The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-05-22
UNDER THE CARPET.
A Thrilling Story of a Martyr of Low.

UNDER THE CARPET.
A Thrilling Story of a Martyr of Love.
The carpet-knight who figures in
the following romance, Charles c.
was poor but not proud, and early
developed considerable genius as a
dry good clerk in st. Louis. His
person was handsome, his clothes
fitted him well, and he had his shoes
made in Chicago. But he fell in love
with the niece of a rich widow lady
of Lucas Place, in the aforemention-
ed city, and thus his woes began.
The widow lady having higher as
pirations than "Clark's best spool
thread-5OO yards" artilleryman for
her niece, peremptorily forbade the
young lady's holding intercourse
with Charley.
AS Clara was dependent upon her
aunt, she, of course, appeared to &C
quiesce in these ambitious designs,
but at the same time registered a
vow to the looking glass that no one in
the world should ever supplant the
dapper yard stick man in her maiden
heart.
One afternoon recently Charley
received note from Clara stating
that her relative would that evening
attend prayer meeting.
The intimation was enough, and
eight o'clock saw the young couple
seated upon the sofa in her aunt's Ii.
brary, billing and cooling in the reg
ular orthodox, turtle dove STYLE
Little Charley, lured on by the
witcheries of love, became perfectly
immense. He wound an arm around
her wrist and vowed that her form
was "sylph, like" He toyed with
her long golden ringlets and likened
them to "truant sunbeams," with a
few other remarks to the effect that
Heavens dearest gift to her sex was
a "wreath of bright golden hair"
Then when she blushed he swore the
roses had been robbed and when she
smiled that her lips were ruby por-
tails to casket of pearls.
Indeed he talked SO nice and she
fed upon his glowing words with such
relish, that the old lady was rafting
away at the door bell as though the
house next door was on fire, full five
minutes before the absorbed lovers
heard her.
"Great heavens! my aunt ?" ex-
claimed Clara.
Charley grew a trifie pale and
muttered an interjec lion or two, per-
tanning to the front end of mill
pond.
1t appears that the old lady having
reached the place OF prayer, found
the meeting epizootic'd or postpon-
ed, and consequently after some little
chat with neighbor or two had re-
turned home at the most important
moment.
What was TO be done ? Not clos
ct or nook invited retreat, and there
Charley stood and wished that he
was a mileage Or stationary bill SO
that he could pass the house, or a
member Of the Louisiana Legislature
or some other dreadful feature of
modern civilization.
At last brilliant idea occurred to
his lady love. In the corner of the
library lay bundle of carpet that
had been brought that day to refur-
nish the sitting-room, and having
been duly inspected by the ladies,
was temporarily left in tumbled
head in one corner of the room.
A hasty explanation took place
and then Charley entombed himself
beneath the mass, with fervent
vow that he would die for her sake
were it necessary, and then Clara
admitted her aunt.
That relative was not we'll pleased,
at being kept so long on the door
step, and sharply demanded what
had become of the servants.
"Sent them to bed, dear aunt, SO
that l might have the pleasure of re-
naming up for your return, but l fell
asleep" innocently remarked the
ingenious girl.
This loving explanation somewhat
appeased the old lady, who, after
warming, walked over to the bundle
fof carpet and picking up corner
wondered how it would look by gas.
light.
Clara fastened to assure her that
it would not look nice at all in fact
she was so confident of it that her
aunt need not 60 to the trouble of an
investigation.
The old lady pondered over the
stuff for few moments, while her
neice sat trembling upon the sofa,
and little Charley felt that the world
might come to an immediate end and
not annoy him particle by the sud
deness of the change.
At last, however, the crisis passed
for with some new idea entering heI
head the old lady turned, and re-
marking that she was stirred to
DEATH" pumped her two hundred
and fifty pounds avordupois upon the
heap, and little Charley assumed the
shape of human pancake. He
would have groaned, but did not have
wind enough for the purpose.
A little shrek from Clara attract.
ed the old lady's attention to hel
niece.
"Why, you're all dressed up to-
night
'Ye-es, aunt, DEAR replied Clara,
mentally conjecturing how Charley
felt in his present condition.
YES returnedl the other; syou
look very well, only rather pale.'-
IL don't feel very WE'LL answered
her niece, silently consigning her re.
lation to Chicago or some other
wicked place.
I'm sure you can't when you will
lace up so tight, my dear affection.
ately remarked the incorrigible old
lady.
Il don't, family repudiated Clara
while little Charley rasped the skin
off one of his ears in trying to quiet
ly twist his head into position
where he might distinctly hear any,
thing of interest.
you don't ? Yes you do; and al
your time of life it is preposterous.
If you were young, giddy girl, il
would be different but for person
OF your age
sOh, aunt =
Charley barked some more skin of
and became decidedly interested.
mo. there's no tOh aunt = about IL