National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-04-18

"There's the dcacon's widow sug-
gcsted Miss Dolly, oiiiciously; she's II
pious, economical"
"Shes left with means enough to
carry her through handsomely" inter.
rupted Mr.. Wiggin, quickly. "Now I'd
rather have wife to provide for--one
that needed home. In fact, Dolly,
have my eye on the little woman | want
this minuter'
He had both eyes on her, for that
matter, and Miss Dolly was forced to
recognize the situation, whether she ac-
cepted it or not.
"I've managed to sugar my tea so
far, David, without calling upon my
neighbers," chirruped she, stopping to
lay straight the braided mat, land l
might as well keep on. | don't feel it
"A tax, as some folks would. But there's
Martha Dunning, she's having hard
time to get along Why don't you take
her, David? She'd appreciate such
nice house as yours.
at would seem as if most any wo-
man might," said Mr.. Wiggin, in an in
jured tone, "all finished off complete,
painted outside and in"
"She'd be delighted with it, l am
sure of itl" broke in Miss Dolly, with
an air OF conviction, as she darted into
the kitchen to lift the boiling kettle
from the crane.
but you don't mean that you won't
marry me, Dolly?" pleaded Mr.. Wig
gin, anxiously, following to the door.
"I've been lottin' on seem you at the
head of things in my house"
"Martha is n grand manager" sad
Miss Dolly, coolly. "David needn't
think he can buy me with set of new
buildings - added she mentally, snap
ping down the lid of the pug-nosed tea
pot. 81 never did have the name OF
being cropping"
II tell you, Dolly, I won't have Mar
tha: | don't like her turn y cried Mr..
Wiggin, testify, balancing himself on
the threshold, yet not daring to step
over it.
Miss Dolly gave her undivided atten-
tion to winging the hearth.
"You know you was always the wo-
man of my choice, Dolly" pursued MIR.
Wiggin, as tenderly as he could con-
sistentlv with the distance between
them. "And we were both young"
"Pshawl' snapped Miss Dolly,
scorching her wing "that's beyond the
memory of man y
Mr.. Wiggin's position was becoming
painful. He grasped the door-post IN
either hand, looking wretched enough
to slay himself on the spot, after the;
fashion of Samson. Evidently he had
not touched the right chord as yet.
Miss Dolly was not to be won by the
attractions of wealth and position, nor
even by tender allusions to the past.
He would appeal to her kindness of
heart.
Il used to believe You had some
feelin', Dolly" said he tremulously
"but You don't seem to have any for
me. Here | am left alone in the world
children all paired off 'thout's Matilda,
and she'll go before the snow flies
house empty
81 suppose you can have a home with
any one of your boys, and welcome, put
in Miss Dolly, family, still futtering
about the chimney like aswallow.
Yes, if worse comes to worse, L
suppose can," assented Mr.. Wiggin,
mournfully, anything but consoled by
this reflection. "It would break me
down terribly, though, you may depend,
to give up my place that | set so much
by, and crowd myself onto my chill
dren."
No response save the clatteringof the
tongs.
"And it's dreadful melancholy bust
ness for man at my time of life to drag
along without partner. I'm getting to
be old, Dolly" Mr. Wiggin brushed
his sleeve across his eyes as feruled
school-boy might have done Yes,
I'm getting to be old, Dolly" he re-
peated, brokenly; "and it stands to rea-
son that / haven't many years to live
but did hope we might go down hill
together Dolly, you chirkin me up
with that spry way of yourn that l al
ways took to, and l carryin' the heft
Of"
Here Miss Dolly gave little sniff,
nothing worth mentioning only for the
effect it produced on Mr.. Wlggin. In
deed. had his ears been as old as he pre-
tended, he would not have suspected
her of being affected by anything more
serious than cold in the head.
"Can't you make up your mind to
have me, Dolly ?" pleaded he, crossing
the threshold in his hopeful eagerness.
81 don't see how I'm going to stand it
if you can't"
"Then Martha wouldn't suit ?" said
Miss Dolly, archly, making great pre-
tense of wiping cinder from her eye.
"What a shame, now, when she needs
the property so much y
Hang the property I'd mortgage
the whole of it rather than not get you,
Dolly" cried Mr.. Wiggin, with vehe'
mence that quite closed her mouth.
And so at last he had Miss Dolly cor
| nared