The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-09-11
LOVE ON ALOC.
"Miss Becky Newton"
"W ell, SIR"
"Will You marry me ?"
ANY ~ ~

| " Gil, BIZ.
"Will you marry me ?"
"No / won't"
every we'll then don't, that's ell.
Mr.. Fred Eckerson drew away bis
chair, and putting his feet upon the
piazza, he picked up newspaper
Miss Becky Newton bit her lip and
went on with her sewing. She won
dered if that was going to be the
last fit. She had felt this propo
sal coming for a month, but the
scene she had anticipated to refuse
him, but it was to be done graceful.
ly. She was to remain frm, not.
withstanding bis most eager entrea.
ties. She was to have told him that
though respecting bis manly worth
and noble character, she could never
be any more to him than In appre.
ciative friend. She had intended to
shed q few tears, perhsps, as he
knelt writhing in an agony of suplica.
ton at her feet. But, instead, he had
asked the simple question, without
any rhetorical Embellishments, and
on being answered, had plunged at
once into his newspaper, az though
he had merely inquired the time OF
day. She could have cried with vex.
alton.
"You will never have q better
chance" he continued as be deliber.
ately turned over the sheet to find
the latest telegraph reports.
"a better chance for what p she
asked, shortly.
"A better chance to marry a good.
looking, young man, whose gallsutry
to the sex is only exceeded by his
bravery in their Defense"
Fred was quoting from his news.
paper, but Miss Newton did not know
"And whose egotism lie only ex.
ceeded by his impudsnce," retorted
the young lady, ssIcsstically.
"Before long," continued Fred,
"you'l be out Of market. Your
chances you know are getting slim.
mer every day"
"Sir |"
sit won't be a great while before
you are ineligible. You will grow
old and wrinkled and"
"Such rudensss to Q lady, sir. il
monstrous," exclaimed Miss Ne wton,
rising hastily, aud flushing to the
temples.
"I'll give you a anal opportunity,
Miss Becky. Will you mar
"Not if you were the King of Eng.
lsnd,"' interrupted Miss Newton
throwing down her work. 81 am no,
accustomed to such insults"
| And 30 saying she passed into the
house and slammed the door behind
her.
"She IL never so handsome az
when in rage" thought Fred to
himself, after she had gone, as he
slowly folded up his paper and re
placed it in his pocket. al vas 9
fool to goad her so, shall nsve,
win her that way. But I'll have her
by heaven, I'll have her, let it cost
what it will," he exclaimed aloud.
| Very different was the Fred Eck
erson OF the present, pacing nervous.
ly up and down the piazzs. from the
Fred Of Q few moments ago, reosiv.
ing his dismissal from the woman be
loved, with such calm and impertur
able exterior. For be loved Becky
with ell bis heart. The real dificul.
ty ia the way, sa be more than hall
suspected, was not so much with
himself as with his pocket. Mis-
Newton had = great horror of or
o1npty wallet, she was the daughter
of a wealthy Louisiana planter, rear.
ed in luxury and the recipient of .
weekly allowance of pin money
sufficient to pay all OF Frei's bills fol
= month, and she had no idea O
changing her position for one of lssl
comfort and independence. Besidel
it had been intimated to her that 6
neighborisg planter of unususlly
sristocratic lineage had looked upor
her with covetous eyes. To be sure
he was old and ugly, but he va.
rich, and in her present mercenary
state of mind, Miss Becky Newtor
did not desire to let such . chance
to become a wealthy widow slip
by unimproved.
| But alas for human nature Il
Becky was 80 Indifferent about Fred
Eckerson, why did she run up stairs
after that interview, and take the
starch out Of her nice clean pillow
csses by crying herself into hyster
ics on the bed ? 1t was not all wrath
not ell vexation, not sll pique, there
was somewhere down deep in Miss
Beeky's heart . feeling very much
like rsmorss. She was not sure tha,
she would not one day be sorry fol
what she had done. She had nc
doubt thst she could be very, happy
as Fred EckersoD's wife.
"But them" she cried, growing
hot with indignation, "he was %
rude snd insulting, never could
live With such . man-never."
| When Fred Eckerson walked of
some Of bis feeling on the piazza, he
concluded to take look ct the riv.
er. The Mississippi which flowed
within Eve hundred yards of the
house, was at that time nearly. ss the
hight Of its annual spring rise. Its
tnrbid waters, rushing swiftly toward
the sea, had nearly filed the banks
and, in many places had broken
through the levees and flooded the
low lsnds for many miles. A crey.
zee Of this description had been made
on the further bank, nearly opposite
the house, and the windows of the
Newton mansion commanded Q view
of vast and glittering inland sea,
not laid down on the maps. The
main current Of the stream bore up.
on its cofee-colored bosom an enor.
NOUS mass of floating timber, which
was dashed along the boiling food,
rendering navigation wholly impos.
sible. The waters were still rising,
and the frequent crashes far and near
told of the undermining power of the
current, a. sections Of the sandy bank
succumbed and disappeared, carry
ing with them the trees which over
hung the stresm. s.
Now, it happened by q curious
coincidence Miss Newton also re.
solved to look ct the river. She
dried her tears, and putting on her
hat, slipped out the door to avoid
Fred, and soon found herself at the
foot of huge cottonwood tree on
the bank below the house. Throw.
ing herself on the grass. and lulled