The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1867-10-31
A Love Story.


For many days past the Police
Court has been exceedingly dull, and
heavy villains and common drunkaros
have the floor to themselves. Like
the needy knife grinder, they had no
story to tell, and the Court, accord
ingly, had no mercy to give. All that
was changed however, yesterday
morning, when the Clerk called "Mr.
Proctor"
Sadly and Reluctantly that gentle
man answered to his name; being too
weak to take his hat off, policeman
kindly knocked it on the floor. Miss
Mary -testificd that the prisoner
had called to see her Thursday, and
had made threats to her. She wish.
cd him bound over, hands and feet,
so that he could not harm her.
The 200 pounds OF Justice sternly
asked Mr.. Proctor if lie had anything
to say? ''Yes,' replied the unfortu--
nate. 81 have a story to tell; one of
love, Onions, and misery" For mo
ment justice smiled, forgetting its
d entity.
Jastics-itr. Clerk, fine Mr.. Proc
tor 81. Now, SIR, that your case is
settled, tell me your story.
Mr.. Proctor--Sir, you are undoubt-
eddy surprised to see person Of my
gentlemaEly appearance before you.
See what love have wrought! loved.
When the Police Court is added to
those two words the depth of misery
is expressed. But l did more than
that; | adored, worrhipped. | don't
do it now; Proctor will be himself
again when he gets out of this cur
sed place. In December last l met
this young LADY, speak the two
last words with deepest sarcasm
and to see her was to think of marri.
age. tried to make her mine;
did it with music and with song, with
opera and theater, with drinks and
suppers--ln short, | spent all my
money on her. TO me she was an
angel in petticovts and crinoline, and
wearing chignons. Oft urged the
supposed angel to be mine, and SC
otoen she denied the impassioned
prayer. But at last there camc d
blissful day, day fr.ught with nm
measurable happiness to me. / had
urged her to be my Mary and my
wife. She took from her poke,
something round, wrapped in rose
colored cotton, bright, an emblem Of
our love. She told me the cotton con
tanned tuberose bulb; that was to
plant it iii pot, nourish it as l would
her, and that wnen it blossomed she
would be my bride. ] shall never
forget that moment; all the glory and
bliss of life were contained in it.
wished, in an excess of happiness, to
kiss Mary, but she declined, saying
the kissing business was entirely oul
of her line. Reverentially did take
and handle that bulb; | bought por
celain pot for it to be planted in. Day
after day / watered it with tears o.
1 Joy and little watering-pot that
bought for that purpose. / would
rise in the dark hours of night anc
light the gas so as to examine my
precious pot and it's beautiful bulb.
knew that in the bulb depended my
happiness. Well, the days passed
on, and little sprout came through
the earth and glimmered brightly
green in the pot. was SO happy
4 hai. 4 nost rirnnk;; and in fact I MAS
brought here and introduced to you
The tuberose grew wondrous strong
and fair, and, strange to say, it hac
an onion-like smell. | often pcrceiv
ed it as | sat looking at the plant. A
child in love, suspected no evil; {
stranger to woman, expected no de
ceit--no onions. Last week, how
ever, my friend Brown called to see
me; with pride, | showed him my
tuberose. He looked, he smelled; h.
laughed. l asked for an explanation
and he gave it. lie showed me how
the bulb had forced it's way to the tor
of the earth; how the shoot had nj
bud, and how it smelt. With quicl
jerk, he pulled the precious bulb from
the pot and tossed it to met wa
an onion. Not even hyacinth O.
tulip; nothing but low, degraded
and sinking onion. / tainted. Why
was I ever restored tolife and misery
saw it all; il was practical joke
and she did not love me. l was un
well for day or two, and yesterda,
called to see her. / reproaehe'
her. She told me was unjust, ant
that she would marry me when tn
4 flower came. / was angry, and ,
threatened to kill her. She had m
arrested, and / am here. a
1 Justice-As | said before, you ar
fined 81. As for this young woman
she is fined $l0 for her confdenc
!, operation.
:. "While the Lamp holds out t
Burn" there is chance for restora
ton of health. II, therefore, the cor