The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-04-21

There's tho delcOn's widow, sug-
gested Miss Dolly, ofliciously; "she's q
pious, economical"
"She's left with means enough to
carry her through handsomely" inter-
rupted Mr. Wiggin, quickly. "Nowrd
rather have wife to provide for-one
that needed home. In fact, Dolly, 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 ac-
cepted it or not,
live managed to sugar my tea so
far, David, without calling upon my
neighbsrs," chirruped she, stopping to
lay straight the braided mat, "and l
might as we'll keep on. I don't feel it
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 q
nice house as yours.
at would seem as II most any wo.
man might" said Mr.. Wiggin, in an in
iured tone, "all finished, of complete,
painted outside and in"
"Shed be delighted with It, I an
suro OF til" broke in Miss Dolly, with
an mir OF conviction, as sho darted into
the kitchen to lift the boiling kettle
from tho crane.
"But you don't mean that you won't
marry me, Dolly2" pleaded Mr.. Wig.
gin, anxiously, following to the door,
"Tve been lottin' on seein' You ut the
head of things in my house."
"NIartha Is q grand manager" said
Miss Dolly, coolly. "David needn't
think he can buy me with set OF new
buildings r. added she mentally, snap
ping down the lid OF tho pug.nosed tea
pot. "I never did have the namo Of
being cropping"
"I tell you, Dolly, I won't have Mar
tina; l don't like her turn" cried Mr..
Wiggin, testify, balancing himself on
the threshold, yet not daring to step
over it.
Miss Dolly gave her undivided atten-
ton to winging tho hearth.
"You know you was always the wo-
man Of my choice, Dolly" pursued Mr..
Wiggin, as tenderly as he could con-
sistcntly with tho distance between
them. '"And we were both young"
"Pshawl" snapped Miss Dolly,
scorching her wing; "that's beyond the
memory Of man |"
Mr.. Virgins position was becoming
painful. He grnspcd 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 illusions to the past.
He would appeal to her kindness Of
heart.
"I used to believe you had some
feclin', Dolly" said he tremulously;
"but you don't seem to have any for
me. Here am left alone in the world;
children all paired of 'thouts Matilda,
and she'll go before the snow flies;
house empty"
az suppose you can have n home with
any one Of your boys, and welcome, put
in Miss Dolly, family, still huttering
about the chimney like aswallow.
Yes, If worse comes to worse, I
suppose I can" assented Mr.. Wiggin,
mournfully, anything but consoled by
this reflection. "It would break mo
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 tho
tongs.
%And it's dreadful melancholy bust.
ness for man at my time Of life to drug
along without a partner. I'm getting to
be old, Dolly" Mr.. Wiggin brushed
his sleeve across his eyes MS o feruled
school.boy might have done. " Yes,
I'm getting to be old, Dolly" lie re.
peated, brokenly; "and 1t stands to rea-
son that l haven't many years to live;
but I 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 il produced on Mr.. Wiggin. In.
deed, had his ears been rs old as he pre-.
tended, he would not have suspected
her OF being affected by anything moro
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.
"I don't see how I'm going to stand II
II you can't"
aThen Martha wouldn't suit ~ said
Miss Dolly, archly, making a great pre-
tense Of wiping cinder from her eye.
"What shame, now, when she needs
tho property SO much |"
Hang the property I'd mortgage
the whole OF it rather than not get you,
Dollyr cried Mr.. Wiggin, with yehe.
monce that quite closed her mouth.
And SO at last he Ind Miss Dolly cor.
ncred.