Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-01-21
DEBBY WILDER
OF. The Hundred Dollar Note.
BY SERA SMITE

lard in biz younger days TO seek his fortune:
a-l having been employed by respectable
s1ekrr TO work on his farm, he had c0ntrived
Iv true Yankee adrnitnesS to win the affections
%: the old mans daughter, and had married
lrr His wife, having eSpouScd one of the
wTiis people, contrary to the rules OF her
,risr. was, of course, - read ont Of the So
ley" but Wilder loved her none the less for
tLa:, Il anything, he felt little reioiced at it
fsr ne thoaght it seemed to bring her little
Resrer to him.
Mrs Wilder, however, never oveTcame the
E'hits which had grown up with her childhood
aHd youth; she always called her husband Viii
liam, and continued through life to speak the
HTaker dialect. But this from her lips was
never UnSrateful OF uuwecnIne tn Williams
NaTs, for one Of the sweetest sounds that ever
dwelt IN his memcEy, was when he asked her
certain question and her reply was William.
thee has my heart already. and nay hand shall
he thine whenever thee may be pleased TO take
William Wilder was a thrifty and stirring
man; and In a few years he found himself the
owner of good farm, and was going ahead in
'he world rs fast the best of his neighbors
Nor mas the whole sum of his fortune yet been
stated He was blCst with daughte a bright.
rosy checked, healthy, rompng girl. full of life
and spirits. and in his eyes exceedingly beau
tiiul. The daughter. at the period which is
nov more particularly escribed had reached
the age of eighteen years, and was an object of
engroAng love to her parents, and of general
d'tention to the neighborhood.
There's that JoeNelson alongside Of Debbv
sgaln, said Mr.. Wilder TO his wife. rather pet
tlshly, as they came out of church one warm
summer afternoon. and commenced their walk
hoIneward. | wish he wouldn't make him.
self quite 30 thick"
Well, now my dear, 1 think thee has q
title too much feeling about it, returned
Yrs Wilder. = Young folks like to be to-
gether, and Joseph is a clever and respectable
Young man; nobody ever says a word against
him. "
Yes, he's too clever TO be worth anything"
said Wilder; - and by and by he II take it into
his head, If he hasn't already, to coax Debby
TO marry him I've no idea of her marrying a
pauper; We worked too hard for what little
property We got TO be willing to see it go to
feed Il vagabOnd, who never earned anything
and never will | don't believe Joe will ever
be worth hundred dollars as long as he lives"
My dear, think thee is little too hard
upon Joseph, thee should remember that he is
nut just out of his time. His father has been
sick several years, and Joseph has almost en-
tirely Supported the whole family
oh, / don't deny but he 5 clever enough"
said Mr. Wilder; all is, l don't like to see
him quite so thick along with Debby. How
mould yOu feel to see him married to Debby,
and not worth decent suit of cothes'''
- L should feel said Mrs. Wilder, '-as
when we 1rst married. We had decent clothes,
and each of us good pair of hands, and that
WAS all we had to start with. don't think
we should have got along any better. or been
any happier, if thee had been worth a hundred
thousand dollars when we were married =
This argument came with such force to Will
der 5 own bosom that he made attempt to
answer 1t. but walked on in silence till they
reached their dwelling. Debby and Joseph
had arrived there before them, and were al
1v- Il h,
they passed the window, Mr.. Wilder chose not
To 90 in, but continued his walk up the road to
the high ground that overlooked some of his
fields. where he stood ruminating for half an
hour on the prospect of his crops and more
particularly upon the unpleasant subject of
Debby and Joe Nelson. The young man be-
came - familiar and much ut home at his
house, that he could hardly doubt there WAS
strong attachment growing up between him
and Dehby, and he began to feel very uneasy
about 1t. lie had always been fond of Dpbhy
and her presence was =. necessary To- his
happiness, that the idea Of her marrying at all
WAS sad thought tn him; but if she must mar
ny. he WAS determined it should be if possible
10 person 81 some property, who would at
once place her III a comfortable situation in
lie, snd relieve him from the foolish anxiety.
~ common IN the world, lest mis- own estate
should be dishonored by family connections
no. equal {" it. While he remained there in
MS muSlng mood, he recognized lIeury Miller
coming down the road and he resolved nj once
To take him To supTer. Miller was a dasbing
business Young fellow, who kepI a store about
mile and n half from Willers. and was re-
ported To be worth five or six thousand dollars
lie hat heretofore been frequent visitor at
Mr. WilderS house, and there was time his
attention To Debby was such to cause him to
"Npect that the thrifty young trader would be
come his Son-in-law Debby, however was not
Suhclently pleased with him to encourage his
attentions, and for some time past his visits
had been diScOuntenanced
"ood afternoon. Mr.. Miller said Mr.
Wilder presenting his nsnd. glad to see you,
10" d" You do fine day this -
- -. fine day said Miller ..exoeIIent
weather Tor crops; how do You -! ,lo ri home
quite well. thank YOU said Wilder.
Tome, 81 down to the house with me and
take supper said he
miller c"l'red, and said he did no. think bc
could stop. Mr.. Wilder, however. would NOT
take no for an answer, and considerable i'm.
P"rtunity, he prevailed upon him TO arcept his
invitation, snd they descended the biiI 70.
Sether, and went into the house
Debby, here's Miller" said Wud.- o.
they entered the psrlor "
peoby rose. handed a chair, and said good
evening; but her face was covered with
olusheS, and she returned To her seat A
Miller seated himself in the chair he glanced
across the room and recognized Nelson. The
two young men nodded to each other. and both
seemed somewhat embarrassed
At this moment Mrs. Wilder entered III.
room. WV
How doe, thee do Henry" said sh. pre.
senting her hand. I'm glad to see tbes. T
hope thy mother is we'll !''
Very well, indeed" said Miller; and after
afew more remarks she retired to superintend
the preparation Of supper
Excuse me, Mr.. Miller. a little while :,
sald wilder; . want to go and show Josenb
that held of corn Of mine we were lookip, a,
ofck OF the hill. According to my notion. It'll
20 up and look at it
tnink 1t IS the stoutest piece I've seen
this year, said Joseph; Il saw it about a week
ago "0eA
IN, H mas gained amazingly within a week, -
said Mr. Wilder; come 20 up and take look
atit' A
Joseph was altogether unaccustomed TO such
attentions from Mr.. Wilder, and he looked nor
little confused as he took his hat and followed
him 20 the door.
They went up the road, and Mr. Wilder took