The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-02-02
Tbsv had .earc.,v .s..,ed abe enclosure,

ThsT had scarcely essesed abe enclosure,
when 81 unlocked for object Presented
Itself in ,hs shape Of the redouosa5le l al
cot himself, VINO was proving over Inc
grounds OF the qgi rire for srssspasse1z.
ssHallo, hereE' grouIed be. '.Jnss turn
back if you please. This isn't the proiie
.aorouga-fass.. -
The stranger heid- Jessie's arm under his
ozn little tighter, IS If 10 TePEess her evi-
den. Inclination to s.beat retreat" lie
vas disposed to nainssin bis position.
81 don', see apy reasonable cause why We
shouldn't % shsad,' = be said per.inacicuslT.
s'Ttere is path te-e. and suppose II MS
made % walk op."
s.No, for you" said the agent, eontenptn-
ously: $50 90 back ss fast as jon ear
ssIs i possible that people are made to
iraTel ciEcaitoss and unpleasant route. for
10 other earthly reason than your eapEie=s,
sir :" ASKED The gentleman, looking down
a.Ehe .hriyeled little mar, from the alii-
,gde Of his SIX feet, with Aind 0. Laughing
sc3gn. IBID is ever occur to you. ny
friend, that others had rights aud conEenI-
ences as vel as yourself 2,
''Can't help their rigtrs-nothIng 70 me-,
sHarled the agent. planting himself o.
s!In2.ely 10 the path. Il forbid ali passing
here!,
aBut suppose Mr.. ETerard Hardwich
NAV have the privilege Of crossing bis o"n
land 2" persisted the stranger, stu! present
ing the half contemptous smile that bad
FROM the beginning of the interview made
the agent fee! SO uncomfortable.
TaIeot. grew, no. exactly pale, bui
yeli3w With CONSERVATION.
..Ar. Hardwich-sir-I did not know
we did 10. expect
"No-l know you didn't, my good man.
Be 30 kind as to step aside, and allow me to
pass with the lady. Miss Jessie, don't for
get that need your services few minutes
yet. When we reach the house. ! will pro-
long nv walk to your cottage. Nay, don't
shrIas away from me-are we not 10 be
very good friendss"
..Thc preItiest girl leTer saw in my life,"
vas his Internal comment, as he at length
parted from her at tbs li::le gate, where
!.burping bushes" and dark green ivy were
trained together with all a woman;s taste.
The Christmas SHOWS lay whts and deep
on the farmhouse eaves-the Christmas
logs cracked On the hearth, where Mr..
Woodbridge still gaZed dreamily into the
glowing cinders, and Mrs. ke,urah's knit
ting needles clicked wltheiectric speed.
That mortgage bo:hers ne: b0lhers
me-" lie murmure1, almost plantiyely.-
"Well, s'gosa 1t a!n't DO use frettin' but
had thoughtto live and die in the old
place where my father did afore me. The
Lords will be done, though. Somehow
things hain't prospercd with mel don't
seem to get along"
"I0u'd ha' got along we'll enough, |
guess" responded ke.urah, who belonged
super emiuently to that class Of people
known as Jobs comforters,' '.if you i
only looked after your p's and IS as tod
you. You always was too free handed, and
now sc see what it's brought We tew."
"Wcll, we'll, ketury, We pever think alike
on some things" returned the old man.
"Let's talk about pleasanter subject.
What do you think Of our little school
ma'am's marrying young Mr.. IIardwich to-
morrow? Didn't always tell you thai,
Jessie Moreton was born to be lady?
may be unlucky myself, bnt anyhow, am
glad to hear Of little Jessie's luck"
"Iou'd a great deal better keep your
sympathy for YOURSELF" growled keturah.
whats other folks luck to you, I'd like
to know? There-sOme ones knocking at
the d0og-sec who tits -
I 1t Was little note, brought by one of the
school boys, lately uner Jcssie's care.
"Where's nv glasses! can't see as
once could. Shove the candle this way,
will you, ketGry?' And fitting his brass
bowed speetacIes upon his nose, the old
man nnfolded the note, and read, in Jessie's
delicate chirograPhy:
s'Do not let that mortgage disturb yonr
Christmas day, Tomorrow, dear father
Woodbridge. 1t will never haunt your
hearthstono again. Mr.. Nardwich will
send you the papers soon, to destroy. This
is JeSsIe's Christmas present. | have not
forgotten those golden pippins," nor all
the other kindnesscs."
"Aha, y said the old man, smiling,
and trying to brush away. unseen, the big
tears that would come, what do you think
Of my investments row -
/ keturah's reply was neither elegant. not
strictly speaking, grammatical, but it was
significant. 5 said simply:
Well, | never"