Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-07-06

prised to find it smooth and glossy, and
fixed tight to my head. l involuntari-
ly sought to twirl my mustache, but 1t
wasn't there. Carrie, too, behaved
rather strangely. She sat with her
hands in her lap i'll a rather prim sort
of manner, and was nothing like as for
ward rs 1 was when l occupied that
form of mine. l found l loved her Just
rs much in that shape as in the other.
1t may have been only self-love after
all, but imagine that it was but con-
vincing evidence of the purity of my
affection. l was attached to her spirit
and not to her beauty. ...
Presently the French clock on tho
mantlepiece struck twelve. BY the
force of habit | arose and said, "Well
Carrie, l believe / will go home.n ..
My gracious, Joe," she said, "you
are at home. It's me that has to GO"
$50 it ISL replied, L forgot that.
You'll find my latch-key in the right
hand pocket. Good night" l said, and
went up and kissed her. -
La! joe" she said, "ain't you
ashamed of yourself? You know l
wouldn't have behaved myself in that
way" . ....o....
"You ought to if you don't" repli-
| ed, and showed her to the door, and
| j
| little afraid L should betray myself in
my new character, but i determined to
affect taciturnity in my intercourse
with Carries family, SO that l should
not at least tell the secret by my igno-
rance of things with which Carrie was
certainly familiar. But L was some
what embarrassed the next morning at
the breakfast table. Carries father and
brothers had finished their meal and
gone out her mother and l were alone
at the table. The old lady looked at
me so sharply that l blushed involun-
tarily at the thought that she had found
me out, but | knew this was impossi-
| bic, SO determined to brazen it through.
Presently she said, "Carrie, what time
did Joe Parsons go home last night?"
"At II O'clock, L believe" / replied.
| Has ne said anything to you yct?"
| inquired Carries mother.
| "What do you mean, mother?" said
Has he expressed his intentions ~
she said.
No, not yet" replied.
| "Well, it's pretty near time he had,"
remark ed the old lady for my part ]
don't like him much, and don't think
| he would be n very desirable match, for
4 he is not doing very well in the world
and l believe he is a young man of very
! unsettled habits.n
ooh! no he amt" replied, abe is
tolerably well off, and he has wealthy
relation, wiioso heir he will be. For
my part" said |, 81 think he is very
desirable young man. | hope he will
ask me, and [ will have him certain.
Carrie" said the old lady, opening
! her eyes in amazement, "ain't you
ashamed of yourself to talk so? Per-
haps the young man never thought OF
such a thing.n
"Didn't he though" said l. "rll
make him ask me tomorrow, | WILL
MY daughter" said the old lady,
81 do not approve of it. There's MIR.
| Slvers, j know would like to have you,
I and he is well-to-do in the world. l do
wish you would give him some encour-
/ agcment.'
TO pacify the old lady promised I
would, while ut the same time / swore
/ to have Silvers' hearts blood if ran
across him. AS luck would have it, a
note came that very morning from Sill.
rverS, asking Miss Carrie il he might
have the pleasure of her company for /;
drive that afternoon.n | sent him &
very alfectionate and encouraging reply
which | have no doubt made Silvers
caper around his room for JOY rs he con,
/ c!udcd that he had Mt last made an i'm.
preston. Poor Silvcrs, he didn't know
! thathe was being fattcncd with bliss, on
| ~ to be slaughtered by despair. at three
O'clock in the afternoon, Silvcrs drove
to the door in splendid turnout, and
| hitching his horses, rang the bell. |
! had fixed myself in Carries prettiest
bonnet and cloak, and | can, without
being accused of vanity, say that |
| looked dcliciOusly bewitching. | found
very little difficulty in arranging my
self; Carries fingers did it mechanical-
ly from habit. l entered the parlor
with one of her sweetest smiles on her
face, and Silvers rose to greet me. He
was georgeously apparelled. and as l
was pretty well posted i'm male attire, l
knew he had spent Several hours upon
his toilet. He was somewhat embar-
rasscd at first, but | greeted him with
the utmost cordiality, and glanced as
! tenderly at him IA | could. | even
ventured to give his hand q gentle
pressure rs took it, whereupon he be-
came more embarrassed than ever, but
seemed almost beside himself with Joy.
! You see had made up my mind to set
| tie Silvers' business that afternoon, and
! wanted to draw him out and get him
! to make fool of himself. We got int
the carriage aud drove off rapidly. l
| talked and laughed in Carries most
charming manner, keeping up a lively
| fire of remarks upon persons and things
upon the road, aud upon subjects in
general, but Silyers was shy. He evil
IDENTIFY had something on his mind,
which he wanted to get rid OF, and he
couldn't talk. | thought while 1 was
about it, might as well get his opin-
ion OF myself, SO said:
| "Mr. Silvers I have hcared some
queer stories about Joe Parsons lately ;
do you know anything of him ?"
| A gleam of joy passed over Silvers'
countenauce at THIS, and he said i'm a
kind Of hestating manner, that was ev-
identity assumed, "Ah, Miss Carrie, 1
don't like to tell what know of that
young man." "
&C You can speak freely to me, Mr..
| confidential" 4"
"Well," says he, "it pains me to say
, it, Miss Carrie, but Parsons is addicted
to the most horrible vices. He was
carried home i'm n state of senseless in
toxication, four nights last week"
!" You shock me, Mr.. Silvers," but I
had suspected this partly"
Yes" said he, "he is n dangerous
young man, and should be truly sor-
/ ry to have him intimate with any fe-
male friend of mine"
| felt good deal like getting up and
punching Silvers' head at this, but /
kept my temper, and waited for my
revenge. Coming home I observed
that Silvers was worked up pretty near
the proper pitch of desperation, and l
kept perfectly silent. Presently he
burst out suddenly with
Miss Carrie, l want to talk with
you upon a serious matter"
LA, Mr.. Silvers," said I, "you
frighten me-"
"The fact is," said he, that ! long
ago learned to regard you with more
than common esteem, and am now
that is--that-ah-h-h.n Silvers here
became SO embarrassed that he could
| not go on. @
Well, what of it, Mr.. Silvers?n l
calmly said. aa
He boiled over at this point, and said
desperately, "Why, Carrie, love you
and want you to be my wife"