St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1860-06-28
NUMBER 26.

II am sorry to have frightened you
t. i have disturbed you unntentional-
}, ~" remarked the gentleman, " and if
} my presence is dsagrceable, You shall
be relieved of it Immediately"
Di@greaWe" Alathca EXTENDED
her hand with smile and a look Of
pleasure that was not to be mistaken,
and allowed herself to be led unrcsist-
ingly to scat upon the fallen tree.
Il have been treating myself to y
ramblc this aftcrnoon,' said Mr.. Ed
| munds, retaining the hand he had
taken and seating himself by the
} blushing girl, but had not dreamed
: Of so agreeable surprise as this,
AIathca raised her full, dark eyes
lnqnrlngIy to the young mans face,
as though she had not heard Alright.
But the earnest admiring gaze she
} met, dispcllcd every shadow of
doubt, and dcepcned the blush upon
her face almost to painfulncss, and
caused her to seek conccalmcnt for
her embarrassment in downcast eyes
, and bowed head But her hand re-
, maincd clasped in his, and the arm
that was gently laid around her gave
no offence.
Ellis Edmunds had not been entire
ly ignorant of Alathca's feelings to-
ward him for the past six months.
, lie had read them in her heightened
; color when they had casually met.
+ He was satisfied of her hearts tremb-
} ling when he received the dainty little
note containing the money she pre-
tended to owe him. intriguing
l lovcr--hc had drawn from Aunt Mercy
t all the rest he wanted to know--the
5 young girls careful avoidance of all
: mention Of his namc-her growing
5 absence of mind and disrelish of com
l pany--and now he felt the time had
come for him to take her to his heart
} and home--a wuling bride.
= 1t is not necessary to repeat the
+ words that made Ellis Edmnnds and
Alathca Du Pont, one in the sight of
i llcavcn--waiting only the seal of tho
c man Of God to make the union valid
5 to the world.
c 1t was long and satisfactory con-
II ference : and not until the sun sank
II low in the west, were the pigeons, and
S the towling piece, and the neglected
- basket gathered up, and smiling ques-
% tons asked and answered as to the
h. disposal Of the almost forgotten
IS things.
n 1t was decided that the call should
" be made, and the brace of pigeons ad-
L. del to the dclicacics to tempt the ap-
lr petite Of the pale invalid.
G. 1t was a rude dwelling they visited,
,ni l. Il
+. every spot within and around it and
IS as Alathea presented in her own sim
m pie aud affecting manner, her little
20 gifts to the feeble being who lay sup
II ported by pillows, Ellis Edmunds felt
5, that he had chosen wisely and well.
C The call was necessarily short, for
\ the gathering twilight reminded them
+ that it was q long walk back to the
h village
y Very tcnderly did the happy lover
/ draw her shawl closer around his alli-
anccd bride, for the dew was falling
lc and the air damp. But she laughing
# ly assured him that there was sulli-
Ii cicnt joy and warmth within to rcpcl
y all outward action of cold.
+. Blessings upon yc, darlings,' said
q Aunt Mercy, as the two entered to-
gcthcr, and she saw at a glance, the
g understanding there was between
,t them.
> That old, rich smile was upon Ellis
\ Edmunds' lips again, and a deep, beau
G tiful expression, more womanly for
|, the past six months conflict, shonc
5, upon the face Of the sweet girl by his
ID side
N Yes, Aunt Mercy" said the young
cr man, " it is all arranged now. leave
Id her to your keeping only for little
s. time longer. Make ready three weeks
II, from tomorrow, for upon that day we
g agreed to commence our lifelong, and,
to we hope happy companionship."
ct The news Of the approaching mar
he riaSc spread rapidly through the vii.
r lage, and calls and congratulations
y, came from every quarter. Little Will
I'd lie was wild with delight at the pros
on pcct of having n brother, and at see
~ ing Mr. Edmunds again at the house.
OF He had gricvcd much at his absence,
II but his wondcrings had always been
it. hushcd by his sister, and now that
IS both We're unrestrained they soon be-
came fast friends again.
IL But-Alathea--a perfect change
lc- had come over her. Instead of the
it. blushing, timid girl, she now appeared
cy the calm, collected, dignified woman
IS, She fully realized the greatness of the
ut responsibility that was coming upon
her and, in her great happiness, shc
'er plead with her Heavenly Father for
as wisdom aud guidance.
,p- The young mans love deepcncd al
most to vencration, as he saw this
nd great and surprising change in the
We young being he had won. He clasped
IS. her to his heart with tcnderer feel.
ne ing, and fuller resolve to make her
Dy life happy beyond the possibility of
ad sorrow-so far as lay in his power.
III "ITast thee never wondered, Ala
y, thea" said Aunt Mercy, the week be-
ID, fore the wedding, "how my income
ng came to be increased, so that l had
rs the means to offer thee a home, when
he thee felt destitute and descrtcd?"
- Alathca looked up from the cake
ID, she was frosting, and replied" Yes
he | did wonder very much about it, but
as you did not seem disposed to tell
cd me how it came TO pass, thought
as would not be inquisitivc."
he "Well, here is some one who car
by inform thee with regard to the mat
Or, ter" and Aunt Mcrcy's eyes turned
,et toward the door that led into their lit
tie sitting room.
in Ellis Edmunds entered the kitchen
Ter rapping lightly upon the door for per
mission.
Alathea did not start or blush but
laying down the knife she was using