Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-07-19

p Obadiah?
E 'Well, Jane.
Have you got everything rcaiy?' asked
Jane
Everything l can think Of, said hc.
Think again, Obadiah'-With a little
timidity.
4 can't think unless RS a c,oking-
stove
No Obadiah it's the licensc.
License p
Yes, the marriage license
With more alacrlty than he usually exhib-
led, he dismounted, and procured that ne
ccssaIy document. 1t was late in the after
noon when they finally started. Everything
had gone we'll They were in delicious DALI
ance with the last half Of a happy day, and
On the return of a memorable trip. At the
moment when Obadiah exhibited his lack Of
dispatch in business as to the liccnse-when
Jane was forced to stand forth in the unnatu-
raj light ofan impatient tGncce-thr0u gh her
soul there crcpt the shadow Of doubt as To
the eternal fitness Of things. Later the
doubt took the awful proportions OF 4 dead
certainty. Obadiah announced, lust at dark
that IN his opinion they had taken the wrong
trail and were lost but that likely they
would soon strike the right one. lie was
the first man to whom Jane 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.
She gave herself up to his guidance, and,
with a saint-like resignation, descended to
the valleys and mounted 10 the hill-tops
Time went On-the trail was not found.
Jane, whose patience was now percepubly
on the wduC. discovered new distrosseE at
every step.
Oh, Obadiah l Lcar robbers talk
ingr'
Do You ?" saii complacent Obadiah.
On, Obadiah | see their eyes dlshias
ia the dark =
Where p asked tic sto C.
Oh, Obadiah the bears and lions are
after US hear them growing and roar
ing
Well, Jane, what Of it? They always
growl and roar when they are hungry. We
must do the best VIC can. said Obadiah.
From that moment Jane despised him
Had be bristed up to her side, in a protect
ing-cayalier fashion, and said, Jane, there
ism bear within ten thousand miles OF US,
and there is no such thing as a robbcr any
where and III protect you aguiust thunder
and lightning with ny last drop blood. -
the rigars of the situation would have melted
away like the morning mist, and Obadiah
would have lived and died a respected lus-
band and father. To the last he preserved
the " even tenor Of his way" though a &c
yious one. lis tranquility. transcendeut
and lofty, came not within the circle Of
earth dampeuing influence. Jane iAdiZ-
nant and out Of all patience. at last said
Good Lord Obadiah, why don't you let
the mules follow their noses !?
Being open 10 any suggestion, he let the
mules follow their noses and straight home
they went, where they arrived in the morn
iug, Iust as the little Jew who kept the dry
! goods store was taking down kis shutters
Two days atlerwari Jane was heard TO say,
n tac dllinr-rJ1m Of the Llruc Hotel:
No; | can't won't marry q man who
knows les than a mule
This little affair did not abstc Obadiah
ari0r in pursuit Of a vile, but simply pGz-
/ z.ed him for day or two. lie had a wan
/ dering, uncertain way with him when of the
/ scent but quickly anchored his affections
upon another, who looked to him no less fair,
no less desirable
! Kate Simmons was fair 70 lj5h upon and
an excellent girl, bu, OF a deeply pi5us turn
/ of mind, which t) Obadiah was something
/ of an objection for, good as he was, he had
never been 10 church IN California; indeed,
| he had scarcely ever had an opportunity 10
/ 90, since churches were few and ministerial
/ visits far between 10 small mining-camps
/ However be ovcrcame all scrurles, and rcas-
/ 0ned as many man before him, that picty
/ after all, IS an essential thing in woman it
/ enables her TO bear with much, forgive much,
and be silent to the end. And here he bit a
/ thought. IT, said he, there l. any lack
I IN mc-any real cause for so many retusals-
may be she, with Christian forbearance, Will
I overlook it. His first overture took the form
/ of a useful present and, as he anticipated,
I 50 1t came 70 pass that Katie did not forget
| her profession Of Christianity, but accepted
/ his Glft-the precursor Of many solid atten-
/ tions, which, agreeable as they proved, lacked
/ that airy grace, that aroma, dearly priced
/ by the sex. In the tOwn-hall. AZ this time,
/ were held the religious meetings, to which
/ he escorted Katie, not only TO please her, but
/ his own soul had become TO him an object of
| some interest. The mild accent of katie's
/ voice, urging him to repentance and reform,
| had not been without influence. At first he
| found It difficult 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 tolerablY well. At las, the text
was announced, and the minister began his
/ discourse in that sing-s0ng tone peculiar to
those Of the Methodist persuasion. Obadiah,
alizing his respectable position lin church.
occupying a front seat by the side Of Katie,
| fell into a train Of thought on his own ac-
| count-nOthing very positive, but a sort Of
dreamy speculation in regard to his future.
No one knows how long he would have gone
on thus had not the minister, who had warm
ed up to his work, exclaimed, in stentOrian
voice, Come sinncr-c0me TO Jesus. This
earnest cry pierced the soul Of Obadiah he
Jumped to his feet awakened, as it, were
from deep sleep. The minister paused tie
congregation looked at hun then, through
his lethargic mind, there shot gleam Of in
| spiratiOn. lie seized his Peruvian hat, and
awkwardly but res0lutely passed it for con-
trlbutlOns. Every one laughed and gave
freely of his substance. The minister waited
| till he had placed the hat on the platform,
when he resumed his sermon, under what
might be called trying circumstances. And
| 1t Is as yet unknown whether the generous
contribution was given for the Lord, or a fair
| compensation for amusement afforded by his
servant Obadiah.
| Katie had disturbed manner when Oba-
/ diah returned to his scat. She fancicd she
would share in the ri1icule, and she alrcady
/ felt the staring eyes of the people and al
/ though his immortal soul was precious in
| her sight, the Ill behavior OF It's temp!e-the
/ body-had abated her enthusiasm for It's ssl
yation, and created within her g longing de-
sire to shift the responsibility upon the shoul-
! ders Of some other woman, more capable,
more worthy. who vas weaned from the van
ities Of the world and Indifferent u its sights
and sounds. Again was Obadiah adTiiG.
Never did he feel 50 hopelessly discouraged.
lie had prospected every marriageable woman
in town, and the indications were uniavora-
bic. \ tiDge Of bitterness began to show il
self in his conversation. lie even spoke
sllghtingly Of the sex, and said they had
better stay at home, where they belonged.
The summer passed away, and Just after
the first rain, when all the miners were ju-
bilant over the prospect Of a wet season,
/ there came to town LADY, dashy in appear
ance, at home in conversation, and 60 coax
/ ing and caressing in manner that her twenty
| eight summers, or thereab0ut, were entirely
| overlooked. She came O5tensibly as a dress
maker she hung her window full Of bewil-
| derlng pictures Of ladies with rules, court
/ trains, and other accessories Of fashion, after
which she could model with ease and dis
| patch. Obadiah met her, and yielded up his
heart without struggle. She was a woman
| of tact, and these live longest i the heart
/ of men. She fatters their weakness. and
steers clear Of the troubled waters of past
| indiscretions. She never allows a blunder
| n he mad, in her prasencp and hos tho