The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-11-01


der-garments; for Ike Marbleheas
y bowed and venerable with years, attent
cd divine service twice on Sundays wit
the regularity Of clockwork. Althoug
? his lank figure, long, sharp face, an
\ prolonged vowels stamped him IS
Yankee. there were those who said hi
drawl was affectation, that he was on
Of those compulsory patriots who leav
:. their country for their country's good
and that he was son Of perfidiou
England. His want of communicative
, ness was prolific source OF aggrava
tion. Of his antecedents, prior to hi
settling in the city of cannon and Goals
, nothing was known, and in the opin
ion Of those about him, som,
youthful error, banishing him from
his birthplace and relations, &C
counted for his silence respecting
the past. In business point OF view
he was good man. His checks were
always honored, and his orders always
filled. Without wife and withou,
children, Ike Marblehead seemed to care
for naught beyond money and strict
observance of the forms of religion,
perhaps esteeming the latter capital
investment Of time. The owner of many
tenements, occupied by poor people, he
did his duty as a landlord to the very
letter, but he never gave to the poor,
and would have his rent at the proper
time. Nay, he was once heard to say
that the man who fails to meet his mon
etary engagements ought to be put in
prison.
Well, it is evident that Ike Marble
head was on no account better than he
ought TO be. People in large cities care
little for one another, except CONNER
cially or politically, and are much too
busy to indulge in the amusement Of
picking holes in the coats of their
neighbors, unless their neighbors hap
pen to be prominent men, and calumnv
serves a politically profitable, or CON-
mercially profitable, purpose. In small
places like Pittsburg, years ago, gossip
Is break in the monotony of daily life,
and If it is nightly spiced with unfavor-
able reports and remarks about this or
that individual, warranted or other
wise, the enjoyment is considerably en-
HANGED.
One fire morning in June, Kehoe's
groggery was full of its usual frequent
ers, loafers, local politicians, travellers
stretching their legs tifiin-taking bust.
ness men, and grim colliers.
:" Tim, - said seedy individual to the
"guess Ike Marblehead's
made an Improbable investment this
time"
What inP' asked the busy dispenser
Of c0cuius indicus, tobacco-juice, and
other poisons
. In q woman" returned his custo-
mer.
The company pricked up their ears,
md the seedy chap, assuming an air of
great imps rtance, took up a position be-
ore the empty stove, elevated his coat
ails, and proceeded to unbosom him.
elf.
= In woman" he repeated. "She
int woman neither-I m kinder
wrong thar-she's a gal, and--thun-
lerl-ain' Z she bootiful?'
/" Who is shep" anxiously inquired
ii.
Sim in the dark about that thar.
Oceans Of kerosene and miles of wick
in Z no use TO throw light on that thar
ubject''
A girl about IL, or so, had become
n inmate Of Ike Marblehead's house,
nd who she was, and what relation ,
hip existed between her and the hard
I'd man, became questions Of consider /
bic moment. She was very good
baking, and gentleness and truth, like ,
iamonds in gold setting, made her {
eauty doubly attractive.
There was STRAIGHTFORWARD Young |
GLOW in Pittsburg, Ralph BY name, who ,
ever saw her without feeling strong
esire to do her some romantic service |
save her life, for instance, at the risk
his own-so that he might inspire her q
osom to feel friendship for him. Ralph !
as poor at that time, but industrious
nd honest, promising fairly enough to /
We life as profitable 70 others as to I
imself, and as handsome an American .
> you'll meet with from Maine to Tex
). He was in old Marblehead's store q
nd many attempts were made to pump b
i his knowledge Of that mysterious 5
ousehold out Of him, but he was wisely
lent, and kept his tongue behind his \
hite, even teeth, whenever Ike's pri-
ate affairs were preached. q
Old Marblehead professed to be great n
interested in Ralph, giving him plen- Il
Of advice, after the fashion Of men n
enerally, who, forgetting the proclivi- a
es Of their own youth, would have a
think and act like three 4
ore and ten. 4
Before long, Alice Marblehead and Il
DR. unclc's clerk came TO an understand a
g. Ralph feared that bis employer v
ould reject his proposal, but, obeying !,
lice, who was too conscientious to keep /,
affair Of such Importance from the
Of her guardian, he told him G,
ankly how matters stood, and was "
9TH surprised and delighted to receive b
8 consent to their union. n
!" In years time. il Won still like i,