The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-07-06

woman had precipitsted herself upon me bodily.
and was hanging round my neck, with a success
ion of kisses that sounded like the reports OF
q pocket pistol
| ~ knowed you'd come to meet me, Hirsn,-l
knowed you'd never desert your own Malviu ',
| to say nothing of the children. Come here, Mary
Jane and Charles Augustus, and kiss your own
father. declare If them new regimentals don't
make you look as fine as fiddle. do say for
it shouldn't hev knowed ye. nowt you've got
your HAIR and whiskers colored You always
was such slim, gelteel figure! Bnt you'd
ought to sent me the bounty money. Hiram-TIi
stick to that if'twas the last word ever spoke.
looked despsiringly around for some one to
free me from this terrible bondage. Alas I'M
kind fate! There was my blue.eyed c0mpagnOn
an roydge convulsed with prettily malicious
laughter at the plight was in.
II never for an instant supposed you were q
married man, sir" she said demurely. Upon
M word, 1t is quite privilege to witness this
sweet little episode of domestic Election. Take
care--youll drop the baby if YOU hold it in that
way
I shut my teeth tightly, and strove to wrench
myself away from the cotton-gloved fingers Of
the woman who seemed so determined to appro.
pirate me.
"Iet 60 of my cravat, madame !" said sharp.
~; for she was clinging to me as the veritsble
Old Man Of the Sea might have CLING to Sinbad
IL am entirely at q loss to imagine what you
mean by this very singular conduct. My name
Is not Hiram-I am not married-and never
set eyes on you before tonight. Let 60, say,
and take your babyw
The woman recoiled a step or two, aud gszed
full in my face for the first time, with cry like
bafAed tigress. Land O Goshens," she shrek.
ed, ut amt Hiram, after all-and the good.for.
nothin' shiftless mean-spirlted cur amt here to
look after his own wife and child. do say for
it,. she articulated, fiercely clenching her mus.
cular fist Il knowed Hiram Peck was meanerr
muscle SHE'LL but didn't s'spose he was mean
enough to leave me in the lurch this way"
She snatched the baby, broke away from me,
and rushed impetuously towards the conductor,
whose distant lantern WAS glanciug along the
platform.
Conductor! say, conductor we've woke T.,
the wrong passenger. That ere fei,er Amt Hi
ram Peck no moren you be, an what or airth be
l going to do?"
All this time my blue.eyed divinity had reen
smiling at my dilemma, in the most he,. tless
manner and was glad to make diversion by
bouncing upon the conductor, and lowing him
up for his absurd mistake.-He apolcgized, with
satirical grin on his face; land now, sir" he
added, suddenly resuming the brisk, business
like manner of everyday life, II think the right
lady is in the waiting -room--she came on to meet
Captain Dale"
"Thst's the name" I answered him very
promptly.
A slender. ladv-like little thing was anxiousy
waiting in the ladies' apartment, with stout
Irish nurse, and two delicate infants of two and
three years Of age. She sprang forward with n
bright, agitated face, ss che caught Gin Dse of
my undress uniform and gilt buttons.
"Kentwoo !"
And then she drew back, disappointed and
confused.
"Not exactly Kentwood, madam answer
ed, but his substitute"
And then, according TO my promise ' ex.
planned :. circumstances of the case, o. unit
ing for M delay by rather highly lored
account of my adventures, which made pretty
Mrs. Dale laugh heartily.
"And now" added, off get e. carriage az
we make pretty good speed, we shall vet reach
| the Washington depot in time for the T. IN"
Kentwood Dale was eagerly watchinG ,or US
as the carl iage drove into camp in the l. liant
| August sunshine of the next morning.
81 am much Obliged to yoLt.4Harry, ~, re.
itcrated after he had joyously welcomed the new
corners.
$50 you ought to be-" said I with a groan.
It's the last expedition of the kind shall I'M.
dertake at present"
have never seen the blue.eyed syren sine
nor, to say truth, do l wish to. That merci e +
giggling Of hers cured me pretty cffectually
the brief fever Of love that was begiauing
throb within me. Girls, do you want piece ~
good advice, drawn from real life? Well, ha,.
it is:
"When you zee a young man in ridiculous
plight. don't laugh at him-sympatbize rather
with his circulation. Laughing is sure {.
brighten Cupid's futtering wings away-at
least, such is my experience