Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1866-01-04

Will IdIc, NiHHiuS ouiiic vi Ills HhC
~ cut lips.
Thercsa's heart gave joyful bound;
while her mother was delighted at this
confession, which she considered al
most tantamount to a declaration.
Grace, meantime, was studying his face
with her soft blue eyes, witha puzzled
expression in their depths.
by the way, ladies, l am glad to
know that You have relative of mine
in your house-my good cousin, Geo.
Cudworth, as fine fellow as ever
eathed You must be good friends
with him, little Oracle, if for no other
reason than because he resembles me
SO much that we have been taken for
each other" said Lansing with pc
culiar smile.
Why, Cousin Rodney, Pm sure !
can't see the resemblance exclaim-
ed Theresa, idly contrasting the fash
ionably attired, jaunty Lansing, with
the plainly-clad, sober clerk, whom she
had hardly designed to notice
"Oh, but l do land assure you,
I've been thinking, ever since you have
been here, that you look more like Mr..
Cudworth the night Of mama's party
than he looks like himself-if you can
reconcile what mean /" said Grace,
eagerly.
Nonsense, child! How strangely
you do see !" said Mrs. Zimmerman.
There may be some resemblance, ad-
mit--a general likeness Of form and
feature, between you and this young
man, Rodney-your cousin, did you
say ?--but not enough to warrant the
mistake, which is not very fattering
TO you. Grace sees queer things, some
l tines"
| Oh, | assure you she was extraor-
dinarily attentive to papa's new clerk
the night of our party, Cousin Rod
ney I" said Theresa, with an expires
sion of sarcastic scorn. "You should
have been here, and seen how she de
h voted herself to him ! / really expect
: some romance will come out of it
How very nice it would be, for Oracle
> to have you for double cousin, Rod
ney l"
1 "yery We must endeavor to
bring our relationship as close as we
can, my little Oracle I" exclaimed
Lansing, with that peculiar smile mp
on his lips, but an undefinably tender
} light in his eyes.
Did you notice the way in which
Rodney told Grace they must bring
their relationship as near as possible
Tressy 2" said Mrs. Zimmerman trium
phantly, as they were together after
Lansing's departure. {" You may be
sure he meant something, my love
1t is as good as settled--you will be
married to him before the year is out
Won't Sallie Winchester be half dead
with envy?"
Following this eventful day with the
Hunnemans, came the three months to
which we have referred during
which, the clerk, George Cudworth,
quietly fulfilled his duties at the count
ing room of his employer and Rod
ney Lansing came, almost daily, to the
mansion where Theresa met him with
smiling welcomes. And all this time,
as has been seen, little Grace was en-
bodied kindness and sunshine to all
with whom she came in contact.
Perhaps, indeed, o skilfull observer
might have wondered why, when Rod
ncy ,Lansing's conversation and atten-
tions were mostly for the elegant ell
der sister, his eyes fingered SO on lit
tie golden haired Oracle !! And such
might have wondered, also, why The
rosa or her ambitious mother did not
send little Oracle from the drawing
room, when Rodney sometimes forgot
to pay the courtly compliment to the
belle and beauty, in asking the young
err sister to play him one of her sweet
Scotch ballads, which she sung with
such exquisite grace and feeling.
But then, Grace is only child
and he thinks he must notice her now
and then, for your sake, Tressy !"
Mrs. Zimmerman would say.
But the drama was fast drawing
near its close.
One evening, Mr.. Zimmerman enter
ed the room where his wife and daugh-
tiers were sitting, with an expression
that savored OF unusual news upon
his face.
Something has surprised me to-
day." he said. Lansing was at my
counting room, and asked for the hon
or of being my son-in-law. never
was more taken off my feet in my life,
for hadn't ever dreamed of the thing.
Now for q home-council, to settle the
anxious fellows destiny. What do
you say to it, mother?"
Mrs. Zimmerman darted triumphant
look toward her eldest daughter.
I" knew it! Tressy, my love, don't
be excited |! 1t does come suddenly
after all ~ 4ssf-af fy ~
Yes, indeed I'd no idea of it
The demure little puss ~ and, very
singularly, Mr.. Zimmerman let his hand
drop caressingly on the head of Oracle,
who had -shrunk, blushing, into the
depths of the armchair she occupied.
g You may well be surprised, The
resa; for | dare say you, too. never
thought Rodney Lansing was coming
home from Europe to rob us of our
Sunshine. What shall we do without
Oracle ~ 4aF SIN ~ 49, EiH {.
! c"Graoe!n The word was spoken,
in shrill scream by her mother.
!" Gyaoe!" Theresa's tone was as full
Of surprise, but hoarse and low with
rage, anger and modification. 71t
"Certainly-our little Oracle, whom
Lansing says he spoke to, and made
sure of, last night, while you were
away at the opera--that is, he made
as sure Of as he could, until they knew
whether papa was willing? =" said
Mr.. Zimmerman, but dimly comprehend
ing their agitation. Well, as you
cannot have any objections-fo L
know you all think highly of Rodney
Isuppose might as wei, put the poor
fellow out of his misery and suspense.
All l That's the ring now. guess ~.
as a quick bell pull came. Come,
Oracle. if it's Rodney, ! shall send for
Pyou to come up presently SO Danish
your bushes and the fond father