The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-02-18

| left the amy. and heard .

the same. :
All doubt on this subject was re- 1
moved the next day by a note l re-
ceived inviting me to an interview at
ihe fair woman's lodgings / found
her framed in by elegant upholstery,
and yet more fascinating in the deli
cate morning robe that so adorn a
beautiful woman by the concealed
effort to adorn. A tall, square Quilt,
iron gray man, of an intensely respec
table look, was introduced as her
husband and so long as he was present
no allusion whatever was made to the
past, other than the few words OF
introduction as an cid and valued
friend. Soon as he left, however, she
turned and said
allow kind of you not to recognize
me yesterday. My poos heart was
in my mouth when l saw you APP
proach. But you have such tact
you have such kind heart. | was
relieved in minute when l saw that |
you stared as if only attracted by |
my charms"
"Why, wouldn't your husband put
up with the part you are, | suppose,
concealng from h:m?"
"My husband"--and she gave a
silvery little laugh-"my husband,
that fellow! Why, he isn't my hus.
band. We only believe. But
if the Hon. you saw me with
yesterday were to suspect for mo-
ment, l would be ruined"
"Come, now, this is interesting; tell
me all about it. What little game arc
youup to? Believe me, | won't be-
tray YOU
"Thal's..clever you never have,
and | don'tsadd to the risk by telling
| you. Well, l am no longer detcc-
tive-a spy am lobby agent 1t
| is my business to persuade honorable
members to vote for our bill"
| "What is your bill?'
"The one l employed to worry
through
"Well, docs it require sham hus-
!. band, handsome carriage, and all
this sort of thing to set up lobby
agent 2"
"Certainly. without husband |
would not be respectable without a
carriage and all this evidence OF
I wealth | would not be attractive
! 1t pays, however. l could retire now
t on a hundred thousand; but am hor.
9 ribly ambitious l want million
J, only think of it, l must hayea million
9 l have sold myself for money, and I
Y want good price"
: "And do none of the honorable
s Representative know who you are?'
Il "Why, you goose! I thought you
!, knew better than that. Why, tho
l. ring always reaches into the House
y and Senate, and some of our director.
g are the most respectable and piou
: men in Congress. There is one-th,
n most benevolent, pious, philanthropi
, individual in the world. He is so in.
y y tensely pious that he never speaks t,
:. me-nevcrtheless he pays me heavi
~ ly. HERE'S another, most respect
- able gentleman, who bows to me pre-
- foundly, in the gallery and on tn
J, avenue, and presents me to his famil,
= !, with lofty air, who would look a
- me with intense astonishment, if
. were to thank him tor my clothes
> carriages and servants. Yet he con
y tributes"
d. "Why, this is so damnable, | ca
~ scarcely credit it,"
u eyes, it is very wicked, and l.
" rather you wouldn't believe it. Blu
~ after the schooling you gave me i
= deceiving, you ought not to wonder.
10 "You mean that for hit-forget
= ting that that service was in beha1
!. of your beloved country, and this
n "ls in behalf OF my beloved self"
- "But d. you mean to say that me
- in high position connivc at this wick
edness?'
. "Look about you; see the cnormou
:, fortunes realized by officials, and yo
~ will find that mine is not the onl,
y carriage rolling about Washington
Ia that is a fraud, and l am but amon
~ the host Of the wicked. You are to
- much man of the world, Colonel
9. to be astonished at finding goo
~ deal of sanctimonious respectable,
40 covering rascality. 1t is the cheap
~ est cloak to get, and the easiest T.
IL wear"
!. "And how do you influence thcs
y Solons?"
~ Sometimes one way, sometime
10 another; but always in being YER
u quiet and exclusive The game W
~ play for is cautious and cunning
n The men bought cheaply arc the me
81 !, not worth buying. My business
: among the higher sort, that will nc
" stoop to common carrion, and carr
y with them great moral character
L. that not only covers themselves, bu
~ all the rogues who vote with them.
y "And you often failY'
II Sometimes; not often. You re
aS member the temptation of st. Anthe
~, ny: .
~ "Of all the devils under the skie,
~ Devils wicked, or devils wise
:. Devils short, or devils tall,
IN A pretty woman with laughin
~ eyes
ha 10 iue UlScst ucNll vi Iueln all.
ed "My mission is to capture the leac
u ers. The lesser lights are left I
- coarser means. Some surrender t,
&c delicious little suppers-others t
d, persuasion-others again to love-
Or There is Gen. -, proud, sensitiv
III and suspicious he comes to me wit
b all his griets, and | listen. You'd b
ID astonished to know how little tn
" tongue and how much the ear has L
g. do with this business. Then, Their,
is Mr. who began life with
le homely, unrefined wife, and is nov
lie ashamed of her. Poor man, he is real
u ly in love with me-"
d "And will all the money you max,
d pay you for the degradation you suf
le fer in return? You are woman 0
fine intellect--an intellect that ap
y proaches genious-you can command
d admiration, respect-evenwealth by
devoting your gifts to an honorable
= pursuit"
0. Her face flushed for second, anc
! then starting to her feet and pacing
g. the floor in some excitement, she ex.
claimed
l. II learned my power when it was toe