Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1866-02-01
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!, Fitz Arthur wandering around the wild
ow's cottage with his skefcl-book un
der his arm, though no one ever saw
: him making any use Of it. As for Ally
Clare, she was the envy. of all the pref.
| ty girls in Bradford, who tried in vain
70 win the notice Of the distinguished
looking stranger. ~ "''"
One by one, the suitors for the hand
OF the village beauty were dropping
away before so great rival. Blu
Philip, who was proud to fault, hiC
all his love and jealousy under lool
: of cold indifference. Then people sait
that Philip Hart cared very little fol
the fair young girl who it was though,
would be his future wife. All could
they have seen him crouching among
| the bushes OH the roadside, watching
his little Ally bestowing her smiles
and sweet words on stranger-words
and smiles that should be his-they
would have felt for him as | did.
Well, things went on in this way
for about fortnight. The Widow
i Clare was in high glee, and went sing
4 ing about her cottage like any young
] girl. Being an old friend of Mrs. Glare
and loving her child as if she were my
own, | took the first opportunity tc
lspeak good word for my favorite
Philip. Great was my surprise, when
she said in an offended tone
'H" You know, Mrs. Malahide, that
Philip Hart wouldn't make suitable
husband for my daughter He hasn't
the means of supporting wife, and
will not have for some years to come.
Indeed she added, in an exulting tone,
81 have fardifferent prospects in view
for her. 1t was but half an hour ago
that her hand was claimed from me in
MARRIAGE 8 aiat ~
"Mr: Fitz Artllur?sI ventnred to ask.
/ Mr.. Colamber Fitz Arthur she
went on to say, with vain effort to
conceal her pride and qualification,
wishes 70 make Ally his wife--hc
has my full consent, having fully salts
fled me as to his rank and prospects
" And does Ally give her consent p"
asked, in tone of disappointment,
not having so strong faith in the gen
tleman's rank and prospects as the
hopeful mother. u.
Why, what do you think - she
returned coldly. :" If you look through
the back window you can see the two
lovers walking in the meadow"
A deep groan started us both, at the
| same instant that we observed Philip
Hart standing at the half open door.
lie was sadly changed his eyes look
ed sunken, his checks hollow, and a
deadly palencss overspread his face.
Mrs. Clare he said, in a heart
broken voice, al have heard all.
came here to see Ally and know the
worst But, for Gods sake tell me
truly, will she marry this this s.ran-
ger?"
"What right have you to ask that
question, Philip Hart Z" she returned,
reddening with anger" THIS stranger,
indeed. You must know that Mr.. Fitz
Arthur can buy all Bradford. hope,'
she continued in different tone, ta-
king some pity on his wretcLed looks.
" that you will not cloud my daughters
happiness by troubling her with a pro-
fession of your love, which can never
Gnd return" /
You need not fear it," he said, bit
terly. She shall never see me again.
The poor fellow turned round, wished
me good-by, in choking voice, and
hurried out of sight As | arose to 60,
old Madge the village gossip entered,
and | felt sure then that Mr.. Fitz Ar
thurs proposal would be the talk of
every tireside in Bradford before eve-
ming. ~ .......s
of course, the news spread about,
and every one wished well to little Al
ly. But while the many thought her
fortune made, few, and myself among
the number, had a suspicion that Mr.
Fitz Arthur wasn't what he represent
ed himself to be.
To the surprise of every one, little
Ally herself, was the first to contra
dict the report of her engagement
with Mr.. Fitz Arthur-and though it
was easy to see that the widows heart
was set upon the match, she loved her
child too well to force her to wed
against her inclinations.
The next day it was rumored through
the village that Mr.. Fitz Arthur had
suddenly and mysteriously disappear
ed and later still in the day, the news
went about that Philip Hart had not
been seen since the previous noon.
Twas alone in the cottage that same
afternoon, pondering on the strange
disappearance of Ally Clare's two low
ers, and dreading the worst-,it was
now the belief of all that they had
met and quarrelled, though none offer
ed a conjecture as to the result-when
the door was flung open, and Widow
Clare and her poor child stood before
me. They were both very pale, and
Ally looked bewildered, almost breath
less, with grief and excitement
| saw at glance that the pride of
yesterday had vanished, while the good
widow was now humbled and SORROW
full. She had come to learn if knew
anything Of Philip, aud on telling her
that had seen him last under her own
root, she shook her head with some
thing of a sad meaning, saying:
All, my heart misgave me yester-
day when he broke away SO, with his
wild looks and tones. May Heaven
preserve us from every danger! l
trust and pray that the poor boy hasn't
fallen into any SIM
A low, heart breaking cry from Ally
checked her. knew then, as well as !
| did afterwards, that the foolish child |
loved none other than Philip Hart !; /
but piqued at his seeming indifference, |
with yonng girls desire for admira-
tion, she had permitted the attentions
of Mr. Fitz Arthur.
Before night the mystery was partly
cleared up, giving the good people of
Bradford food for talk for many long
day. Two strangers arrived i'm tho