The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-12-11

wet ]ashes sweeping her flushed cheek;
"but l am very poor and it is necessary
for me to earn my daily bread!"
set my teeth grimly together at the
idea of that young delicate creature in the
tumble down bowel at Elm Grove, at the
mercy of dog-eared spelling books and
dinner baskets!
"Miss Gray,"I commenced, e,nphati-
cally-
There-it inevitably happened SO in my
case! What possessed Jack Clermont'to
drive up to the door at that Identical TO.
ment? why couldn't he have stayed away
just five minutes longer?
"Pease favor me with your address,
Miss Gray" stammered, hurrietlly, "the
certificates are not printed yet. will call
and see about them in day or two"
And w2en the quiet brown dress had
tuttered from the room, l discovered all
at once, that the crimson glory was fading
gloOmily from the west, and the fire was
dying ont, and things were dismal enough
to welcome the noisy entrance of my
friend Jack and his cigar.
"Well, my boy, what luck have you
had keeping office to-day?"
informed him briefly of my experiences
laying particular stress on the twenty five
dollar lecture engagement, and slurring
over the affair Of the crun.pled bill for
which had receipt in full.
"All right" said Jack, in a merry, Jo-
vial voice, that sounded like a cheerful
gale of wind in a pine forest. "Why,
you'd make splendid lawyer, Campford.
But you have not told me about the pref
ty girl who was coming out as drove up
-Hhat did she want?
ooh, she was alter a certificate to
teach school-up in Elm Grove, you re-
member. say, Jack, this school marin
branch mus. be rather delicate piece OF
business is your sphere OF duties
"Not generally" said Jack. But
what did you do with this one? Give her
a certificate
NO." said |, thoughtfully.
"And why notP didn't l invest you
with unlimited powers
Because" SAID |, deliberately rising
from the wood box, and stretching my six
feet Of humanity To their fullest attitude,
because, Jack, | mean t. marry that
girl!''
"Campford, are you insane?"
"NO-I think not!"
But you never saw her defore?"
"Well, what then ? she suits me exact
ly-I never knew before what sort of
wife wanted, and now l am fully con-
vinced."
But suppose she won't have your"
She will-or I'll know the reason
why"
Clermont burst into laugh.
"Well, Campford, all l have to say is,
60 ahead, and may Cupid speed you!"
acted upon the recommendation, and
called on Miss Jessie the next day, to tell
her that the certificate would certainly be
ready at a certain date. Then l found it
necessary to call severa; more times to tell
her why they were delayed from date to
date. So that it was well into April before
strobe up the walk leading to the widow
Gray's cottage one golden evening, with
bunch of wild azaleas in my hand, and
the tardy piece OF parchment under my
arm. OF course, Jessie had long since
discovered that was not the trustee, but
it did not materially affect our friendly
relations
"Well, Miss Jessie, here is the certifi-
cate.''
She uttered little exclamation of de-
light and held out her hand.
81 wouldn't avail myself of it, Miss
Jessie-I believe you can 90 better!"
"Marry me!"
Do you ask what answer she made? l
have no distinct recollection of the precise
words-I only remember a sunset more
goldenly radiant by far than | have ever
seen, before or since-the faint odOr of
spring blossoms in the air, and my head
bent down to catch the low whispers of
the fair lips that were hid against my beat
ing heart think, however, its general
purport was favorable, for Mrs. Campford
the woman yonder who is wondering
why | don't come to breakfast-has never
regretted that she did not take charge of
the school at Elm Grove.