Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-06-26

"Come, uncle,' whispered Harry, i'm
patiently nudging the old gentleman,
" are you going to stay here all day :"
Don't be IN hurry, my lad" said
Major MerrifeId, :" i have to look at sat
10 cravats, kid gloves and suspenders,
yet"
Unfortunately, said the young lady,
" am out of suspeuders, but / will re-
new the stock Tomorrow"
You don't mean to say that you
manage this establishment entirely by
yourself?" cried the major.
Yes, sir, | do" said the young lady.
" And so far ! have succeeded beyond
my most ardent anticipations. You look
surprised"
"WelI,p said the major, it is rather
a slaggerer you see you are so young,
and
"Weh2"
SO pretty, my dear, if you'll excuse
an old mans brusqueness.'
am not so very DID," said the girl,
folding the silk handkerchief into pa
per but was left suddenly without
home, friends or money. appealed to
my various acquaintances and relatives
in vain for help, until gentleman in
the dry goods business, who had been as
sisted by my father years ago, offered to
send me enough stock to open this little
store. accepted his offer. / opened
this store. Since then have succeeded
sufficiently to pay my benefactor back
the uttermost cent that he advanced"
my dear" said the major, kicking
over box of palm leaf fans in his ex-
citement. al honor your independence.
Did / say half dozen shirts2 Give
me dozen! | will give you my custom
henceforward. will send all my friends
here. T."
In the meantime, uncle, suppose we
go home, for we have just seven minutes
in which to catch the train,' interposed
Harry, cynically.
And Major MeddIeield, reluctantly
tearing himself away from the pretty
girl behind the counter, followed his
nephew out.
"The sweetest and most sensible girl
| have seen in long time," said he en-
Enthusiastically.
"Do you really think SO, uncle -
Certainly do. She's true woman.
not mere artificial doll. She"
4 "Weil. then, since you are so favora-
bly, impressed with her. said Harry,
with merry twinkle 10 hia eyes, "per-
haps you will be pleased to learn that
we are engaged"
Engaged Yon young reprobate /!
you graceless ne'er do-well!
"Don't be rhetorical. uncle l in
{ tended to tell you all along. Aunt Par
ley knew of il from the first"
"She did, eh said Major Meddle-
field, feeling his chin thoughtfully.
And seeing that she is our own cous-
4 in"
"Our own cousinI'' barked out the
. major, growing more and more bewild-
/ cred. Harry, what are you talking
about2
"Didn't you know it, uncle? She il
Mary Fordham.'
Il The deuce she is I said Major Med
dlefeld. Harry, you've laid trap fol
me and have fallen headlong into it. :
"Not at all uncle," said the young
I man chuckling to himself | onll
7 wanted you to see Marian. and | knew
you couldn't help liking her"
I There was momentary silence, brok
I en- by the major.
Very well" quoth he, " there's ne
!, use struggling against Fate. Tomorrow
!, is Saturday. You may bring her up tt
e Honeysuckle Vile to spend Sunday, ant
& your aunt and will take the matter in
! to consideration. don't quite like tn
a idea of a thread-and- store, but
I But you do like an Independent
:, spirit, such as Marian I" said Harry.
eyes" rather reluctantly owned th
elder gentleman.
"And of course, when we are mar
ried,' added diplomatic Harry, sh
I, will have something else to do thai
standing behind a counter"
a Yes, said Major Meddlefield, "ther
q will, be that advantage in the match"
nj Marian Fordham came up to Honey
suckle Vile, as per invitation, and CON
t pleted her victory over the heart of th
RI relative she had never seen before Harr
er brought him into the thread-and-needl
& store.
at al knew you could do it, darling,
% said Harry, when they went out in.tt
OF moonlight to hear the little cascade bac
j. of the house. "Y You can do anythin
u you please"
re And Marian smiled. She was woma