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

Dolly, with a tougher constitution than
I've got.
i" Ali !" Miss Dolly blushed like a
sumac in October.
q Yes, I'm well, +" pursued 5Ir. Wig
gin, perseveringly, g and I'm tolerably
NeIl=to-do, with nothing to hinder my
marrying again, provided 7 can see a
woman to my mind.
"There's the deacon's widow" sug-
gested Miss Dolly, oficiously; she's
pious, economical
"She's left With means enough to
carry her through handsomely" inter
rupted Nh. Wiggin, quickly. Nov
I'd rather have wife to provide for
one that needed home. In fact, Dol
". I have my eye. on the little woman I
want this minute !"
He had both eyes on her, for that
matter, and Miss Dolly was forced to
recognize the situation, whether she
accepted it or not.
I've managed to sugar my tea so
far, David, without calling upon my
neighbors, . chirruped she, STOPPING to
lay straight the braided mat, g and 1
might as we'll keep on. don't feel it a
tax, as some folks would. But there's
Martha Dunning, she's having a hard
time to get along. Why don't you take
her, David? She'd appreciate such a
nice house as yours"
''It would seem as if most any woman
might. said Mr.. Wiggin. in an injured
tone. "a all finished off complete, painted
outside and in-%
"She'd be delighted with it, I ana
sure of it p broke in Miss Dolly, with
an air of conviction, as she darted into
the kitchen to liftthe boiling kettle from
the crane.
But you don't mean that you won't
marry me; Dolly % pleaded Mr.. Wiggin,
anxiously, following to the door. Give
been lotten' on SEEM yon at the head of
things in my house.
g Martha is a grand manager" said
Miss Dolly, ceolly. aDavid needn't
think he can buy me With set of new
buiIdings" added she mentally, snap
ping down the lid of the pug-nosed tea
pot. ST never did have the name of
being cropping ?"
ST tell you, Dolly, I won't have
Martha; don't like her turn p 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 consis-
tently with the distance between them.
" And we were both young"
Pshaw y snapped Miss Dolly scorch-
ing her wing; that's beyond the
memory of man p
Mr.. Wiggin's position was becoming
painful. He grasped a doer-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 the tender illusions to the past.
He would appeal to her kindness of
heart
" I used to believe you had some feel
in, Dolly" said he, tremulously; "but
you don't seem to have any for me.
Here I am left alone in the world
children all paired of, thout's Matilda,
and she'll go. before the snow flies
house empty
g I suppose. you can have home with
any one of your boys, and welcome"
put in Miss Dolly, family, still futter-
ing about the chimney like swallow.
Yes, if worse comes to worst, sup |
pose I can" asseDted Mr.. Wiggin,
mouTnfully, any thing but consoled by |
this reflection. It would break ma
down terribly, though, you may depend, |
to give up my place that 1 set SO much
by, aud crowd myself on to my chill
dren."
No response save the Gathering of the
tongs.
g And it's dreadful melancholy busi-
ness for man at my time OF life to
drag along without partner. I'm get
ting to be old, Dolly" Mr.. Wiggin |
brushed his sleeve across his eyes as a
feruled school-boy might have done.
g Yes, Tn getting to be old, Dolly" he |
repeated brokenly; and it stands to
reason that I haven't many years to live /; |
but did hope we might go down hill
together, Dolly, you chirllin' me up with
that spry way of yourn that I always |
took to, and I carryin' the heft Of"
Here Miss Dolly gave little sniff,
nothing worth mentioning only for the
effect it produced on Mr.. Wiggin. In |
deed, had his ears been as old as he |
pretended, he would not have suspected |
her of being affected by anything more
serious than a cold in the head.
Cant you make up your mind to
have me, Dolly ?" pleaded he, crossing
the threshold IN his hopeful eagerness. !
81 don't see how Tn going to stand it
if you can't.
"Then Martha wouldn't suit % said |
Miss Dolly, archly, making a great pre-
tense of wiping a einder from her eye.
''What n shame, now, when she needs
the property so much?"
Hang the property I'd mortgage
the whole of it rather than not get you,
Dollyi" cried Mr.. Wiggin, with a vehe-
mence that quite closed her MOUTH.
And so at last he had Miss Dolly cor
nered
COMPARE what thou hast not with
what thou hast, and see which is better
This VIII keep thee from trouble for