Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-03-09
NUMBER FIFTEEN.


rather it wouldn't be my way if | was il
the habit Of writing stories, which, thank
heaven, am not. | get my living in /;
respectable way, by the sweat of my
brow, not by writing lies for newspapers
and that is my own.
My name is Roderick McStivers, and
I'm native of the good old town Of
Tadmonthi I'm forty years old if I'm 9
day, and, if do say it, as good looking
for my age as any man you ever set eyes
on. Twenty years ago | was fully as
handsome as am now, and at that time
was engaged to the charming Mary
Black, the belle of Falmouth. That
was the beginning of all my woe-that
engagement was poor then Ct own
the largest boot manufactory in Tad
mouth to-day, and the Lord only knew
when | should be able to marry Mary.
Blu she said she didn't care, she could
wait two or three centuries just as well
MS not, if I'd only be true to her mean
time
Sooner shall the blue ocean melt to air,
Sooner shall earth resolve itself to sea,
Than resign thine image, oh, my fair!
0rthinlt Of anything excepting thee.
That's just what said. You wouldn't
think, 10 look at me now, that | could
say anything quite so soft rs the above
would you, chp Bless YOU! | had
more poetry in my head twenty years
ago than YOU could shake Il stick at
Many are poets who have never penn'd
Their inspirations, aud perchance the best.
That $ what S the trouble with me. IL
hadn't confined myself to leather, |
should have played the deuce with ''the
nine. Well, understand from the
above that Mary and | were all right [
Sworc that I'd be true, and she dittoed;
but, bless you, my dear SIT, the sweet
girl had II father, and he was not SO
young rs we were by several years.
Those were days when my heart was
volcanic" but the old gentleman's pal
pitator was as hard and cold rs Il east
iron grindstone. The patcrnal Black
did not believe much in love, you see.
He had married for money, and, in
his opinion, that was the only thing
worth marrying for; and SO, instead of
throwing his only child away upon a
miserable yagabond like myself, he very
nnccrcm0niously showed me the dool
one evening, aud the very nest day
brought a lover of his own choosing
home To Mary. The lovers name was
Bunsby, and he rolled in gold, meta
phorically speaking; owned fine
house IN New York, ana hau horses,
carriages and servants 'too numerous
mention" Oh, why should | lnger
over this period of my existence Tn
sure don't know why, and hang me if
| do.
You guess the rest Mary was dag
sled with her new lovers wealth. She
forgot poor Roderick McStivers, and
married Thomas Bunsby, ESD, and /
|, alas, was not invited to the wedding!
Anything more heartlcss than the above
can scarcely be imagined. | suppose |
might have gone into mourning"
They told me | couldn't be a nun on ac-
count of my sex.
"Oh, what shall doP" | asked, in
voice that sounded horribly strange,
notwithstanding that it was my own
defy you to tell me what did do. In
the light of my twenty years expert
cncc, am convinced that | did the best
thing ! could under the circumstances
| married my boarding mistress. She
was thirty-live and | was twenty years
of age; She was
maid unmatched In manners as In face
Skilled III each art, and crowned with every
grace.
And, though never learned TO love her
eXlrayagantlN, | must confess that she
could make the best apple dumplings
that ever ate. In the course of time
became father. A daughter was born
to us. and We called her Julia, after my
grandmother who was the most bcauti-
full woman in the country, To Judge from
the portrait now before me. NV
daughter looksmuch rs her grandmother
did At her age. Well as | said, a
daughter was born to us and a son was
born to Bunshy, and they called him
Tom. We heard of the last mentioned
event UP here in Falmouth, but for
years and years never saw citherMary
or her son, notwithstanding they used
to visit her father quite often while the
old gentleman lived. But ut last Mr.. |
Black was gathered to his fathers, and |
nj about the same time my wife was
gathered TO her mothers, and | was left |
alone with my little Julia. | was rich |
then the most wealthy man in Tad |
mouth and had builtme fine house. |
the same that have lived never since, |
with my little Julia rs house keeper.
Well, how things will come about! Last |
summer young Tom Bunsbv came out to
Falmouth and put upat the hotel-thcy
have quite 4 number of summer board |
ers thcre-and the first thing the Young
man did was to fall in love with my |
daughter Julia. OF course the poor fell
low was not TO blame. lie couldn't help
1t, for she was the most bewitching lit
tie woman that You ever saw, notwith-
standing that old McStivers is her
father
He saw her first at picnic, danced
with her, kissed her in the ring, and
walked home with her at night. re-
member the evening very well. | was
sitting in my library, smoking cigar
and thinking of the late Mrs. McStivers
oh, those apple dumplings! my mouth
waters every time | think of them
when, the windows being open. heard
voices Mt the door. knew twas Julia.
and knew she had ayoung fellow with
her, and. tear my wig. if he wasn't beg
ging for n kiss.
How siivcry sweet sound lovers tongues by
night,
Like softcs; music to attending ears.
remarked contidentially to McStivers.
In about five minutes Julia came in
like tea-acre flower garden,
and looking rs lovely as fairy queen.
''oh, papa, I've had such splendid
timer said she, throwing herself into
my arms and kissing the eutiele of from
my right cheek.
Yes, | should think so. particularly
during the last five minutes,n / re-
.'oh. father,a and she hid her face in
my whiskers,
WHO was it, my dear?n inquired.
MIR. Thomas Bunsby. " Ess
Tom Bunsbyr' yelled. springing to
my feet, while my eyes rolled fearfally. |
Oh, it was y terrible sight i know.
because there was mirror directly in
front of me.
"Ham
Nothing that You ever heard on the
stage ever equaled that blood-curdling
'.Ha!n of mine.
My daughter fell at my feet the pic
lure of terrified terror or Mortified hor-
ror; can't tell which. The whole thing