The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-10-31

make business of getting wife, and
must go and dye his hair and whiskers,
and dress himself up in new quit of
broadcloth, with tall hat, and gold
watch chain. To my eyes he looks as
much out of character as crow would
in the feathers of a yellow-bird."
"Its the nature of widowerto spruce
up" said Mrs. Stepford, speaking from
the depths of profound knowledge. "He
puts the best foot forward, and makes as
good an impression as he can, just as
naturally as rooster crows;' and for my
part don't see mite of harm i'll it,"
You seem so much in favor of Mr..
Pritchard," returned Margaret, rather
saucily, al think you had better take
him yourself. Who knows, after all,
Aunt Sukey, but he comes shining round
you?"
Margaret, you ought to be ashamed
of yourself" and Mrs. Stepford put on
her dignity, with an angry flush suffu-
sing her sallow cheek. "You have no
right to ridicule person of my age, and
your own fathers sister; and you know
well that when laid Chester away in
the burying-ground made up my mind
to remain reflex the rest of my life. 1
haven't ever thought of taking another
| pardner."
"But why shouldn't 2" persisted
Margaret "If it's such a proper thing
for widower to marry again, why
shouldn't it be the same for widow |!
It's poor rule that won't work both
ways, auntie. And now l think of it,
you would be Just the wife for Mr.
Pritchard-suitable in age, and with a
pretty penny of your own, and then you
are careful housekeeper. L do believe
he's been after you all along. The next
time he calls shall act as if he was your
visitor, and keep out of the way. Go
and put on your dress-cap, Aunt Sukey,
with the purple bows. If l were you 1
wouldn't wear that daguerrotype pin
with Uncle Chester's likeness, but pink
neck-ribbon, which Is becoming to your
complexion. You are real cookbook
ing woman when you are dressed up and
don't wonder Ezekiel Pritchard has ta-
ken fancy"
Margaret, you can be the provoking
est creature l ever saw and if you
choose to insult me, it don't signify. I'm
nothing and nobody; but it is shame
for you to make light of serious things"
"Oh, won't" responded Margaret,
with an exasperating air of penitence.
IL didn't know it was serious. wasn't
aware things had gone so far. If he
should call this afternoon, auntie, shan't
stand in your light am going to stay
here in the kitchen until nearly dark to
cook bean-porridge for the mems supper.
| Then there is batch of bread to bake,
and may stir up cake between whiles.
1 don't even intend to take time to
change my dress. This old calico is
pretty well soiled," and she drew it
around her and looked at the back
breadths, "and my hair is tousled; but
never mind-I don't expect to see any
body. You, auntie, can go and fix your
self up nice. Counting seems to have a
deal to do with dry-gOods; but for my
part, if l found man to my liking, /
shouldn't care what kind of a coat COW
cred his back, or whether he was rich or
poor"
Margaret's last speech cut Mrs. Step
ford's sensibilities to the quick. She
rose in high dudgeon, and, gathering her
mending into her apron, went loftily into
her own bedroom and shut the door,
But the words had fallen on other ears
besides those they were intended to
reach; and just as Margaret was swing
ing the crane around from the black
throat of the chimney, preparatory to
hanging the porridge-pot over the fire,
she caught sight of young man face
framed by a careless wreath of hop-vine
which embowered the window where he
stood.
There really seemed no reason why
Margaret should blush wildly because
Mark Thorpe had overheard her foolish
words. Mark was only poor student,
working his way through college and
the medical schools, who had hired out
to her father for the summer months, in
order to harden his muscles with farm
labor and put few much-needed dollars
into his pocket, Margaret knewhe was
up by four every morning to study and
write before the days work began. He
had the manners OF IL ue-h hearted gem
tleman, always easy and pleasant, ready
to pitch quoits with the men, or whittle
out wonderful boats for the boys, or walk
after hard days work to prescribe for
an old woman's "rhumatics." He was
so strong and healthy, every thing he
did seemed pastimc. If Margaret re-
membered that Mark Thorpe was only
her fathers hired hand, she did not forget
that he was as much at home i'll lady's
parlor as he was in the hay field. He
had a rich tenor voice. we'll trained, and
a temper like sunshine and bird music
mixed in equal parts,
The pail of drinking water stood on a
shelf near the window, and Mark was
reaching through the open easement to
secure along-handled dipper which hung
Just above it. He had taken off his straw
hat, and his hair lay scattered about a
broad forehead, untanned and white. al
though the rest of his face showed man
ly brown. His mouth, under its fringe
of golden mustache, and his eyes, large
and blue, kept mischievously smiling at
Margaret, while the blush deepened on
her cheek.
$50 you wouldn't mind, Miss Marga-
ret, whether the man was rich or poor,
if you could find one to your liking.
All can say is that wish he was about
my size"
There was little mockery in the tone
to cover the serious meaning of the
words; and then, after long draught,
while his eyes still did good service
watching Margaret's becoming confu-
sion of face, Mark let the dipper plash
into the water-pail, and went with his
strong stride along down the meadow
path, singing a snatch of Kathleen Ma
vourneen."
Marparet was yexed. because her ready