The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-05-15

any use for him to try to make bar
gain with Dolly.
That's more'n can tell" Mr..
Blount had answered sDolly's puz-
zle. You'll have to find out for your
self"
AIr. Wiggin smiled, in complaeent
anticipation of acceptance Indeed, il
might not seem like a repaoaeh to the
memory of his lost Olive, 1 should say
that the kind-hearted man reioieed in
this opportunity of making Miss Dol
ly's happiness.
Beneyelence was IN his face, benevo-
Ience was In his spirit, as he sailed
sorth at an early day to aequaint her
with her good fortune. The broken
harrow which he had strapped into the
wagon to give the neighbors a plausi-
bic reason for his trip to the falls was
by no means typical of mental lacsra-
ton in its owner. His feeling as he
approached Miss Dolly's moss-grown
cottage was purely one of thankfulness
that it was In his power to provide her
better home. Not that he was CRATE
full to his dead wife for leaving vacan-
cy there. Mr.. Wiggin had mourned
faithfully for Olive year and day.
Miss Dolly was out in the garden
gathering eatnip. She never used it
herself, but there were nervous old Ia
dies in the village who looked upon the
herb as the substance pleasant dreams
are made of, and Miss Dolly dried it
every year, and often left little bundles
of it when she made visits of cOnsola-
tion. She had built chip fire under
the tea-kettle, and then whisked off to
pick an apronful of the pungent leaves
while the water was boiling. There
she was, STOPPING beneath the eaves of.
a log-cabin sun-bonnet, and humming
lively fRgue tune, when Mr.. Wiggin
drove up.
g Come, my beloved, haste away
piped Miss Dolly, cheerily, swapping
briskIy at the stalks.
"' Cut short the hours of thy delay;
Fly like youthful"
Fly like q youthful-''' struck in
awheezy bass.
The sun-bonnet tipped back like a
cart body.
Sakes alive % cried Miss Dolly, not
in the words of the hymn, as Mr.. Wig
gin strobe toward her on his slightly
rheumatic legs.
"I didn't mean to put you ont,
laughed he, shaking hands heartily,
but it seemed kind o material to take
part with you in the invitation.
"You always hada way of falling in at
the most unheard-of time, I remem-
Der, )" retorted Miss Dolly, saucily, re-
covering herself, and going on gather
ing catnip. She was fifty years old
now, and hoped she had her wits about
her.
You used to say kept good time,
only too much of it, f" pursued Mr.. Wig
gin, with sudden inspiration but
I tell you what, Dolly, time never
dragged with me then as it does these
days !"
cit is a dull season, said Miss Dol
ly, with exasperating simplicity. "I
suppose the grass-hoppers have eaten
most of your wheat, havn't they, so it'll
hardly pay for the reaping ?"
just so, assented Mr.. Wiggin, dis
comftted. He had not Travelled five
miles in the heat to discuss the crops.
'Walk in and sit down, won't you?
saiG Miss Dolly, with reluctant hospi-
tality. Her apron was erammed at last
to its utmost capacity. She devoutly
wished it had been larger.
"Well, yes, I don't care if do, !" an
swered Mr.. Wiggin, after a hypocritioal
show of hesitation. &c had a little bu-
siness further on, at the blacksmith's
No hurry, Though, as know of, and
he turned to let down the bars for Miss
Dolly, who meanwhile nimbly slipped
through the fence, catnip and all.
Bless my heart! L don't see but
what you are as spry as ever you was,
said he, admiringly, as he puffed along
in her wake. Still you must be get
ting into years, Dolly, as well as I-no
offense, hope-and was wondering
whether or no. it wasn't lonesome for
you living alone here /; a woman, SO p
"Oh, I never was one of the lone
some kind" responding Miss Dolly,
briskly, seating her guest in the patch
work cushioned rocking chair; "and,
for that matter, hardly a day passes
without some of James folks running
in"
eyes, know; but If you was to
change your Eituation, wouldn't you en-
Joy life better, think p
BIiss Dolly fidgeted at the green pa
per curtains. and intimated that her
present happines would be complete if
the grasshoppers would stop feeding on
her garden sauce.
" That's just it, " continued Mr.. Wig
gin, eagerly; "you do seem to need
man to look out for your farming inter
ests, now don't you, Dollyg A man
that'n be ready and willing to do for
you, and make You comfortable?"
"I don't know, said Miss Dolly, dry
". "The year before father died did
have Silas Potter, and he is the most
faithful creature living but what with
the extra cooking and washing I had to
do for him, my work was about double
ed, and when mud-time came was
glad enough to send him of, and hire
by the day. I about made up my mind
that men folks round the house cost
more'n they come to-
81 guess We don't understand one
another" said hfr. Wiggin, slightly
Disconnected by this unhattering view
Of his sex. 81 wasn't speaking Of hired
help, Dolly. Materially you would get
tried with that it's wor1vin' to a wo-
man. But if you was to have a COM
panion, now-One that eonld give you a
good home, with wood and water under
cover"
Shoe Shoe e cried Miss Dolly,
fiving out after an inquirino chicken ON