The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-09-04
sLlPsHoD WAYS.
BY MRS. ANNIE PRESTON.

BY MRS. ANNIE PRESTON.
Mark and Jane were to be married in a
week. Dropping into the Taylor sitting
room one evening, Mark found Aunt Mary
assisting Jane about some of her elabor-
ate and mysterious bridal preparations.
Aunt Mary was always considerate and
sympathetic in her words aud ways, and
Mark liked her. He sat down by her
now in unwonted silence, and with q
clouded brow. ~:.-~- .... IL. s. = +
Jane looked at him furtively from be-
hind the clouds of white lace and muslin
in her lap, as he mechanically poked
over the multitudinious trifes in her
dainty work-basket, making as vague
! and unsatisfactory answers to her num-
| erous questions as if he were guessing
conundrums. After ten minutes had been
spent in this rather stupid way, Aunt
Mary asked, suddenly:
"Well, Mark, what is it,"
The young man started, and looked at
her with smile as bright as if a heavy
fog had been lifted off his mental horizon
as he said:
~ declare Aunt Mary, I didn't mean
to speak of it, but am as nervous as a
girl over-over-next Thursday; not the
ceremony itself, mind you; I shall really
enjoy the display in the church-but
refer to all the life that is to follow"
wharfage is indeed the most import
ant event of lifetime, and the outlook,
to every reflective mind, must
be a serious one," said the sweet faced old
lady; "but may I ask what has brought
up the subject so impressively before you
tonight"
"The fact is, Aunt Mary, ''replied Mark,
hesitatingly, II have Just come from
Cousin Henry's. AS was passing the
gate on my way here, heard the wood
shed door open, and Susan's voice call
out, 'Suppers ready The pleasing VS.
ion of neat dining room, cosey tea ia
bic, and two happy, contente1 young
souls enjoying the nicely cooked, taste
fully served evening meal rose up before
turn back and take a look at them.
ran in unceremoniously, as in my wont,
announcing myself. as opened the sit
ting room door, by a hearty 'Good-even-
n.y. There was no fire in the room, but
plenty Of dust and disorder.
"Come right in here" shouted out
Henry, and l followed his voice through
the dining room, unwarmed except by
the far-away warmth of the kitchen fire.
A large basket Of rough, unfolded, and
unironed clothes was turned bottom-up-
wards on the extension-table an immense
clothes-horse filled half the room, and
every chair was loaded with coats, hats,
cloaks and shawls. .-...
"We just use the dining -roo1n as sort of
''gangway' in The winter said Henry
and den up here, except when we have
company. If any body runs in upon US,
they must take us as they find u.s." This
was not an over.cordial welcome, but
went along into the kitchen, where Henry
was seating himself at the tea-table which
if you will believe me, Aunt Mary, was
their little hangniug cooking-table GOV.
cred over with strip of oi!-cloth. A few
odd pieces of crockery were scattered up
on it without regard to order. -
''Tbe little bit of kitchen was untidy
the stove dirty and rusty. There were
memories of Saturdays baking in the
shape and appearance of flour, dough anc
grease on the flour, table and door latches
and salt cod fish, with cotton string
tied around its tail, was hanging to the
knob of the closet door. Susan's hal
was rough and frowsy, and her gown wa
torn and soiled. Dear me, who could
have imagined that such state of thing
was so soon to follow their great and ex
pensive wedding! What a picture O
loneliness the bride was! They might a
we'll hire two Or three rooms in a flat t,
den up in as to own that large, elegant
ly-furnished house and not use it, or t.
so misuse it. a '..s
'''This scene rather discouraged me
Were Jane and to deteriorate in tina
way, think I would rather have ever
thing stop just where it is. I believe j
would save us world Of trouble, and W
would 60 on looking at married life, a
we would have made it, through rose
cOlored glasses;'' and Mark moved uneas
lily, got up nervously, and going aroun
the table, seated himself by James sid
and tenderly kissed the pretty, reproach
full face she raised toward him, Will
Aunt Mary was considerably lookin
another way.
perhaps Henry is not altegethe
blameless in the premises" said Aun
Mary, coming back to the table with
red fece after an energetic hunt for til
shears; ibid he fix himself up tor teal"
20, dear, no." replied MARI; .he ga
down and ate his bread and milk in hi
shirt sleeves, colarless and cravatless, an,
with unbrushed hair and whiskers. III
would not have shown himself to Susa1
] in such a2plight before his marriage,
. assure you. 81. .i
Aunt Mary looked at the pretty Susie
clock on the mantel, took out her col,
pencil, wrote little note, and then sal,
to the young man, II wish, Mark, dear
you would carry this billet over to NJ
nephew, Horace Alden's, for me. The
live in the east tenement in the Ruthe1
] ford Block, you know, and on the strengt