The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-06-20
He formed a resolution to himself that

like the man that was stopped by the
mesmerizer half way down, as he was
falling from the roof of house-he
would marry her for the reason, dear
reader, that Martin had not married, was
that he had heard Of wives wearing the
- authority over their lords, and he
was timid man. In this new science
he saw security, and sedulously sought
for one of the right description. At ev-
cry party where he was invited, at every
sewing circle, at every knot of factory
girls in which he mingled in the summer
evenings, he tried his art, but without
success. At last, when on the point OF
despairing, accident gave what he had
failed of obtaining by earnest seeking.
A widow-dangerous to bacheloric peace
as edged tools are to the careless hands
of the inexperienced-came to the village
on visit. The weeds had not been re-
moved that marked her bereavement,
and the merest touch Of melancholy rest
ed on her brow but her eye was laugh
ing, and sweet curl strayed away and
lay like chiseled eddy upon the marble
Of her cheek. She had a jewel on her
hand, and the black dress she wore was
cut judlciously, the milliner that cut il
had been widow herself, and knew how
to manage such Understanding beau
tiful white shoulder, and revealing a bust
of rare loyeliness.
Martin met the widow at the residence
Of friend, and liked her. He had never
seen so prepossessing woman, and that
was rather a drawback One visit led
TO another, the liking still increasing,
until he broached the subject of biology,
with wish frequently felt that this
might be the woman he sought.
She was fully acquainted with it, and,
in answer to his question if she was sus-
ceptible to its influence, she replied that
she didn't know, but was willing TO have
the fact sted. What position for Mar
tin J Seated BY her side on the sofa, with
her hand laid in his, with look equal to
that which the widow Wadman poured
into those Of the unsuspecting Toddy in
the stiffness of a summer evening But
science held him secure, and his nerves
were calm as the summer day of that
evening. By and by the beautiful lids
dropped, the head bent gently forward,
and the widow, with sweet smile upon
her lips, lay fast asleep. Martin could
have shouted I" Eureka" in his delight
at the discovery. Now his pulse quick
ened, and he stopped to kiss the lips that
lay unresisting before him but he didn't.
By the exercise Of his power he awaken
ed her, and she was much surprised at
being caught mapping, and blushed at
the strangeness of II ; and blushed more
when Martin told her how he had been
tempted, and how gloriously he resisted !;
and laughed little when she slapped his
cheek with her finger as he took pay from
her lips for his selfdenial, and went
home half crazy with Joy at his new
found treasure, more like boy of nine
teen than matured gentleman Of forty
Every night found him visitor at the
widows, and every night the success OF
the science was proved, until by mere
look or a wave of the hand the beautiful
widow became a subject to his will, and
he became at the same time subject of
hers. She was such splendid creature.
too. You would not find in a long Jour
ney another iairer, or more intelligent, or
more virtuous. The question might be
asked, which magnetism was the most
pleasant or most powerful, his or hers.
But he thought only of his own, not
deeming that he was in spell more pow
erful. that was revocably binding him.
What could an old bachelor know OF such
a thing !?
This state of things grew to crisis at
last, and Martin formally proposed to the
widow that the two should be made one
by the transmutaton of the church To
this she assented and it was announced
soon after, to the astonishment Of all,
that Martin Speed had married the widow
Goode The punsters of the village made
a noticeable pun about Goode Speed, at
which people laughed very much and
the editor Of one Of the papers, who was
a funny man, put it in print.
1t happened. shortly after the marriage,
that they had famous party, and some
OF the guests bantered Martin about his
marriage, upon which he told them Of
the manner il came about. They were
little ncredulous. and he volunteered TO
give them some specimens of his re
markable power over his wife. Sine was
in another room, attending to some fe-
male friends, when he called her TO him.
She came obediently. and he asked her
to sit down, which she did. He took her
hand and looked into her eyes. to put her
to sleep. Her eyes were wide open, and
lurking spirit OF mischief looked out Of
them broadly into mis- lie waived his
hands before them. but they renamed
persistently open. He bent the force of
the will to their subjugation, bu; it was
of no use.
Mr.. Speed" said she, laughing. +" /
don't believe the magnetism of hus
band is equal to that of tho lover or
perhaps science and matrimony are at
war"
She said this in manner 10 awaken a
strong suspicion in his mind that she had
humbugged him. and had never been
put to sleep at all. His iriends--as friends
will when they fancy poor fellow has
got into hobbe--la laughed at him. and
told the story all around the village. For
months he was an object OF sport to ev-