The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-06-11

i
parcel under his arm, suggestive of lace
and ribbons, instead of having him all t.
yourself, day in and out. 10 know that
the blue-breathed evening cigar will inevt,
tably be abbreviated by "Oh, my wife will
be anxious, if I'm not home by . o'clock"
To tell him about the pink bonnet that you
met in the stage yesterday, and be eener'
ally confidential, and then find your tongue
suddenly palsied by the conviction that he
VIII tell his wife every word you have beer,
saying. There's no use talking about the
thing-its actually indescribable.
Do you suppose didn't feel jealous
when Jack Marclyffe got married? Do you
suppose the green.eyed monster didn't in,
splre me with all sorts Of unamiable feelings
towards the little brown-eyed beauty who
had cut me out so completely? It took
some time to reconcile me to the new state
of things. But when found out that she
didn't object to my sitting on the balcony.
and smoking with Jack-nay, that she &C.
tually lighted cur cigars for US, and then
brought her little foot stool, and sat down
beside sus-that she laughed like . peal Of
merry bells at my bachelor chances and
mishaps-and that she liked to have me
come to dinner on Sundays, then
thought Jacks wasn't so bad an institution
after all. And one day when she brought
out her tiny wicker work basket, and stood
on tip toe to sew the loose button upon my
coat, capitulated in good earnest.
Jack" said "your wife is-well not
exactly an agel, for don't believe In angels
about the house-but the sweetest little
woman I ever set my eyes upon. You
won't be jealous, old fellow?"
! jealous no |" said Jack, stretching his
neck SO as to look after the light disappear.
ing figure. "But I'll tell you what, Arthur
YOU ought to see Mary's sster!'
Sure enough, about two weeks after
wards, as came in at the sweet brier shad-
owed gate, and paused to look at the Grim.
son Glove pnks just opening their fringed
sounded in the low eaved piazza, and al.
most before knew it, Jack Marcly ffe's arm
was through mine, and he was inti Oducing
me to duplicate edition Of his wifs-a
scarlet Tipped, arch eyed girl in white mus.
| lin, with coral bracelet on her arm
From that moment was gone-.I didn't
know whether l sat in Jacks velvet easy
chair, or on tho top rail of the fence-I said
mo, thank you,' when Mrs. Jack asked
me how was-I stirred my cup Of choco-
late with pen knife, and tried to put the
| tao'e.cloth into my pocket instead Of .
handkerchief- and finally disgraced myself
irrevocably by putting the match box into
the cradle and depositing the baby on the
marble mantle piece!
Good gracious, Mr.. Arden I" exclaimed
Mr. M"rclyfe, what is the nlatter!'
Il believe-I think-Tve got cold i'm
my head!' faltered l, looking all the time
straight at Agnes, who was playing with
her coral bracelet and pretending not to
laugh.
Jack" said I, that evening, as he went
out to the gate with me, ''there's no use
trying to mnce matters-if I can't win
| Miss Agnes | shall take arsenicr'
Jack squeezed my hand he'd "been
through the mill'' himself.
40 you think she cares for me, Jack ~
| asked, plaintively, about a month after
wards. II declare, honestly, I've the
greatest mind in the world to jump off the
pier, or to hang myself, peaceably. Now
what does she mean by flirting with that
great red -whiskered Carew? Oh, Jack, do
be mcrciful-tell me what you really
think?'
Poor Marcly ffs it was about the thirtieth
time had asked him the same question.
Why, how can tell, Arthur You
might as we'll ask me to read the Hindoo
alphabet as to decipher the mysteries of
woman's heart. Why don't you ask her
yoursclf?"
"Me ask her!" and the cold chills ran
through me like veins of ice. "Jack, I
dare not, for my life ~
| Jack burst out into laugh. ..-
swell, | can't give you any better ad.
vice. said he, "only remember, my boy,
that faint heart never won fair lady"
lie turned away, and left me standing in
the amber flush of the twilight, among the
crimson clusters of cinnamon roses, and
the tall coronals of cleaning lilies. Up in
the sky the new moon hung, q curved
thread of silver, and one bright star bore
its lance of pearl against the radiant hori-
zon. l looked absently up at the fair at
mosphere-down at the blossoming garden
Of flowers, thinking in the midst of my
pcrplexity, how like the blue heaven was
to Agnes eyes, and marvelling that the
pink roses were so near akin to the dainty
color that came and went upon her soft
cheek.
Beside the low French window that
opened upon the piazza floor, I saw the
flow of muslin drapery through the fragrant
gloom-it was where Mrs. MarclyGe was
wont to sit with her baby. l caught the
| very refrain Of the low delicious cradle song
| she warbled in the tiny sleeper's ear. A
bright thought struck mel would take
| wolnan's wit into my counsel
Mary" said l, sitting down on the
piazza step, and leaning my head against
the rose enwreathed pillar just opposite the
window, II wish you'd tell me what to do
I'm desperately in love with your sister
Agnes, and--don't laugh now-L haven't
courage to tell her So"
paused an instant and then went oh
81 love her better than my life. Mo-
that is not saying enough would die to
make her happy. Oh, Mary, can't you give
me word Of encouragement? I dare not
tell her of my love, because my heart
shrinks so, in dread, from the one little
word no! VIII she speak it, do you
think?"
There was no answer, still
"Mary, will she break my heart?
spoke with trembling accents, fresh
from the deepest recess Of my soul-the
| very air seemed to sob around me as I
ceased One instant Of silence, in the soft,
pulsing fragrance of the midsummer twi.
light, land then there was flutter of light
azure robes, the fall Of q fairy footstep.--
Ere | could look up, soft, white arm,
cleaning with the clasp of a blood-red
ceral bracelet, was round my neck--a
shower of brown curls nestled in my
breast!
''She will net-she never will ~
The voice was that Of Agnes Day!
held the coy, coquettish trembler to my
heart! .... ...s =.
Life has been brimming with sweets ever
since--many golden moment has paused
to sprinkle its chalice Of joy around my