The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1872-06-13
UNClEPHll.'S RUSE.
BY FRANCES HENsHAW BADEN.

You are quite sure you love her
my boy?'
Love her why, uncle, l adore
her! How couldLI help it, seeing
her every evening for three months
past, and listening to her sweet voice?
If you knew her, uncle, you would
not ask such a question. to know
her, is to love her, my beautiful,
charming Isabel!
Are you perfectly certain you
know her, Frank?' asked Uncle Phil.
with a comical smile.
Have 1 not told you, uncle that
every evening for nearly three
months has been spent with her?'
sYes, that may be, and still you
not know her. Whenever you have
been with her, she has been expect
ing you, or some other young fellow
that she intended to charm. So you
are acquainted with the belle and
beauty Miss Isabel Courtney; bat,
my boy, have you ever gone in on
her during the day, when she was
not prepared for callers p
No, sir, / have not; but
'Never mind. Wait until finish,
then go on with your rhapsodies.-
Well, Frank, you'll never know her
until you see her only with her home
folks. See and know the daughter
and sister, and then tell me you know
Isabel Courtney, the aoOmaaa;; and if
you are as much in love, and deter
mined to marry her, l will have to
yield. You have not committed
yourself?'
No, uncle although hundreds of
times l have been on the eve of
throwing myself at her feet, and de-
claring my love. My promise given
you not to marry without consulting
you, has restrained me. But really,
uncle, l think you are rather too par
ticular. | imagine it is this that
has kept you single all this time. You
have never been able to find perfec-
ton, or any woman coming up to
Jour standard of what a woman
should be-
No, my boy. You are mistaken.
I've known many loving women,
fully up to my ideal. But, Frank,
the memory of one in Heaven, the
first, the last, the only loved, is dear
er to me than any living woman ever
can be; and looking forward to
union with her in the world beyond,
am waiting our Fathers call to
find her. answered Uncle Phil, his
voice growing softer and sinking
lower.
Frank, ever impulsive, started up,
clasped his uncle's hand, and ex-
claimed:
Forgive me, uncle, if l have
wounded YOU
No, my boy, you have not. Now
to return to the subject SO important
to you I am glad you have not told
Miss Courtney of your affection, or
rather of your temporary infatuation.'
A frown darkened Franks hand
some face, and he turned impatiently
away.
sAh now it is my time to say 'for-
give me- But really, Frank, if you
will refect-let your mind go back
only six months-you will admit l
have good reasons for speaking as
do. Remember Mary Fulton. Every
evening found you beside her. Dear
little girl! l was making myself
quite happy with the hope of ending
my days with her as your wife,
Frank. You were loud of your
praises of her until you met Miss
Courtney
yes uncle, know it. did, and
do still think Mary very lovable
little girl but
'Well, my boy out with it. But
what?'
'Well, uncle, Mary is pretty, gen.
tie, sweet-tempered, and no doubt
would make a good wife. But
ah -
'Ah, my boy, see you are little
ashamed to tell your objections.
mo SIT, not az all. L on must reau-
lily agree with me that Mary is not
not the wife for a man that holds the
position / hold. I'm expected to
entertain great deal of company,
and am thrown much into fashion
able society. Now, Mary is such
homely little thing, so very domestic.
/ want a woman with grace, dignity
and ease, to preside at my entertain
ments-one / shall be proud Of
Now, uncle you have the whole
truth
'And so my dear little Mary with
her artlessness, natural grace, and
requirements which should be con-
sidered accomplishments, is cast
aside for fashionable butterfly! All,
Frank, l fear you are not likely to
secure happiness by this decision
uncle, | never once during the
months / visited Mary, said one word
of love to her.
Words of love, may be not, but
what did your actions tell, Frank