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

and savagely reproached myself
that got her to fancy such fellow
as myself, and trembled To think she
might find me out as an empty head,
and as a man very far from loveable.
She chatted about this, that and the
other in the sweetest way imagina-
BILE. Among other things she said
that Dewison had been invaluable to
them in decorating and contriving
Now Dewison had never told me OF
this. She said he had been dow n
there planning and working for near
ly week. l looked around to ask
Dewison for some explanation, when
found both Dewison and the valua.
bic robe had disappeared. We in.
stantly concluded they had dropped
out no,selessly into the snow, pre-
terring to reach the house before us,
for some inexplicable purpose of his
own. The rest of the ride was de-
lightfully long and l gladly take al
vantage of story tcller's jump, and
land directly at the door of Briar.
wood, where the Obstacle was
shouting hearty hypooritioal wei.
come, and poor, frosty Dewison was
stamping his feet on the flags.
That night just as we got our can.
dies for bed, q servant slipped a
note into my hand. The hand.
writing was that of the Obstacle. |
tremblingly thrust it into my pocket
and Dewison and / assembled the
stairs to my room, where l unfolded
the letter and read as follows.
BErAEwooD, Dec. 23d, 1867.
My DEAR Mr.. PENNIMAN.-I feel
obliged to write a line to remind you
that Notwithstanding i welcome you
as cordially TO spend the holidays
withus as any one, | of course re ceive
you in no other light than that of a
mere friend of myself and daughter.
1t was rather imprudent and perhaps
unkind to ask you here, but deter.
mined that you would feel in honor
bound to keep our agreement of a
year ago, and not permit yourself to
renew your attention To Miss Julia
without my consent. / wish you
would feel toward me as though this
note was never written, aud assure
you that | am yours truly,
THE OBSTACLE.
"The ass ~
"The goat ?"
Bitter and prolonged were Devil.
sons anathemas. The dear fellow
had evidently thrown himself heart
and soul into the affair, and took my
rebuff in good earnest, and made ten
times the fuss about it than | did.
begged him to be quiet. "rhe
idea getting man safely into a
house and then TO twist the nose of
his honor and then beg he wont be
hurt. think of holding a man by
a compact year old, and yet per
hitting him to dance, eat, drink, and
6irt, sir, with the forbidden fruit. Ii
il a refinement of cruelty that drives
one mad to think Of.
i am convinced, however, said
Dewison, that the old gentleman
will be az firm as rock, and won'l
bulge an inch. But I'll make a tria
for you, Penniman, now, this instant
you stay here, and Pll go and hunt
up the Obstacle he is doubtless in
his study
Before | ,scould further interpose
he was gone. A moment or two after
| went into the hall TO see if
could catch by the tones, an idea o
which way the contest was going
The first sound | heard was the Oh
stacle laughing boisterously. Fur
thought /, he is no doubt laughing
at tho proposition and turning TO rid
icue the holiest passion man car
have. His abominable noise came
distinctly through the study room
and up the stairs. | waited only TO
hear it die away into kind of a
shuttle and then TO hear it rise like
the jeering of demon. Hearing
the movement about of chairs, | re.
tired hastily, and momont after
Dewison burst into the room nearly
out of of his head with rage.
'Penniman, you're floored.'
'You don't mean it?'
q doubt if ever you can get up
again. ] made my proposition, he
looked at me, j praised your talent
and he scowled, begged that h,
would reconsider, and be sworo like
a teamster. Stop! my dear fellow
Pm excited, I'll allow, but | arn as
clear headed as ever | was, and
there is only one thing to do. IL'a
frightful step, but the legs Of youl
resolution and love are long
'Well? p
'You must run away with her
'The devil =
Eyes, Pve thought it All out even
to the most minute particulars
Merely place yourself unreservedly
in my hands and I'll have you mar
ried this time tomorrow
must say choked.
Yes? Good. Mind what / shall
direct you to do, and follow my dir
ections implicitly.
well.
To commence with, go TO bed.'
did 30, and Dewison went to hit
thinking and pondeiing, like a sa
want in the Pickwlck controversy.
did not sleep moment; my idea,
were disconnected and scattered
and my thoughts Of the day coming
along were akin TO foreboding. TC
run away with girl whom you love
to distraction Is apparently inno cent
and plucky, but 10 run away with
another mans daughter gives a com
plexion TO the same case, which re-
quires a certain amount OF stamina
to look at without shivering. | had
little doubt that this man az a hot
headed, impulsiye fellow, 10 whom q
life more or less would be mere bag
atelle, and if we were 10 win, TO dc
it secretly and swiftly, were oil
course, first considerations, and
therefore | wondered if Dewison lad
arranged 10 cut the telegraph wires
and resolved TO ask him bright and
early IN the morning
Five wretched, perspiring, sleep.
forsaken hours having gone, / gol
up ana went TO Dewison's room. Il
was empty. The bed, however, wa,
tumbled, showing that he had been
there. A note was pinned to the
towel, and placed in conspicuous
position and addressed to me, it raI
thus: