Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1878-09-05

,asASting J anes abou t1some 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
new in. 5unWonted silence, and with q
clouded brow.
Jane looked athimE furtively from be-
hind the clouds of white lace. and muslin
infher lap, asshes mechanically poked
over the multitudinious ytrifes in her
dainty work basket, making as vague
and unsat isfactorY 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?" u.-
The young man started, and looked at
her with smile as bright as if heavy
fog had been lifted off his mental horizon
as he said:
81 declare Aunt Mary, I didn't mean
to: speak of it, but I am, as nervous as a
sgil 12over=over-next Thursday; not the
ceremony itself, mind you; shall really
enjoy the display in the church--but I
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
he serious one" said the sweet faced old
lad shut may ! ask what. has brought
up theSsnbjectso impressively before you
to-night?'
The fact is, Aunt Mary, replied Mark,
hesitatingly, II have just come from
Cousin Henry's. As I was passing the
gate Oh my way here, I heard the wood
she'd 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, conterte young
souls enjoying the nicely cooked, taste
fully served evening meal rose up before
me, and I could not resist the impulse to
turn back and take look at them, l
ran in unceremoniously, as in my wont,
announcing myself. as ! opened the sit
ting-rooin door, by a hearty 'Good-even-
n.y. There was no fire in the room, but
plenty Of dust ard disorder.
''Come right in here" shouted out
Henry, and 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 ia bic, an immense
clothes-horse filled half the room, and
every chair was loaded with coats, hats.
c]oaks and shawls.
1--WE just use the dining-room as sort of
:'gangway' in The winter said Henry,
and den up here, except when we have
company, Ii any body runs in upon us,
they must take us as they. find us" This
was not an over-cordial welcome, but l
went along into the kitchen, where Henry
was seating himself at the tea table which,
it you will believe me, Aunt Mary, was
their little hangniug, cooking table Gov
cred over with strip Of oi'-cloth. A few
odd pieces ofcrockery we're scattered up
on it without regard to order.
"Tbe little bit of kitchen was untidy,
the stove dirty and rusty. There We're
memories of Saturdays baking in the
shape and appearance of flour, dough and
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 hair
was rough and frowsy, and her gown was
torn and soiled. Dear me. who could
have IMAGINED that such state Of things
was so soon to follow their great and ex-
pensive wedding! What a picture Of
loneliness the bride was! They might as
we'll hire two or three rooms in a fiat to
den up in as to own that large, elegant
ly.farnished house and not use it, or to
so misuse it.
This scene rather discouraged me.
We're Jane and I to deteriorate in that
way, I think would rather have every
thing stop just where it is. I believe it
would save us a world Of trouble, and we
would 60 on looking at married life, as
we would have made it, through rose
colored glasses; :" and Mark moved uneas
lily, got up .nervously, and going around
the table, seated himself by James side
and tenderly kissed the pretty, reproach-
full face she raised toward him, while
Aunt Mary was considerably looking
another way.
" "Perhaps Henry is not altogether
blameless in the premises" said Aunt
Mary, coming back to the table with. a
red fece after an energetic hunt for the
shears; .did he fix himself up fortca2''.
20, dear, no. replied Mari; che sat
down and ate his bread and milk in his
shirt sleeves, colarless and cravatless, and
with unbrushed hair and whiskersr He
would not have shown himself to Susan
in such plight before his marriage, I
assure you.''
Aunt Mary looked at the pretty Susie 8
clock on the mantel. took out; her gold
pencil, wrote little note, and then said
to the young man, Il wish, Mark, dear,
you would carry this billet over to my
nephew, Horace Alden's, for me. They
live in the east tenement in the Ruther-
ford Block, you know, and on the strength
Of your cousinship that is to be, wan
you to run in without ceremony"
Mark came back in half an hour with
a radiant face. Removing his hat, he
made Amt Mary low bow, saying, I am
very much obliged TO you; wouldn't
surrender the opportunity that may be
graciously given me of helping make a
home with Jane here for any earthly con-
sideration."
Indeed" cried Aunt Mary, in SEEM
ing surprise, ''perhaps you will be good
enough to tell us what has changed your
mind so suddenly"
swell, you see,"" said Mark, Il ran up
stairsand opened the door at the top, as
you told me, and such a charming pic
ture that saw. A living-room, neither
parlor, dining-room nor kitchen, but a
happy com bination OF the three, made
attractive and homelike by perlectEneat7
ness, order and good taste; Such 4 4cors
dial welcome that I had, to be sure. I
was heartily ashamed when it came over
me how well used to know both Hor-
aeesand his char ming wife, and that
had not called on them before.
81 gave Julia your note, end she read
i with little laugh, and insisted that I
should take off my overcoat and take tea
with them: j The cosev round table, with
its snow-white cloth and pretty steaser-
vice, looked 80 inviting could not resist
the temptation. Horace does not get
-oat Of the store till seven; he sees: to the
closing up, SO we have our tea at half
past seven Mrs. Alden said. Julia's