Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1872-09-10

ef' Salilc invited him in. He
said he bad been trying to obtain
some Of the old English strawberry
plants. He had the Hovey seed
ling and the Bartlett, aud in fact
almost every other variety, but the
old English had become very rare
and he was told Mr.. Deering had
it.
Upon which Mr.. Deering said he
had, and that Mn. Burch was vel
come to some. Then they fell into
a toa8 conversation about horticuI-
turo III general. So he staid an
hour or more, and though he ad-
dressed but few worth, to Sallie
his hazel eyes were upon her, even
while he talked to her father. So
upon one pretext on another. he
continued to come, until at last he
came without pretext at all.
The old people valued his society
ON their own account, but more be-
cause, as they say, the companion
ship of gentlemen like Mr.. Burch
was such an advantage to young
girl like their daughter. As for
Sallie she regarded him as a dear
brother, or at least thought she did,
until her old friend, Mrs. Burdock,
destroyed the illusion.
1t was one afternoon i'm early
June, when Mr.. Deer.ing slept in
his armchair, his wife darned his
stockings, and Sallie sat stitching
away on some pretty piece of non
sense-which, truth to tell, she was
much addicted to doing-that Mrs.
Burdock stalllcd in like some gaunt
and grizzly fate. After discourag-
ing short time upon the lateness
OF the season, the prospect for
crops, Mrs. Blacks rhumatiz,"
and Mr.. Browns broken leg, she
came at last to the subject upper
most in her mind, which had been
the real motive of her call.
80 Alr Dmch is going to lie
married"
is he! Who is the lady p
"Ihat / haiu't found out, but
he's fiXin' up his house with the
bcautifulret new things | made
an "l1ant there and saw them for
myself. il must be the Queen Of
-A,ha. a, least, and Mrs Gurdock
ciaoi,ed at her own wit. "He's
been down to Boston tlrree times in
one week. Only think Of it" she
added.
What followed Sallie did not
hca'--she felt confused and be-.
WiIdcrcd. and thankful when shs
could steal away TO her chamber.
Tho next day Mr.. Burch called,
rs smiling and handsome as ever.
lie confirmed the truth of Mrs.
Burdock's statement with regard
to refitting his house, and paid
Sallie the compliment of asking the
benefit of her taste in completing
the arrangements.
"Wl YOU put on your hat and
go with enow (" he asked.
"Cert.inly, she said, and tried to
add "with pleasure but the words
got no further than her throat.
She remembered how she had
once gone over another house with
another expected bridegroom, but
it was not that memory which caus-
ed her to sigh as she crossed the
threshold at Riverbank.
" Indeed, Mr.. Burch, you had lit
tie need of any taste but your own,"
she observed. ....
They had nearly completed thsir
survey of the house, and were now
standing by n recess filed with the
choicest plants.
"Then you are pleased,' he ask
ell. 'd ,ar2 .a"tlt
Il am charmed" a
at still lacks one thing without
which even Paradise was not COM
plete.' he said, Its Eve"
"a deficiency that will soon be
| SUPPOSE" she said, turn
ng her back on Mr.. Burch, and
ooking intently into the heart of a
,alla lilly.
"That depends on you," he said.
con me J" exclaimed Sallie, fac
ng him: show can that be 7"
Because, unless You consent to
marry me yourself, / shall remain
ingle." '1 !D~
"Impossiblel" !" said she.
Have / presumed too muchl,
'e asked, regarding her earnestly.
81 meant impossible that you
ould think Of me-" staminered sim