The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1872-11-15

4 -
was VIII Weeds evening occupation
And'on this evening when Lofty rr
her hand on his arm, and asked him
he was going out again, such u dcpar,
ure bad taken place the evening before
and it had required mighty elocuttions
| ry efforts on his part, to say with pror
er dignity-"Good gracious! Lofty
why did you sit up for me! 70
\ "kacious, Lofty, whyrrocstupamc,
beng the actual expression of hi
tongue.
\ Therefore Will was uncommouIv in
Idlgnant that Lofty should "crv abou
Ills gong out, as though lie were t.
blame. Had she not cher babe an,
her distatf'' ''--modernized .crochet
needlcs'--and why should she dread
few hours solitude
So he drew an his glo.os, ana r.,
toned them, and said, '.Really, you ar,
very childish, Lotty,' and gave her
matter-o r-of-course kiss upon her check
about as much like the old kisses O.
"courting time as dried cherries arr
like real ones, and walked off.
In due time Will found himself a,
the resort lie patronizel.
The best fellows in the world we've
all there, every one Of them, and Viii
laughed and grew brilliant until mid.
night, and laughed aud grew iliotic
afterwards ; and it was one o'clsck be.
f,re he staggered homeward, rcall,
tipsy this time, as any poor laborel
over his fghting-rum ever was.
1t was the first time this had actual.
ly come about. There is first time
for everything.
So he stumbled through the streets,
ready to greet every lamp-post as a
boon companion. and not at all partc-
u|ar about an Introduction, when some
one elarpcl him on tho shoulder, and
cried, "why, how are ycr!"
Ike struck out ills hand also, and
said, every glad to see you, with an
Pidea that it was an old friend; and
then hooked arms aud jagged on with
one Of the most cyiI-looking rufIians
ever met with, complaccntly believing
| ii to be some Brown, or Smith, or
Toml'kins of bis acquaintance, who he.
gan by arprorrtatins his watch and
pocket-book and diamond scarf-pin.
"Goin home, are yer:' he asked.
And VIII Weed replied that lie was,
and conGdcd to fim street an, number
and invited hi,n to "stay all night.'
Moreover, il the course Of conyersa.
tion, he informed lis friend that dot.
| ty was tie best girl in the world y
that she was home alone with the baby
-cne servant having gone away, and
the other being absent on a visit to he,
friends and that she was lonesome
and having stated this fact was led t,
tell the amount of silver in the house,
where it was kept, and where the mon
ey was
Meanwhile, his companion had led
him from the decent streets into fl.
thy back alley: and there, without q
word, VIII Weed suddenly felt him.
self seized and bound to pest. with q
rope the rascal had hid in his bos ,m.
The Shock partially sobcred him, and
he struggled furiousIy, hut to 10 rur.
pose and, the feat accomplished, the
wretch, in his triumph, put his mcutI
close to his ear, and whispcre,,--
''Thank you, mister. You've told M
where the money was, and the silver
and seem | know yer wife's alone IL
step in and get 'em. Yer may hollc1
as much as yer please-no pcrlice don,
come here. Good-by, mister -
And away he went, leaving vii
bound to the post, and quite sober now
He understood what he had done.
And that watch was going to hi
home--going to Lotty's homeland sh'
was all alone T! He shrieked he strug
gled he r.,ved all in vain; no hell
came. They were used to slrieks il
that quarter. As helpless as a child
fastened so tightly that his struggle
only set his bound wrists bleeding, b.
was forced to remain inactive, while
perhaps, his wife was being murdered
The wretch would stop at nothing
And, oh how he loved her now hoy
all the old tenderness returned. ho,
he blamed himself Lofty, his prett
Lofty, alone with that horrible fellow
Again he vainly tore his flesh in hi
wild struggles. Again he shoutc'
"Ilelp! Some one staggering by tn
head of the alley laughed, that was all
Fastened there, and that man free
He could picture Lofty, as her gaz
fell upon his bulky form! He coul
hear her screams. He would not b
bound, he would be free!
Alas, all in vain were his efforts
And, at last, humbled and woc-strick
EN-, he turned his eyes to heaven an
prayed.
Father, help me-! help me to say
|