Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1860-10-20

Come mere, ana be introduced to IN Ole
school .mats of mine. Now what are .you
laughing at, you gipsy? Do you .hinl
that, because he is twelve years younger
than !, there could have been no CO mpan-
ionship between us? Meriden. this i,
Lizzie Waldo, my dead brothers, child, tn,
torment OF the house, and of poor Rachs
pointing TO- his sister-in particular"
A plump little maiden, with clusterin 4
chestnut curls, roguish blue eyes. and .
rebellious mouth, that would emile IN spite
Of her. returned Capt. Meridens salulaiior
with . curious mixture Of simplicity and
coquetishness. T.. ...... ',..'......
"Mr. Louis large, my half. brotherl'
A pale, small man, with downcast eyes
that seldom met your gaze, and slight,
brusqus in manner, shook Meriden cordi-
ally BY the hand, and then the family
seated themselves around the table, Mis-:
Rachel presiding with great dignity, tho
unable, always, to suppress her annoy ance
at the thousand little caprices in which
Miss Lizzie chose to indulge herself. Sup.
per ended, huge silver punch bowl was
brought on With no little form and cere-
mony, aud the goble,s of all being filled
with the steamiag beverage, Mr.. Waldo
hemed, cleared his throat, and 6ually pro
posed the following toast: -
"To the health Of our esteemed guest
whe has arrived on the anniversary OF tn.
day that witnessed our vow of celibacv
and our unwayering adherence to tha,
VOW
All pledged him except Mr.. Targc, whc
set down his glass with q violence that
Meriden thought slightly affected.
Il will drink to Capt Merden's health
he said, with all my heart, but to no such
nonsense as your vow Of celibacy. 1t may
be well enough for Rachel, who is some
thing Sc: in her way, and even for you
would wish the old name of Waldo to die
with yourself; but against all such a5sur
dity as that child" pointing to Lizzie,
"who knows her own mind no moro than
butterfly, taking a vow she does not ev.
EN- comprehend, protest. and will do So
while l have life and breath. If l have
spoken too plainly, you mus. excuse me
l am blunt man, unused to conceslue en-
or hypocricy. .5#
IL am much obliged to you, Uncle Lou
is said Lizzie, with little toss Of her
head, "for your high estim .,iou Of my
comprehension, but think you will ind
l understand the nature Of my vow we'll
enough to keep it, At any rate
"Hush, Lizzie" said Mr.. Waldo, "you,
uncle Louis is actuated bv disiatersstsd
motives that do him credit. and If we do
not agree. we understand and respect one
another a. the same time shaking hands
heartily with his half brother.
John. call Deborah, to show Captain
Meriden his room, as | see he is not a
little fatigued with his journey = aud after
cordial goodnight, Meriden. under the
guidance Of Deborah, a good-looking wo
msn, with cat'like tread and EXPIRE ssiou
was conducted to a handsome apartment,
where he enjoyed q comfortable nights
repose, varied, however, by one remarkable
incident.
In the middle of the night, he was ava.
kcned by that mysterious thrill, that an
nounces to US, even in slunber, the pre-.
senee Of another besides ourselves, and
starting up, saw, or thought ho saw fe-
male figure, bending over his valise, tha,
lay on the floor, but, at his exclamation oi
surprise, and before he could make any
movement to arrest it, the figure, or appa
ration, which ever it was, raised itself, and
passing the foot of his bed with a swift
soundless step, disappeared on reaching
the fu.hermost wall. 70 the no small aston.
'shment Of Meriden, who, Oh the closes,
examination could detect no evidence OF
his lock having been tampered with, or Of
any crevice or .oophsle by which his noe.
turnal visitor could have effected his cs.
cape.
He walked to the window, to try and
calm the agitation, amounting almost to
terror, that had taken possession Of him.
The gardon below was enveloped in gloom,
hut the top Of the trees and the sea he yond
CLEANED silver in the pale rays Of the moon.
All the lights in the house we extinguish-
ed, except one. that burned steadily in the
angle Of the building just opposite to him,
by which he could plainly perceive the fg
ure Of Mr.. Waldo, pacing up and down his
apartment, apparently lost in thought
Mericen was about to withdraw, when
something like fash Of light in the gar
den arrested his attention, and he could
have sworn that he saw q man. halEcon
cealed in the shrubberr, in the very act OF
aiming rifle At the figure pacing within,
the polished barrel cleaning brightly in
the moon light.
The young soldier hastily threw open
the easement, but his second apparstion
had also disappeared; aud after watching ng
vainiy for an hour. he again sought his
couch, concluding be had been the victim
Of some MYSTERIOUS optical delusion.
"Lizz ie"
"Weli, auntyl"
Il wish your attention for moment,
have something to say to you"
lecture n
Elizabeth, bs kind enough to sit down,
and take your arms from my neck, you are
ruffiing my kerchief, aud don't twiddle
with that crochet needle. I require your
undivided attention"
"Why, aunty, what's the matter? Did
drop : stitch in that stocking?'
Nonsense y
.'Or put too much shortning in the
cake p"
'CnlI0 !!
"Or is it possible have been so unfor-
tunate Is to sit down on one of your
caps ?
This Is unbearabls r exclaimed Rach.
o.; YOU know very we'll that I am no.
referring to any such trivial matters. 1t is
Of your conduct. Miss Waldo. that | would
speak, ~ consider that Of late i, ha,
been far from proper p
Aunt Rachsli''
II repeat it. think the manner in
which you conduct yourself toward thi,
young officer, is, to use the n,ildes. expires
sion, inconsistent with Jour vov.'
GOOD heavens! aunt, one would think
that ! vas . nun, aad you the lady ab-
bess T.
ut is very we'll for you to treat Capt.
.