Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-08-31


awful teeth.
Then he recovered himself, and turaed
to address his lovely companion cree
more. But the rattle of the wheels over
| the Fifth avenue pavement drowned the
rest OF the conversation for the presen.
ooh, nursie, he was so dreadful I" said
Mabel, piteously, as old Christina, the
time honored domestic of the family, was
| combing out her hair that evening
Christina had had the sole care of Ma
bels amber hair ever since, twenty years
ago, there had been any such hair to be
cared for.
"Think not of him, my Mabelein," ad-
vised the old lady. "He was some crazy,
runaway man"
THAT'S what thoughts at first, )" rcjoined
Mabel. "But, nursie, he seemed to
know all about me, even my engagement
to Charlie, that no one knows, sou know
''why,' said Mabel, blushing at the Tecollec.
ton, he addressed me as Mrs. Caleph
and, when told him | wasn't married yet,
the horrid thing said | must marry him
and right-of too, or we would both be
deadi And then he went on and talked
about all sorts of the strangest, most in
comprehensive things, and read something
to me out Of a dirty notebook he had
about groups and the law, and distrbu-
tons, and literal identities, and don't
know what else. Wasn't it terrible?"
But he Is gone-he returns no more,"
said nursie, soothingly.
"Ah, but he does return said Mabel,
disconsolately. "He's coming here to-
morrow night; he said he must come any
way to get my answer. Think OF it And
l told him to come, then, because Charlie
will be here, you know, and he ctn talk to
him."
what name has he, my Mabehin ?" in
quired Christina
oh, some German name; | smember
it reminded me somehow of YOUR last
name, nursie-' Lapech.' There was
'pech about It, and-oh, yes, know, it
was Pechal-Dr Pechal"
Christina started so that, for almost the
first time in her life, she pulled Mabels
hair.
"Ahp' screamed Mabel; then, catching
sight of the old lady's face in the mirror,
"why nursie dear. what's the rnaters"
Nothing, my Liebchen, nothing; only
that the name reminded old Christina of a
time-long ago, before thou vast born, Ma
belein-when she, too, was engaged TO be
married. All, that was happy time!"
sighed nursie.
"Tell me all about it, DEAR" sale Mabel,
persuasively; all matters of the heart were
to her of paramount interest and import
ance.
"There is little to tell, Liebchen. He
was stout, handsome and brave; he wore
students cap, and fought with the
Schlsger He was wise, also; he knew
more than all the professors. And he
loved his Christinchen and TO me he was
very dear" said the old lady, simply.
"But why didn't you marry him" de.
manded Mabel.
"Ah, that is sad history, Mahelein
Thou kno~est We once were wealthy, and
had rank. But time came--we had lost
our fortune we were poor aud uIfortu-
nate. But he was brave; he said | will
go, Christinchen, and see. / will make
fortune for US all And he went, bnt |
never after saw him, and | think be died,
for believe not he would ever forget his
Christilchen"
Poor dear old nursie," said tie tender,
hearted Mabel, with tears standing ia her
sweet eyes. And was this before you
came TO us?"
"Yes, Liebchen; your father apd mother
were then boarding at our house; and your
dear mother, who is now dead liked me
and her; SO when you went away, she
took me to be nurse and to help her. /
said: IL he comes, l must leave YOU. But
he never came, and am always here"
Poor, dear, old nursie,' thought Mabel,
again, an hour later, as she lay with her
cheek upon her hand, waiting for sleep.
And she never told me of it before !!
Well, come day perhaps he will come back
and marry her, and then she will be as
happy as--l shall be-"
Do pleasant dreams always go by con
trariess
"Do you mean to say, sir" demanded
Charlie who sat with Mabel's little trem-
bling hand in his, :" that you have evolved
the law which regulates the time, place,
and circumstances, of the death of every
human beingY"
ut Is precisely that" replied DR.. Pc.
chal, charmed at being so well understood.