Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-09-28
NO. 2s2..-.

and proposal. Sh0ufn the latter come,
she had resolved to- accept it. II, did
come. Everything conspired TO make it
easy, and it was made far less awkwardly
than Jane had imagined possible from
Obadiah. The hand and heart were CSC
cepted--not with unseemly haste, but
with good feeling and womanly delibera-
tlon. The county seat reached, they nisde
various purchases, dined, and were sbout
starting for home.
'Obadiahpn ass saI
"Wel, Jane"
Have you got everythinae" asked
Jane. Ell
Every thing I can think Of" said he.
Think again, badiah''-with saolissle
timidity. # ~ 5oag4 rag-
II can't think, unless it's q cooking
stove"
mo. Obadiah; it's the license" ssi
"Licensep'' @cs 90 1ga0a
Yes, the marriage license"
With more alacrity than he usually ex-
hibited, he dismounted, and prucnrad that
necessary document. It was late In the
afternoon when they finally started. 5Ey-
erything had gone well. They were I'd
delicious dalliance with the last Halt n
happy day. and on the return Of : memor-
able trip. At the moment when Obadiah
exhibited his lack Of dispatch in business
as to the license-when Jane was forced
to stand forth in the unnatural light Of m
impatient fancee-through her soul there
crept the shadow of doubt as to the
eternal fitness of things. Later, the doubt
took the awful proportions offs dead Ser
tainty. Obadiah announced, just at dark,
that in his opinion they had taken the
wrong trail, and were lost; but that like
ly, they would soon strike the right one.
He was the first man to whom jana had
ever pinned her faith, and she determined
to enjoy to its fullest the womanly luxury
of being rescued from the dangers Of this
night by him. ITS - ssd!lj
She gave herself up to his guidance,
and, with saint like resignation, descend
ed to the valleys and mounted to the hill
tops. Time went on-the trail was not
found. Jane, whose patience was now
perceptibly on the wane, discovered new
distresses at every step. rag sl%s
"Oh, OBADIAH I hear robbers talking!"
do youP" said the compliment Obadi-
ah.
'.Oh Obadiah! l see their eyes flashing
in the darkr' .a e@2# sas
"Where!" asked the stoic a1
"Oh, Obadiah! the bears and lions are
after us: hear them growing and roar
ing!r ''''1
"Well, Jane, what Of itp They always
growl and roar when they are hungry.
We must do the best we can, = Said
Obadiah. .f'F4,...
From that moment. Jane despissd him.
Had he bristled up to her side. ip pro-
tecting cavalier fashion, and said, s'Jane,
there isn't bear within ten thousaud
miles of US, and there isn't no such thing
as robber anywhere and I'll protect
you against thunder and lightning with
my last drop of blood =" the rigors Of the
situation wonld have melted away like the
morning mist, and Obadiah would have
lived and died respected husband, and
father. To the last, he preserved the
''even tenor of his way though 1 devi-
Gus one. His tranquility, transceudant
and lofty, came not within the oeircle of
earth's dampening influence, Jane,o in
dignant and out of all patience, at last
said: Sa3
Good Lord! Obadiah, why don't you
let the mules follow their noses ?"
Being open to any suggestion, he let
the mules follow their noses and straight
home they went, where they arrived in
the morning, just as the little Jew, who
kept the dry goods, was taking down his
shutters. Two days afterward, jane was
heard to say. in the dining room Of the
Larue Hotel: $780,,
NO; l can't won't marry man
who knows less than mule !" 4e97
This little affair did not abate Obadiah g
arder in pursuit of wife, but simply puz-
zled him for a day or two. He had q
wandering, uncertain way with him when
off the scent; but quickly anchored his
affections upon another, who looked to
him no less fair, no less desirable. na
Kate Simmons was fair to look upon and
an excellent girl. but of deeply pious turn
of mind which to Obidiah was something
Of an objection; for, good as he was
he had never been to church In Cali
fornia-indeed, he had scarcely ever had
an opportunity to go, since churches were
few and ministerial visits far between in
small mining camps. However, he over
came all scruples, and reasoned, as many
man before him, that piety, after al, Is
an essential thing in woman; it enables
her to bear with much, forgive much, and
be silent to the end. And here he hit up
on happy thought. "If," said he. "there
is any lack in me-any real cause for so
many refusals-may be she, with Christian
forbearance, will overlook it." His first
overture took the form OF useful pres
ent; and, as he anticipated. SO it came to
pass, that Katie did not forget her profess
sion Of Christianity. but accepted his gift !;
the precursor of many solid attentions,
which, agreeable as they proved, lacked
that airy grace, that delicate aroma, dear
ly priced by the sex. a~
In the town-hall, at this time. Were held
the religious meetings, to which he es-
corted Katie, not only to please her. but
his own soul had become to him an OBJ
ject of some interest. The mild accents
of Katie's voice, urging him to repentance
and reform, had not been without in
iluence. At first he found it dificult to
get into the ways of kneeling, rising, and
sitting in their proper times; but, with
Katie at his side to prompt he got on toll
erably well. At last, the text was an
nounced, and the minister began his dis
course in that sing-song tone peculiar to
those of the Methodist persuasion. Oba-
diah, realizing his respectable position
lin church,, occupying a front seat: by
the side Of Katie, fell into train OF
thought on his own accommodating
varv nosfiva h,,t n sort of dreamy sDoc-