The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-10-09
McGREGOR, IOWA, WEDNESDAY,, OCT. >, 1861

and Them etc. mostly written by the
mob of gentlewomen who write with ease
By reference to these, you will find that
Banches idea Of what lover should be,
was a young person whose raven curs clus
tered above marble brow who had low,
thrilling voice. whose eyes were 'darkly
TENDER but with o lightning fash for
state occasions. This young person should
possess all the virtues of the sex in gen.
eral way, but no distinctive character be-
sides, and should be endowed with curious
talent for appearing just at the moment
when some villain is mechanically bull
lying his lady-love. Well Manton was
nothing Of the sort.
Notwithstanding, she liked him so
much that she could not bear the idea Of
giving him pain, if he were to offer her
his hand and heart, she felt that she should
reject him. ...
After all her lofty dreams of life. long
happiness. with a.sEhadeus' and 'Amo dis
de Gaul,' or whatever, it seemed simply RI
liculous to marry tavern-kerper, and set
tie down as housewife; but she knew that
the blow Of a refusal would be sore one
for WIN, aud only hoped that he would
never force her to infftct It..
The consequence was, that she tormvntcd
him necessarily One day, her honest lik
ing for him shone out in every word and
look, and he was delighted. The next,
she feared she had encouraged his hopes
too much, and her cool, polite, distant man
ner made him wonder what he had done to
offend her, and sent him home miserable.
|Detwcen these two extremes, he went from
the height of joy to the depth Of despair
and if his guests could have known what
was passing in his heart, they would have
been astonished to see how evenly, how
bravely, how strongly he kept his outer self
in subjugation. .:.
1t was at the time when this eternal see
saw of hope and hopelessness had grown
unbearable, that the rumor of war began to
shake the soil Of our country from Maine
to Texas Fort Sumpter had been taken
by the Confederate army at Charleston
the Presidents proclamation had drawn
thousands Of brave and capable citizens to
leave their plows and work benches for the
musket and the camp. The border States
still remained in the Union, but occupied
position of neutrality. ....
| Some Georgians who were sojournlng in
D on business, stopped at the Man
ton House, and their only song at table and
elsewhere was secession. The bar room
and hangers on-always the first men to
Join in any excitement, good, bad, or indif
ferent--took up the cry, and went through
! the village.
| Gentlemen said Manton to his Georgian
guests, you are strangers here, and under
my roof. Talk a. you please. l, for one.
believe in the freedom of speech. Say
what you like, and will protect you as far
AS | am able But, he added, and his
cheeks flushed as he spoke, Il am not with
you in your belief. The Manton who built
this house-or this part of it where we now
sit-fought the Indians, hand to hand, un-
| der the flag of the whole Union. His son,
my great grandfather, fought under it in the
| Revolution, and carried honorable scars to
his grave, received in defending that ban
ner. Talk what you please, gentlemen; but
if there is any question of principles raised
here, the star-spang!ed banner, with thr-
teen stripes and thirty four stars, shall float
I from tlr;s t,o,sse to morrow
| you are the master here said one, and
can, of course, raise what flag you like
But I cannot consent to eat and sleep under
the Federal ensign.
There is room for you elsewhere, l pre-
sumo, sir said Manton, quickly.
All were silent during the rest of the
meal, and nothing further was said about
leaving the house.
That night rumor was whispered about
among the oyster shops and bar rooms, that
young MantOn was going to hoist Union
flag, and that the boys were going topull
| it down.
Judge Gaynes heard of Wills defence of
the Union cause, and dropped in at the no.
tel, towards evening, to compliment him.
The Judge was whoe-hearted patriot, and
desired to organize some definite move.
ment to operate against the secession sem
timent that seemed to be growing in the
town. .s g..
Mantsn agreed with him, and accepted
an invitation to call after supper, and talk
| the matter over
Blanche had never been SO magnificent,
in Wills sight, as on this evening. She
| plunged into the conversation with flashing
eyes and changing color, and showed her
self a regular enthusiast in favor Of the
Union. Will announced his intention of
hoisting the flag next morning, and she
struck hands with him as cordially as if she
were able to WELD a sword as well as nee.
die. 1t was unfortunate, perhaps, that the
old Judge retired just at the juncture, leav-
ing the young folks together. -
Encouraged by the warmth and enthusi-
asm of Blanchc's mood, VIII fairly and hon
estly told her how he loved her, how he had
hoped and suffered, and how immense his
happiness would be, if she would only con-
sent to become his wife.
She burst into tears. Then, recovered
herself, she confessed that she was more
grieved than he conld imagine, in telling him
that she could not accept, but it could not
be- He did her the highest honor, she felt,
in choosing her from among so many, and
she hoped they would ever remain the best
of friends, (women always hope that,) but
indeed-indeed, he must not speak Of love
to her again. .a.r
Then, having deprived the poor boy of
his only object or aim in life, she graciously
bade him good night, and went to her cham
Der to cry herself to sleep.
The next morning the stars and stripes
fluttered gaily from the front of the Manton
House, hut everybody remarked how pale
and forlorn its proprietor looked. He pass
ed the night in walking up and down his
room. prey to the direct fancies that can
fill the human heart.
| But his life sickness was MOTTO be Of long
duration. He had plenty to think about
before the day was old.
First came news Of mob, assembling
down by the riverside, where the coalmcn
and bargemen congregated. Then a COM
pany Of rowdy boys went along the streets
with drum and fife, cheering the Confed.
Grated States. Then people began to be
alarmed, and an earnest group Of takers
gathered about the Office Of the Justice Of
the Peace.
'Massa Will, you better look out said
the old negro who officiated as head waiter ;
there's lot o boys as wants you to take
in that putty flag. An they's mischievous
lookin' cubs, too, sah.'