The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-02-25

she had set II on JOn1 ferKlnS. but suc
was bitterly disappointed at this sudden
fall of all her, day dreams, and went
about her work with q choking in her
throat and heat in her eyelids that
made this saints day anything but q
holiday to her. Nevertheless, her work
was done faithfully as ever-the dinner
cooked and served her grizzly and
growly master, and the dishes washed
and her kitchen made bright and neat as
ever before John. Perkins. came; but
when he did come she turned upon him
the coolest of shoulders. She was q
woman who had no acting about her her
thoughts paraded on her face for general
review always, and she had not brooded
all day ON her disappointment and
Johns shortcomings for nothing. So he,
little conversant with the ways of the
sex, was hurt past speech. His simple
soul took her curt manner for manifest
rejection; he was cut down utterly, and
made but short stay, leaving with the
remark, flung back through the closing
door, that he Ibid wish she d have thought
better of til" Z Ta;'
II don't know what l had to think bet
ter Of r flouted Melindy, with jerk OF
the head. Then she flung her apron
over her face and had hard cry, forgot
to turn off the water, though the night
was down in the zeroes, and went to pea
miserable woman. ! don't know what
John did do; but I know Mr.. Griffin used
very forcible language the next morning
when Melindy told him the pipe had
burst, and how furious he was to have
to stop at the plumbers on the way down
and send John up for repairs. I also
know that John went about noon and
found Melindy sobbing so hard she did
not hear him come in. Like good
many soft-hearted men, q womau's tears
washed down all his defenses. He fell
to consoling her at once. The lost val
entine came out, and he mastered cour-
age to recollect and repeat all its con-
tents. I am afraid Melindy was effect
ually consoled, for John forgot the
water.pipe for an hour, and her cheeks
were much brighter than the dying Goals
in his little brazier when at last he put
it down and went to work. But great
was her curiosity about the lost treasure;
and at last they both concluded Mr..
Griffin probably had it in his pocket,
having forgotten to deliver 1t. e
But what words shall paint the hapless
mans rage when, finding his clerk re-
turned, he demanded explanations and
received tleml Quick s. Quaver, as
we'll as all the world, knew to-day that
Congress had passed the appropriation,
and the Kenawha s. Deseret stock had,
as Joseph Jones predicted, gone up like
a rocket. Mr.. Griffin raved, he; swore,
he rampaged, he talked of the poor
house, he discharged his clerk on the
spot, he would have wept had be known
how; and when at last he went home to
dinner, exhausted and muttering like
spent thunder storm, who should receive
him but Melindy, eager and hurried with
the question:
Ibid you take valen: inc for me from
the postman, yesterday! .
He was not too far gone to swear
vivid oath before he answered: Yes,
did!"
please give it to me-"
"Give it to you? You internal fool!
I flung 1t into the fire, and $4,000 with
it."
II am glad you didl" blazed MeliDdy.
"You mean old thing! What business
had you to burn my letters? l amt CO.
ing to stand being sworn and cursed at
and stinted and starved any more. l
give you warning on the spot. lwon't
live with a man like ysu. Your soul
amt big enough to lose, anyway, for you
can't as much as find it, and I've stood
it too long. Find some more help. I'm
agoin' to- morrow. So there!"
This was the last drop. For once Mr..
Griffin had overreached himself. He had
been too small for his aggrandizement;
and, if he could have brought his mind
to persuade Melindy, she was past per
suasion, packing her trunk even now for
Peterstown. should like to say that
Mr.. Griffin profted by this lesson-con-
trolled his temper and broadened his
ideas of life and living; but there are
those whose eyes ale blinded so that
they cannot see, and he was one of them.
In due time Melindy and John married,
and prospered. Mr.. Griffin went back to
Mrs. Blivins', made useless money, IS be-
fore, was worse cheated Dy that willy
widow. than ever, but never had another
valentine.