Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1866-04-12

door bang that made the cat start in
her cosy corner of the red brick hearth,
and brought fresh torrent of tears to
Rosa's blue eyes.
"Oh, Aunt Tryphosa," she sobbed,
hiding her flushed face among the ap-
Piles in the good spinster's lap" what
shall we do2 He is being ruined---and
IL have no power TO hold him back"
"Sarve him right an obstinate
fool /" muttered the irate old lady.
Yet even while the words were on her
lips, the bony fingers caressed Rosa's
hair with strangely living touch.
For your sake, Rosa Pm vexed,
for your sake, my pretty one :"
IL had but known-yet he was
so different in the days when we used
to take those twilight walks, the days
before we were married My husband
drunkard oh, Aunt Tryphosa | !
would sooner we were both in our
graves
Don't talk so, pet" murmured
Aunt Tryphosa, taking off her dim
spectacles. The Lord knows what's
oest iOr US all, Out--
Hush !" CALCULATED Rosa, spring
ing to her feet. 90 hear the gate click
Aunt Tryphosa, he has thought better
Of it be has come back
No the slight, fair, almost girlish
looking young fellow in the lieuten-
ants uniform was not Jerome Fenwick
and there was touch of bitterness
even in the welcoming tears that Ro-
sa poured out on the breast of the
soldler-brother she had not seen for
three long years
Halo !"exclaimed Charley War
ner. Why, thought. you were 50
happy, Rosa. And where's my new
brothcr-in-law?"
He-he isn't at home," sobbed
out Rosa. "Oh. Charley, am very,
rery miserable |"
Well. this is queer welcome !"
quoth the lieutenant, sitting down in
front of the blazing chestnut logs, and
drawing Rosa upon his knee, "now
puss, tell me all about it-and some.
body hold my hands tight, for feel
very much like giving my unknown
brotherinlaw a thrashing before i know
anything of the merits of the case"
WE'LL reckon it's about time
for me to be moving said Jerome.
Now Jerome Fenwick was none the
worse for the frequent libations in
which he INDUCED ; at least not in his
own opinion. For be had firmly re-
solved, on entering the green baise
doors Of the Columbian Hotel" not
to drink too much, and he fancied he
had kept the resolution. Only-to
be sure, the sanded floor did surge to
and fro, little--and the great logs
in the chimney changed places with
the door in most unaccountable man
ner, and the voices around him sound
ed now close to his ear, now far away,
as If the speakers were receding into
dim distance. Yet jerome Fenwick,
with very wide open eyes. and a turgid
amiability upon his set features, reit-
Grated to himself "that he was all
right-as right as a trivet /"
Because, you see soliloquized
Jerome. aloud, Pm married man
and-aDd-duties owe to society
| can't be drunk, because"
He caught at the arm Of his chair as
it seemed to give sudden lurch, cell
ing-ward.
III guess III go back to Rosa !"
In the same instant a sudden cleo
trio thrill seemed to send the hot blood
back to his heart. Rosa yes, it was
her voice, speaking in the barroom
beyond. Her voice-and in what
words
"a glass of gin-sling-and be quick
about it. Pshaw none of your dish
water compouds make it hot aud
strong, man |"
Mrs. Fenwick I" calculated mine
host, in dismay.
Yes-Mrs. Fenwick are
you staring at? My husbands here,
isn't he and I've come to keep him
company. Pm tired of staying at
home by myself. If he's going to
make a regular practice of getting
drunk here, why be may as well do i,
in his wife's company-and I'll be
drunk too |"
Rosa |"
4 "Yes, my dear. Good evening to
you. gentlemen" she said, nodding
to the staring assemblage and taking
a long draught. Upon my word,
this feels warming after the night air
You are right, Jerome it is better
than crouching over the fire at home
I You're right. my dear-you're aiaeay.
right, and hereafter Pm going to fol
low your example"
Rosa, are you mad Come home
child" whispered Jerome, in an agon,
of modification.
Another glass. landlord I" ejac
ulated the amazon, giving Jerome, /;
push with her elbow. al didn't know
it was SO good. Try taste Of it, Je
rome /"
Rosa, l command You to come
I away"
I "What for? Hav'nt as mucl
e right here as any one You said yo,
g didn't care whether came or not
!. and here am /"
J. Jerome wiped the drops Of perspir
I alton from his brow and upper lip.
e "Do not mortify me thus, Rosa h
r whispered. Remember these specta
e tors"
"Well. you've mortified me enoug
] times and it's poor rule that won
work both ways. Landlord-l-
J, nk-lll-take-"
/" She paused abruptly, the two glass
!" es OF fiery liquid were apparently b.
l. ginning to tell on her feminine brail
b Her head fell on her breast, the blu
J. eyes stared stonily into space, and II
% arms fell heavily at her side.
(. She's gone exclaimed Joe Hyd
|? who had watched the crisis with j
q, tense interest.
ID II will trouble you to mind yo