Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-08-13

love me in return, and if I may hope to |
make you my wife. VIII you marry
me?'
Joe, having arrived at this important
question, looked tenderly and appealingly
into her face, and breathlessly awaited
her reply. She colored slightly, and
bent her eyes to the ground.
"You are quite right" she said, :" in
that you are not Indifferent to
me, for regard you very highly
Then all my fears have been ground
less,'' uttered Joe, exultingly.
But, continued the lady, cannot
very well grant your wish regarding"
"What," cried Joe, his countenance
suddenly changing.
Il cannot very well marry your p
"And why can't you? I'd ike to
know what's to hinder your marrying me
if you think enough of me"
"There is one reason in particular"
"What is it?
"Pm engaged to another!"
Joe turned pale.
"Sparks p he cried" tell me is it
Sparks ?"
well, and if it is?'
L knew it? Blast him, I knew what
he was aferl'
'Idon't know that Mr.. Sparks ha:
acted in any way as he should not re.
marked the young lady warmly.
He's cheatin' william replied Joe
Indignantly.
You don't know him he's nothing
of the kindr
It's you that don't know him bu
you will before long, I've been deceiv
ed, and amt afraid to say SOP continu
ed be, snatching up his hat; it's tn,
money he pretends to have that's lost m,
a wife but when you want to to uch ii
Just as like as not you won't be able
He rushed from the house as he utter
ed these words, and hurried homeward
He found his mother still up, and wa
eagerly interrogated by her as to tn
luck he had met with. He told her al
and little coincidence was she enabled t
, offer him in return
For two or three days following, Jo
} Chickweed said very little, but h
thought much. One morning he met hi
, mother with a smiling face and a sort c
triumph in his look. The old lady wa
somewhat surprised at the sudden chang
in her sons manner.
, Why, what on earth's the matte
; now, JOe?' said she; hope you ain
e goin' to go crazy.
Not by long shot replied Joe;
amt quite SO big fool as that
: Then what ails you?'
e 'Oh, I've got it all arranged at last
I've got 'em now
L Who? What?'
d why Melinda and that vagabon
Reuben Sparks-ha! ha !-PIl surpris
!, him
S We'll, how you goin' to do it?'
?, 'Oh, its all rightP said Joe laughin;
I Iy-'Ill do it-darned if I don't. I
o fix the sneaking critterp
IS But how-how, Joe? Can't yc
speak out? What's got in the boy
5, cried the old lady, dying with curiosit
ie to know what was his plan.
5, well, now I'll tell you all about
g began Joe, assuming a more sober tone
N 'Well, I just wisl: you would
in You know the widder has alwa
If favored my keeping company with NJ
r linda
le well
E. 'And 1 do believe she IS desp'ra
down on that feIler, Sparks, coming in
her family
Ig Yes
ID In that case she wouldn't very wi
It ingly let her property go into his hand
But 'cording to the will of old n
le Martin, the property amt to out of b
hands till she is dead
ry Just so-but Sparks would have
the benefit. And now I'm coming
d, the point-it's just there Tn going
floor Reuben Sparks
Well, do let me hear
at The widder Martin herself ain
or bad looking womanl' Joe remarked,
At a sort of amysterious tone Of voice, gls
nd cling up suddenly into his mothers ia
'No-but what's that got to do W
id, the matter? replied the old lady, imp
on tiently.
so And she amt very old, neither co
in tinued he, with the same air.
Why, she can't be more'n forty
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