The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-12-25

he led them to farm house, where
there was a magnificent supper and
rousing fires awaiting them. / think
he secured invitations for some two
hundred visits, all the way from q
week to two months in length by that
very operation. He loved perplexi-
ties, nuisances, and mysteries, any
thing that would make people unhap.
py enough to appreciate his tact of
setting them, to speak rudely, upon
their feet.
In this case | must say | was
av srse to his going to Briarwoods, as
he was not man upon whom you
could draw for supply OF poetical
ideas or softening Influences, and l
as well have tried to dissuade him
from smoking, as from going, so |
put the idea out OF my head.
Dewison with his usual good for
tune got the rear compartment in the
train, and we were also lucky to have
it to ourselves for the long journey.
If there is one thing that | dislike
more than another, it is a ride by
railroad. To do two hours by an ex-
press tram, with pleasant company
and plenty Of large print papers, is
occasionally well enough, but to be
rumpled up, tossed about here and
there, and stunned by a twelve hours
ride, is quite another matter. tried
talking with Dewison, but he being
an old traveller, went to sleep in ten
minutes, while could do nothing
but tremble at the rate at which we
were going, and fume at my inabiliti-
ty to follow Dowison's example. Be-
sides, | was terribly anxious, state
of mind more powerful than tea in
keeping you awake o'nights. con
tess that 1 had hoped that the Obsta'
Gle had veered about and perhaps
having heard of my successes, had
intimated to Julia that was at lib.
erty to visit Briarwoods az soon as |
pleased, or perhaps seeing his ban
ishment of me bad an evil effect up
on her, had determined to use me as
medicine, aud perhaps without
mlch trouble, might be persuaded to
think better of my proposition. l
told Dewison what hoped was the
case, aud thought | really had a
strong point III the fact he had APP
pointed day for my coming.
"Y ou are all wrong. You don't
know the Obstacle, as you call him,
he is man, sir, of indomitable will ,
strong passions, and with the nature
of Mephistoholes concealed under
the garb of first rate fellow, there
fore | am positive that he will stick
to his original proposition If he
doesn't make away with you in lit
of anger"
.Dewison, | am certain any man
mnst be open in some degree TO
frankness and plain talking. Now,
wouldn't it be good way to get to
him directly and tell him about my
SUCCESS and"-
"Bother What does he care tor
successes. His first question will be
'how much have you got IN your
bank to give my daughter her bread
with = and what will you answer 7"
"Seventy dollars in my pocket.
Exactly. Now you see, my dear
fellow, seventy dollars won't buy
you a mistress, and / don't believe
the Obstacle will accept that as
much of a reason for permitting Q
poor devil like yourself to carry of
his only daughter.
"Ten to one it is a whim of his.
He, perhaps, wants to know II you
have made any progress, and when
you tell him how deuced little you
have made, he'll undoubtedly carry
his daughter abroad"
"But what am | TO do ?"
"In the first place, see how you
stand with the young lady. Find
out if you are in the same place that
you were six months ago.
"Good gracious, De@ison, you
can't possibly think that she would
turn upon me, do you p
81 don't know, | was swindled that
way once myself. but | may be wrong,
| only surmise, don't be alarmed.
don't care to make you unhappy,
but"
"What2"
"You'd better go to sleep"
| could not get another word out
of him TO save him, and as tor going
to sleepsmyself, it was entirely out ol
the question. 1t was very plain to
me that Dewison had got some ideas
that were not altogether so pleasant
and only withheld his kno Wedge out
of consideration for my feelings. ]
turned over in my mind what he had
said, and the more | thought of il
the more anxious | felt, and passed
az restless and miserable night as
| possibly could while Dewison slept
like a top.
Somehow my elation of spirits had
vanished wonderfully, and / wonder.
ed how on earth | ever had the least
hope that my errand would be sue.
cessful. DewisCn had plunged me
directly into cold bath, and Julia
had changed considerably in my eye
since / started from home. Al
together / was wretched and melan.
eholy.
AT ten on the day folio wing, the
train slackened It's speed az we APP
preached Briarwood station. com
menced to feel particularly uncom-
Portable.
"Here we are thank the Lord
now mind, Pennlman, treat the Oh,
stacle politely and with a proper
dignity, and I'll keep my eyes open
for our chance"
/ nodded, my throat was parched
and could not have spoken word
for fortune. / remember that |
gulped and choked as though ! were
going intQ bat at cricket, and ac.
tually wished myself back in my
dingy room. / would have moved
the station dozen miles further on
had / been able to do 10 and thus
have had time to fix in my mind
what | was to say in way of greet
ing.
1t is strange how quick train oi
cars will stop when there is no par.
ticular reason why it should and
with what celerity the conductors
get the doors open when they could
have waited a moment and taken
things easily. DewIson got out first
with the luggage, and 1 followed
trembling. | saw her the moment
/ put my foot upon the platform.