Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-08-07
+" Next Sunday morningl'


: her for your sake. Cause she wouldn't
say no to so good an offer. Belindy's
q good gal, too She's named after ne,
and perhaps that's why I like her a
little better than [ do Lucy; but shall
do what's right by her when she goes
to housekeepin'. Tn savin' up half
dozen solid silver teaspoons for ,her,
and shall give her my gold beads,
too, " taking hold Of that string of an
cient adornments which encircled her
great fat neck. Shall you go right to
keepin' house 3"
tell you I'm not going to be mar
ried," he screamed, so loud that it
seemed to him all the neighbors must
hear.
OF course you want home to be
happy, anybody does, and I always did
believe in young folks goin' to house.
keepin' as soon as they was married.
you're altogether mistaken" he
screamed in her ear, the perspiration
starting from every pore. 1
"The house already taken? Now I
never And to think they was trying
to keep it from me, and you've told me
all about it shan't tell 'em, though,
nor anybody else, so you needn't be a
grain afraid [ can keep a secret if I
am an old woman" las
'' L wonder who gramma is talking
with said Lucy, as luli in the clat-
ter of dishes brought the sound of
voices to their ears
Father, probably" replied Belin-
da. ''I have heard no one come in. !"
Lucy put her last loaf of bread down
to rise, washed her hands, took off her
big apron, and appeared in the sitting
room, much to Mr.. Mays relief, just
after grandma had pledged herself to
secrecy. She started in surprise when
she saw the guest.
Why Mr.. May! you here. Come
into the parlor," and Lucy led the way,
leaving grandma alone. "You must
have had an interesting visit with
grandma"
" [ think I did," replied the gentle
man, wiping the perspiration from his
brow. "She's very hard of hearing,
isn't she?"
Very" said Lucy; ''but she doesn't
realize it"
q [ see it is so. couldn't make her
understand a word; yet from the an
swers she gave me I saw she thought
she understood it all. I guess she'll
conclude I've told her some strange
stories"
"Never mind" said Lucy; "she's
always making blunders, of course. y
Meanwhile grandma had recovered
from her speechless Indignation at
! seeing Lucy carry off Belinda's beau to
private conference, and waddled out
into the kitchen.
"Belindy," she squealed, taking the
scrubcloath from her hand" go right
into the parlor. Mr. Mays in there
with Lucy"
"No matter, grandma laughed
Belinda, wondering much at her evident
/ frame of mind.
"Tll finish up here, tell you. You
| go right along" and grandma went to
scrubbing at the shelves, while Belinda,
! to please her, went into the parlor,
Later in the afternoon, as the girls
were in the kitchen getting supper, for
they always worked together, Deacon
Stiltsworth called to see Mr.. Freeman
on business. DE-.
" Walk right into the sitting room,
| Deacon" said Lucy. 6 Father will be
in directly SO in the deacon went.
6 Are you pretty well, this spring 2"
he shouted to grandma.
Oh ! la, yes, our well and spring
both held out wonderfully, though
some of the neighbors was plagued for
water most all winter How's your
folks 2''
" Well as usual" nodded the dea-
con. g You haven't got out to meet
ing much through the winter, have
you ~
Don't see much of Belindy Well,
she's pretty steady and industrious,
and amt alters gaddin' like some. Vir
tue is it's own reward, the writing books,
used to say, and Lucy will have to dance
in the pigs trough, for she's two years.
the oldest you know, and Belindy's
| goin' to be married first''
"She! said the deacon, looking
surprised. E..|
eyes, Belindy's goin' to be married
in meetin' next Sunday mornin' to
young Mr.. May, that's readin' law with
Squire Willard. A dreff1l nice young
man he is, pooty as q pink. Now he
come In here this afternoon when the
gals was to work in the kitchen, and
just sot down and visited with me as
polite and attentive, talked over all his
affairs just as open-hearted. He's got
house all engaged and they're goin'
right to housekeeping
! The deacon's ears were all agape to
I hear further particulars. but Mr. Free
mans entrance just then cut short the
garrulous old lady, and as her son
made no allusiCn to the coming event
in the conversation which followed, the
deacon would not seem inquisitive, and
SO received no more information.
Give heard some news" he said to
the family when he got home, "Belin-
tdy Freeman's going to be married +"
I" When E" who to r" The questions
rained down. g@Ge.4 @es
"Next Sunday morning in church, to
( that May fellow. He's got a house al
ready engaged. [ didn't ask what one,
! but presume its the Cox house, right
next to the law office-that's empty
now." ~
=" He's called ON the girls, and wait
ed ON them too,'' said his daughter,
Nancy Jane, "but [ didn't suppose
there was anything serious as yet"
g Well, it appears its settled. The
old lady gave ne full particulars. She
seemed as pleased as child, and told
how sociable Mr. Mag was with her
Old folks like to be noticed, you know"
| When Nancy Jane went over that
evening to carry Jerusha SpeedwelL
the dress-maker, her daily pint Of milk,
she told the news. -,-s|v
guess it must be mistake, " said
Jerusha dOubtfully. rag.-
"Oh, no, it isn't" persisted Nancy
Jane, 6 for we had it right from the.
family. And that explains those Irish
poplin dresses the girls had this spring.
Beinda's was pearl gray and Lucy's
gold mixed, and thought it queer
they didn't have them alike; but [ guess
they thought pearl gray was more suit.
able for the bride"
Sure enough said Miss Speed
well. q fitted those dresses less than
month ago, but [ never thought a
thino - Miss SDeedwell told her next