Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-01-05

rs hard as his name. Certainly he WAS
crnsty sort Of an old gentleman win
disagreeable habit of telling what ne
considered the plain truth to every one
As every one dill not ut once DOW low
and say, MIR. Flint, you are perfectly
right" this habit OI frankness mac
brought him into great many quarrel'
with his friends and relatives. so that at
last the only one of his own blood with
whom ne was Ola speaking terms was his
orpban niece Berthilda, who Kept house
for him: TO whom he was unusually
kind. and WI. believed him TO be mod
ern Solomon.
She had never once cOntradicted him.
When he told her that the Flints were
generally good looking, but that she
took alter her molher's family, who were
ali plain as pike stalls, she answered,
s.Yes. Uncle, but that is not my fault,
Won know When lie told her that she
need not mind about being good look
ing. because, after all, she was Il nice
little thing and would be more apt to be
left TO keep house Tor him forever. she
appeared to be comforted.
She was mild and meek, and her vanity
had been quite taken out OF her Dy hcr
uncle's franklIess
She was, really, by no means so very
plain; Tut she accepted MI. flihts
opinion without mlirmur.
II was ALI genuine. She was one of
those little women who generally bow
down before the male head of the family
and Worship him. She had not even re-
fiected that he might leave her his
money. or some of il. Ii Was too dread
ful to think OF Uncle Fllnt's ever dying
ut all.
2 As for marrying, it did not enter Bcr-
thilda's MUD She had written herself
down a spinister as sOou as she had
heard Uncle Flint's opinion OIL the sub
jtct, which was oracularly given when
she was about sixteen years OF age; but
now that she was nearly thirty, she was
astonished by the appearance OF lover
i'm the shape of a Stout farmer OF forty, u
whoever without children. and an owner
of as fine piece OF property as could be
found In the state.
1t was a case Of love at first sight on
his part, and Berthil.ia finding herself
made love 10. and being unused TO he
situation, felt that it was her duty 10 re-
fuse him, since TO marry him would be
TO contradict Uncle Flini's distinct asser-
ton that she was born TO be AN old maid;
vet she yielded To the advances OF MIR.
Hoskins so far as TO allow herself to be
seen home from meeting" kissed ut the
gate. and occasionally encircled by 4
very large arm, which, after squeeze or
two. she always put away W tn shocked
little squeal.
Finally Mr.. Ho>kins offered himself.
and Berthiltla. having c,niessed her par
TALLY for him, ended by asserting that
Uncle Flint must decide the matter. and
that she dared hot mention the subject
TO him.
'.Well. then, ,ciu." said Mr. Hoskins
Il amt afeard OF no mall. and il your
uncle has anything agin me-. he can out
with it and prove it. Ill write and ask
him, since you are SO particular, BrrJhil-
dy though, beih' OF age. | can't see
why he has anything to sly about it.n
TO which Berthiida, sobbing, replied
that her uncle's word was her law,
and was kissed at the gate rs usual. this
conversation having taken place on a
Sunday night on the way from church.
On Monday morning old MIR. Flint, GO
ing after breakfast into the little room
which he called his Office, and where he
transacted his business as notary public.
found lying OH his desk two letters al
ready left for him that morning, and
opening them he found that each of them
asked him for something. ~
One was from a neighbOr named Per.
kins,who desired to borrow horse from
him. The other was from farmer Hoskins
asking for his niece Berthilda's hand.
Mr.. Flint was not i'm the habit Of lin
gering long over any decision. He re-
garted the fact that Berthilda had an Of
fer as u sort of miracle not likely to oc-
cur again, and he had am idea that wo-
men always liked 10 be married.
Hoskins was we'll to-d0 and respecta-
bic. She SHOULD have him if she chose.
She had been good girl to him, and he
reilly felt an affection for her.
AS tor Perkins, he should not have his
horse. He had oyerwOrked the one he
dad borrowed of him last harvest time,
and the poor beast had died in conse-
quence. Lehd Perkins his gray mare,
indeed. He would give him piece of
bis mind for his impudence. And he
would settle that business before he at
tended to Berthilda's offer.
So he drew his blotter toward him,
seized pen and ink, and indited this pep
perry epistle:
DIR don't wonder You wrote, ana
hadn't the face TO come and ask me for
what you wanted like man.. Let you
have her, indeed. When every one knows
that you killed the other one with over
work, and only sent her home to be
buried. A pretty idea, that, indeed. She
was just rack OF bones when you got
through. with her, and, Judge, half
starved and worked to death. You'll
promise to take good care of her, no
doubt. You may If you get her; but
you'll only DO that by stealing her, and,
as suppose you are capable of that,
shall see to my locks. FLINT.
This finished, he wrote more briefly to
Mr.. Hoskins:
DEAR SIR can't see anything i'm the
way of your having what you ask for.
You can come over ii you like and talk
If Flint