The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1860-04-18
McGREGOR, IOWA, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 1860

four young men met at a certain Hotel, to
partake Of an oyster supper, and while wait
ing for their feast, to while away the inter.
i'm with social game Of well, we will call
it whist, for George, who was one of the
number was such o moral young man, of
course he never gambled, even so far as to
play poker with corn or coffee, each grain
counting as one 'chip."
Beside the above mentioned young man,
already introduced, and to his right, sat Joe
Barton, mischievvus, careless fellow, who
took the world easy, never, as his old grand
mother used to tell him taking more care on
his shoulders than he could kick of at his
heels.
Opposite George was Frank Green, whose
blance to each other, but he had the dimes,'
to use the very classical expression of the
day, and was exceedingly popular with Ia
dies who had manageable or unmarriagea.
BILE daughters.
At Franks left was Harry Thompson, an
accomplished male flirt, and extremely fas.
cinating-though his morals would not
have borne microscopic investigation, per-
haps.
The game proceeded, with little cham
pagne to make them handle the cards more
easily, as Joe Barton said, and by the time
the oysters and = new supply Of liquor
made their appearance, the Quartette were
in happy, sociable humor, and disposed
to be communicative.
Nov, boys" said George, rising, after
they had swallowed the bivalves, and enjoy.
ed some edifying conversation, Fill your
glasses each, and drink bumper to my
toast.
Th:y all filled their glasses and rose ex-
pectant.
"Here's to Miss Kate Dennis, my intend.
ed Bride" and he raised his glass to his lips.
The others hesitated.
"Why don't you driek!" continued the
"Why," replied Jce, slowly, 1.-THE fact is,
my friend, you are little hasty in your con-
clusions; Miss Kate has kindly promised to
be my BRIDE"
by Ginger" exclaimed Frank Green,
using his favorite expression, Miss Kate is
engaged to me!'' q
"Well, gentlemen" observed Hens
Thompson with his usual fascinating smile,
"lt.seems Miss Dennis is very impartial in
the distribution of her affections, 6uno
longsnggo than last week, she assured ne,
with u deliciods kiss, (snd he smacked his
lips bat she loved me alone, and coz new
err duced, under any circumstances to
mar mother"
TIM tableau was rather striking at thi.
crisis. The four young men stood in . small
circle around the table, their untasted glas
scs raised. and during the above disclosures
they eyed each other with the air of highly
incensed and belligerent bulldogs; but Joe
ever alive to the ridiculous, laughed loudly
his laugh being family echoed by Frank
and Henry.
George did not smile. He looked stern
and pale. lie had loved that girl, and had
dreamed of bright future-and now he
was rudely awakened from his dream, tc
find that he had placed his happiness in the
hands of q coquette, a character he heartily
despised. He scorned himself for hi.
blindness, and he re-seated himself with q
pain in his heart, such as he had never fel
before.
They all resumed their seats.
Thomson looked as smiling and placid Al
usual. He was too much accustomed t
the ups and downs of Irritation to be seri
ouSly duCCtcu ny I" uIuS VI tiA1S Soit. DC
sides he had one of those faces which it j.
impossible to read-a very convenient sor
of countenance at times.
Joe Barton continued to laugh, and oh
served:
"Boys, the fact is, do not feel half a.
broken-h hearted as ought, under the pres
ent excruciating circumstances. l neve,
expect to love any woman well enough te
make myself miserable about her. shall
hand in my resignation tomorrow, to Mis-.
Kate, with her picture"
''I've got her doggerrytype too," whinet
Frank Green, ''and she said she loved me
and she laughed when she said so. tho
she laughed because she was pleased, bu
I reckon she was thinking how she wa.
fooling all OF us fellows" and poor Frank
looked very uncomfortable and red in thu
face.
"Heartless coquette," said George thro
his clenched teeth, and he looked particu
larly savage and desponding.
"Now George, resumed the philosophit
Joe, ''you take it too much to heart Shs
is not worth heart ache from q clever fel
low like you. You seem to feel it gooG
deal, and am sorry for you, but we arr
all in the same fix. Wen drink the cham
pagne and alter the toast to-"Here's te
Miss Dennis, wishing she may never changt
her name"
The young men emptied their glasses 81
lently but unhcsitatingly. They then ar
ranged the order of exercises for the closing
scene of this little drama, paid their bill and
left the hotel wiser and saddcr, if not bet
ter men,"
= \
The next night, about Z o'clock, . serv,
ant ushercd Mr.. Barton into the parlor, al
Mr.. Dennis house, and formally announced
the fact of his arrival to her young mistress
. Miss Kate entered the room all smiles. Mr.
Barton bowed coldly, and made the usual
remarks in regard to the wcather-ther
gravely handed the young lady package
, remarking to her as he did So
!, 'Miss Dennis, find that Mr.. Green ha.
prior claim upon your affections, conse
quently l restore your letters and picture
to you, resigning all claims to your hand
Comment upon the lacerated state of my
heart is unnecessary, and would cause my
wounds to bleed sfresh, and no doubt pain
your kind heart"
Joe tried to look unalterablc things, but
there was laughing, mocking look in his
,, eye, that plainly showed the girl how little
he cared for her.
Kate was considerably embarrassed, anG
while pausing to think what to say, thu
door opened and in walked Mr.. Green.
He said, "Good evening; Miss Kate" as il
about to choke-coughed several times, and