The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1872-09-26

| "oJOi al AiuoOu ulu uOG kuOW OK
actly what to say to this, SO he shool
the old lady's hand, saying
How do you find yourself this
morning, ma'am p
And you haven't asked after
Clara. Poor Clara = chimed in the
eighteen year old girl.
ooh, ali, pardon me = stammered
out our hero. Il was just going to
inquire after Clara
The lass with the cherry lips beck.
oned to tall, graceful girl in the
bay window, not exactly young, but
still passing pleasant to look upon,
with large gray eyes, and soft droop.
ing curls of glossy brown.
CLARA = she cried, come, haven't
you word of welcome for cousin
John?'
But the graceful girl shrank back,
blushing and confused.
Don't mind her. said the other
one in an undertone.
NO, WON'T said the Major.
She'll be all right presently
4 dare say she WILL answered our
hero.
But it is such nonsense = went on
the elf, whom the matron addressed
as 'Gracie.'
Now, Clara, you know who it is,
when you are to be married to him
in less than a week =
Oh! This was beginning to grow
q little serious.
Married ! In less than a week
He, Major John Parkinson, who had
lived a life of contented celibacy for
five and forty years !
In spite of his resolution not to al.
low himself to be surprised, the Ma.
jor rapidly felt the sensation creep.
ing over him, not only of surprise.
but also species of dismay ! Mar
ries! lie blushed more wildly thar
Clara's self.
Surely it was time for an explana
ton now and he was just opening
his lips, when Oracle whirled him
round, standing on tip toe to whisper
knowingly In his ear:
Don't you want to see the wed
ding cake, cousin John ? and the
wreath and the veil?'
Without waiting for an answer, sht
tip-toed him into another room, pull
ing him along by the coat tail.
1t was very embarrassing, to bt
sure but then how pleasant it was
The veil was heap of snowy lace
like cloud ofvapor, the wreath wa.
all orange blossoms, wove in will
tiny green buds; but the cake The
cake was a miniature mountain o.
icing, and frosted flowers, aud cupids
chiseled in sparkling white sugar
clinging around the bouquet of whit,
flowers on the crest
'Only think of it, said Grace, /,
little thoughtfully, as she pulled al
orange blossom into its place in the
chaplet, 'to have the wedding day sc
near after an engagement of fifteer
years! Oh, cousin John, you ough
to be very happy man
4 will EXPLAIN thought the Devil
dered Major, breaking into a colo
perspiration. 'Yes,' he began aloud
but l.
you'll show me the ring, won
you p coaxed Grace, as if with sud
den thought. That's darling fo
of course you have it in your yes
pocket. And what have you brough
for Clara I? An India shawl, O
course {; and hope it is very, very
splendid for there's nothing in oil
the world too good for our Clara.
Grace said the Major confden
TALLY, taking her hand in his, Il wan
to tell you something. It's very awk
ward, but it isn't really my fault, ant
know you will forgive me when yo'
come to hear how entirely / hav,
been the victim of circumstances.
Grace's blue eyes grew big he
cherry lips parted-what could
be ?
well p she calculated breathless
ly.
I'm not cousin John at ALL sal
the Major with a jerk. I'm Majo
Parkinson
'You-are-not-John Milward
Not I nothing of the Sort sal
our Major, yisibly frightening up
But l know John Milward yer
well, came over with him on tn
Ghundaree-if he's your cousin job
you have got splendid fellow for
cousin =
And then Major Parkinson toll
Grace just exactly how it happened
and she blushed and laughed, an
wondered how they all could hav
been SO stupid, and confessed thai
'after all, she didn't think he ha
, been so very much to blame.'
Except that you oughtn't to hav
kissed me back so heartily Grao
, added maliciously.
4 won't next time,' said the Majo
humbly.
But fifteen years in India, woul
of course, alter any one SO complete
ly,' she said 'and what can hav
become Of the real John p
She took him back to the parlol
where he made his excuses as fuen
ly as he could. Grandma was a Ii,
tie inclined to be offended at frs
and Stephen, a muscular young mar
: muttered some half audible word
about punching the Majors head fc
him. But fuller explanations restore
! friendly feeling once more, and th
, pater fanailias, sensible man, insiste
on the Major re aiming.
'For if you are not our cousin job
you came over in the same steame
with him, and that ought to insur
; you a welcome,' he said cheerily
! so sit down, sit down, Major. 70
r are the rich East India nabob, theI
f who has bought the house next door
J We've leased Oracle a good de;
about setting her cap for the ne,
. neighbor, haven't we, Oracle p
: Papa, demonstrated Oracle, CO
J oring up as bright scarlet as fl,
mingo's wing.
'I'm glad to make your acquain
ance,' went on the comfortable oil
gentleman, 'even if the manner
: not quite 80 formal as etiquette bool
insist on |! My name is Corey-Pete
! Corey-and now let me introduc
| you to our family circle and friends
So, in less than five minutes, th
Major, entirely free from the tran
. mels of his false position, was mad
cordially at home in the merry part,