Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-06-02

naturally don't look much below that IN
others. There's Mrs Bugbee-why that
woman is an inscrutable problem to ne !;
and Blanche, I believe hardly nn-
derstand her, ii she is my own CIR"
81 don't believe you do" thought
Ralph "nor any body else for that mat
teri am sure I DON'T" but he said,
aloud:
"How comes on our friend Bradlee's
wooings Probably he understands every
rope in that craft"
20 no he don't! / tell you, it's rare
sport to see how nice she plays her line,
letting him oat, and then drawing him In
as scientifically ~ used to fish for trout
in that little brook down in old Plymouth
But there's this difference her bait takes
better than mine didr' and Tom Arnold
laughed gaily and heartily.
"What will you do for housekeeper,
Tom, if you lose Mrs. Bugbees" his sis.
ter asked
81 don't know, am sure. Sometimes
I have half mind to marry Bugbee my
self on the spot. I don't know but l
would ii it wasn't for Ned !; 4 think 80
much of Ned that believe 1 would &C.
tually rather he would have her than have
her myself What is a mans laying down
his life for his friend compared to that, l
should like to known" he asked, with RI
diculous solemHity.
"Tom, wish you would marry some
good, nice woman, Mrs. Anderson said
earnestly.
"You don't mean q pious woman,
Myray" he asked, in tone of consterna.
ton, with sly glance at the face of his
brother in law. Why swear sometimes,
when I'm surprised or mad just think
how it would shock her. Besides, she
would be sending all my clothes to the
heather, as Jim Bu,ridge's wife does
Poor Jim! Why, the poor fellow hasn't
got but one pair Of trousers to swear by.
But that is not the worst of it. His little
girl-his dead wife's child-is kept on oat.
meal Cruel, and bits of mouldy bread, and
beaten half to death if she tells of It, in
order to send the money her board would
cost to the poor little New Zealsnders,
who are heathens. and don't know any
thing about the blessings of the gospelw
+" But Mrs Burridge is an extreme case,
Tom, you know as well as l. There's
Lucia Comfort"
my dear Myra," he interrupted, laugh
ing, miss Lucia is not the sort Of COM
fort want! There's only one woman
that know that think would quite suit
me--and I'm not sure that she would"
"Who Is it, Tom ?" she asked, eagerly.
"Why you, you goosey!" he said,
pinching her cheek, but sudden unac-
countabIe color surged up over his face,
and it suddenly occurred to him that he
was in hurry. If you would like to
90 down after Blanche this evening"" he
said, looking back 70 Ralph as he stood in
the door, why, will not 60 down. She is
expecting me tonight"
"pll go down then" Ralph said, quietly
"All right, then; good morning" and
he shut the door, and a moment after rode
away;
Ralph was an enigma to himself till that
day. In the first place he was decidedly
cut of temper, and there was no reasona-
bic excuse for such a feeling, that he
would admit. In the second place he
wasn't particularly enthusiastic over the
prospect Of going for Blanche. The
people where she was staying were stran-
that was the reason ; but-there was the
Iete with his pretty cousin usually stirred
time, but to-day 1t sent never 30 much as
the iaintest little thrill through his veins.
s. PEasrhsgs had better state here. the
Blanche and Ralph that is, ~ nearly g I
1t Is possible to describe such relations in |
hat peculiar unsettled, undeclared state, |
when no vows have been spoken, and |
only the eyes have dared to hint what is
10 the heart.
Ralph was by nature susceptible,
ardent, impulsive. Since his betrothal he
had been almost wholly removed from
society. 1t had the charm Of
novelty for him, and when his cousin
who understood the art of fas-
cination by nature, blushed and dropped
her eyes when he looked ut her-thOse
changeful, wonderful eyes, that
limited 90 much through their silken
when she put her hand, her
soft, futtering hand, in his with such shy
frankness, and called him her "dear
Ralph;" and when she fattered him In
little delicate way 9, which seemed TO es
cape her tongue and eyes despite her
Is it any wonder that the un-
young sailor succumbed TO
what was very evidently his fate !!
He found, too, that it was rather ex-
pected of him to fall in love with his
cousin by both families, and, indeed, it
did not seem ct all hard thing TO do
with the encouragement he received. It
besides TO be foregone conclusion
on all sides, and people began to banter
him about being married. some going so
far as to inquire Of him II "he was going
10 take his wife with him when he sailed |
In the spring"
It half vexed and half pleased him. 1t |
sent little, exquisite, delightful thrill
along his nerves to think Of Blanche a.
his wife-she was beautiful and bewilder-
ing enough TO stir less susceptible heart
than his-but he rather wished people |
would not be in such haste to talk about |
Il before he had ventured to do 30 him-
self. As far ~ his "courtship"-if there
had been any such thing-was concerned,
u only consisted 80 far In certain little in
descrfbablc glances = which everybody |
with the least imagination-or ex-
fancy for Themselves |
If little, lingering, caressing touches-snd,
well, I'm not lulte sure but there might
have been . kiss or two in the dark, such
things have happened, even when the par
ties weren't cousins, ~ in the present in
stance. hope no person with rigid
sense of propriety will accuse me Of wink
10 81 hn;u rAonao 4