Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1866-04-26
Murar Da1e.
FROM the fady's Friend for May 1866
BRAVE HEART OF A WOMAN
By INA LOCKE.


| This was said to the eldest of her
two servant girls 10y Mrs. Esquire
Walden ; and saying this, she inme-
diately went up stairs. 1t was an
evening in May, and the moon had not
yet risen, but it was scarcely dark,
the late light still lingering on the
horizon, while the large stars had al.
ready appeared. Mrs. Walden stopped
a moment in the sleeping-room of her
children and listened to their breathing,
and then went into her own room. In
the dim twilight she perceived the fig
ure of her husband reclining Oh the
counterpane.
You here, Esquire? I am COM
pletely exhausted. But the house is
empty at last, thank fortune !" and
with this heathenish exclamation she
sunk into an easy chair. IL need
actually to be made into three several
and distinct persons, each one posses
sing all the edergy and ability which
has fallen to my allotment" she went
Oh to say, talking partly to her hus-
band and partly TO herself Myself
number one, would have her hands
full to keep house and look after these
two inefficient, gossiping maids, bak-
ing, brewing, washing, and spinning.
Number two is needed to do the fine
sewing and take care of the children :;
and it certainly requires all the time,
strength and talents of another to en-
tertain our company-uncles and aunts,
cousins and second cousins, third cou-
sins and no cousins at all your guests
to dinner, my callers and tea-drinkings
from the neighbors, from fashionable
Mrs. White down to good, simple Mrs
Green, and all the hues and shades
that come between the two Cousin
Joanna and her children have gone at
last here is breathing spell but |
cannot help thinking of the fox and the
flies in the fable where the friendly
swallow offered to drive the blood
thirsty wretches away" and Mrs.
Walden laughed gayly, for she was by
no means speaking querulously. ~
wish | could abide year at the least
in the heart of the Vermont woods"
she added, laughing still
The figure stretched out on the bed
groaned
Della" he said, "you don't know
what you are saying
There was something in the tone in
which these words were uttered that
electrified Mrs Walden. She started
to her feet
What is the matter, William !!
You frighten nae /! Are you i'll 7"
Worse than that" came the reply,
IL voice 80 unnatural that Mrs Wal
Den began ia tremblc violently.
SHALL he .n jail TOMORROW
What d" You mean? What have
yon done ?" asked his wife, making a
great effort To drive back taitness
she felt coming over her.
Done 2" The syllable was not
question or an exclamation, but the
intonation, which cannot be conveyed
on paper, carried to the lady's mind an
emphasis of reproach, self-accusation
and despair. Lired beyond our means"
said he. II shall be in Jail tomorrow
for debt, unless fly disgracefully and
leave you to face the creditors alone,
which have no heart to do. Our fur
niture will all GO and the half not be
paid"
90, for debt and Mrs. Walden
sat down on the bed and breathed
freely " | thought it was something
dreadful -
"Well, what else is it?" and her
husband spoke almost reproachfully f;
disgraceful flight off into those Yer
mont woods, which you were talking
about minute ago, or the disgrace of
a Jail, to transmit with our name to
our children and Esquire Walden
sighed heavily again.
Vermont woods, indeed that is
not a bad thought but let us talk it
tover calmly. Stay behind shall not.
Why not go into the Vermont woods
and begin life anew am equally to
blame with you if we have lived ex-
travagantly. l have been thonght-
less, gay woman. This sudden blow
makes me see life, myself, everything
so differently l am ready to go with
you anywhere, and give up all to the
creditors but there is no use to any
one in your going to Jail. The dis
grace and punishment is sufficient,
without that. Let me think. The
maids will not be back until morning
gone to some sort of a frolic-good,
SO far it is an hour to moon-rise good
again. William, we will start for the
Vermont woods in half an hour"
"My dear, have you lost your SEN
ses ~
why no, | hope not. shall need
them all to arrange what am to do.
| must pack the portmanteau with our
clothes, the strongest and coarsest OF
them, take plenty of luncheon for the
children, wake them and dress them
you must saddle both horses, we must
be out Of the village before the moon
rises. Now come, Squire, there is nc
time to lose"
"Do you really think we can do So !
You are not strong, and then the
childreni"
Don't you see there is no other
way to do? 1t is to keep you out OF
Jail We will send the horses back
! when We reach place where we wish
tn stop, SO the creditors will not be
harmed. DO you imagine | would stay
here without you, to receive condo
lence from Mrs Flouncer and the rest
Or do You suppose would live any
where without you when could e
with you? We must make haste"