommodated therein. A stoat, heavy
mo,5si gentleman was seated on the back
seat, and woman -ery neatly dressed, With
a rsil covering her features WHOM, he sup
resed raish. he daughter OF the stout gen.
:,enan, vas seated By bis side. This was
the only woman in the coach, and Richard.
vho rsiaed himself on beng caan9isssur
10 female bsau.T, taoash from her appear
arse. tia: she might be ysunS and hearti-
suI. lie enisayered IN vain 10 get 3
glimpse Of her face, but seemed sh!, aoj
was evidently nos desiroas Of attracting
attention.
lie xss soon csnvIncei. hsrsrsr. that
,as woman, whether old asd asuely, Or
b~au,iful and yosax, vas neither TIE wife
nor shs daughter Of taa man who shared
vita her the saex seat. he scanned as
s,ssry as city wsschzaaEl, and n Tia fsoss
rro;esa1s manner - rsrsevssingsy - .
Caiaese Mandarin, and occasionally ecased
hss hsaA against the sAaaldsss Of ass fa1
eorusnsen. who, 80 far from appearing
rrassksd vas evsassi;y aISoyed bJ his sfrss-
| Il 0essnents. -