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

becoming more diffdse and earnest
as approached the goal. l smoke
IN good low tone, with proper
gesture now and then, and
finally shut my eyes and took
the jump. 1t was done in a twink.
ling, and,-she accepted the alterna.
tive, and cried little as she ac.
knowledged that we had nothing
else to do.
Dick said she, are you sure you
love me p
That's the way with about all OF
thcm you run the muck of poverty
disappointment, love sickness. with
a good chance OF having your brains
blown ont at the end, aud then they
ask you question that seems to il
more all the brothers of happiness.
| was with Julia as much M pos.
sible, and having rather disagreea.
BILE sinking in my vitalc, | was su.
premely happy. Hot fly occasionally
bit of sarcasm at the Obstacle,
who was killing the bugs in the con-
servatory. He was very convivial
apparently, and if | did not happen
to know him for a cold blooded
hypocrite, ! actually believe / could
have fancied him.
That afternoon kept my room in
obedience to Dewison, who had not
been seen about tho house that morn.
ing; tho ingenious fellow had told
the servants that he was going to
trim the church, when | knew he
was tramping about in the snow
with pair of tweezers, laying him
self open to the State prison oflense
for my sake.
was getting fearfully nervous and
unstrung, and withal trifle frighten.
cd about Dewison, who up to five
o'clock had not put in an appearance.
To merely go down stairs and get
married and drive off comfortably is
perhaps well enough, but the pros
pect of running Off in the cold with.
out supper or friends and with a
twinkling conscience is very differ
ent. And the more l thought of it
the more ] wished the Obstacle would
melt. At a quarter TO six | heard
Dewison down stairs talking and
joking in his bass voice az though
nothing were in the wind. Presently
he came up stairs at the top of his
speed and flung open the door and
then closed aud locked il.
call right my boy" cried he,
heartily seizing me by the hand otis
all arranged; Pve heard from Julia
what Julia said, and how sweetly
the all important proposal was met.
Now don't interrupt. | am excited
again, and mind you treat her well,
for ! would not have tho Responsible
ty of two and perhaps more Peni-
mans on my hands if | imagined you
would be quarrelsome with her.
Listen; an hour hence your DIR M
suit will be here. got it from a
friend, but it will have to do. AT
seven exactly you will go down the
stairway and out through the wash.
room till you como to wood shed.
You will unhasp the door aud look
it after you; then go across the yard
and in the shelter of "a pile OF ashes
you will find Julia well wrapped up.
You will go to the carriage house
where you will find sleigh with q
couple of horses these you will have
driven out carefully by the man who
will be there, and then you will drive
through the fields to the little ston,
church just out of the village oil tn,
bars are taken down and / hav,
given the driver full directions and &
couple Of dollars which ] will charg,
in account. You will find me al TN,
church, and l will have an appropri
ate ring ready for you. DO you un
derstaEd z"
"Dewison, how grateful F."
"BrOther !"
Well, | remember my perplexity
and annoyance AZ the time came on
and when it did come my trembling
knees as crept down the uncarpot
ed, narrow, steep stairs. ] did no
meet single person, which struck
me as being very strange, and there
was candle burning in the wash
room, which proved that Dewisor
must have corrupted nearly th'
whole household. / followed th,
directions closely, and on reaching
the air, which was frosty and cold, ]
turned and looked at the house
which was lighted from top to bot
tom, but as still and quiet as if al
the tenants were dead; and ] knew
that the house must be full, az | had
been hearing the sleigbs drive up u
the door all the afternoon, and heard
the shouts Of welcome from tho OBJ
stacle.
i had no time TO think, but rushed
across the yard, and found Julia az
readily as | had found the wash
room door.
When we had found our sleigh
and turned our backs upon the house
Julia looked up at mo with her face
covered with tears.
'Oh, Dick you won't think I'm
wicked to do this, will you, wher
you find out? | am afraid you'll
think Pm hypocrite.
An idea very suddenly occurred Il
me.
what you're not going to marry
DewlsoD after all I?
mo but this is 80 awful and hap
py at the same time
i kissed her, this time properly
and affectionately.
The horses tramped and plunged
through the drifts and staggered this
way and that, and it took us an houl
10 reach the little church, which wal
as lightleSs and dismal as the tomb
Notwithstanding it was Christmas
eve, when all things religious should
be open and free to all. Just IA we
came 10 it ! saw some men standing
about, who ran away az we drew
near. j suddenly thought that tn,
Obstacle might have got wind Of The
whole thing, and was going TO have
me arrested as | got inside of the
porch.
We drew bravely up TO the door
and were greeted by rough fellow
in great coat, who wanted 10 know
If my name was Penniman.
said yes, whereupon he whistled
and then walked away. / lifted
Julia out and she left all her wrap,
in the sleigh and told me to do the
same. / obeyed and wondere d.