Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1878-08-15

NNs Ao0hSA1 S"ofNN RSOA ~~e"A -
''let me tie it up first"
Nonsense" sai6 the squire 81
just folded over the tp, and it'll go
as snug as thief in a mill, right
atop of my bags Of meal"
Away heUGttled over the stony
road as he spoke, and poor Mary ran
back into the kitchen to'ery herself
into second Niebe.
30, my letter !" sobbed she :;
"why was l such an idiot as Ito put
itthere ~
Miss Polly Pepper, q gaunt spin
ster of a very uncertain age and a
very certain infirmity of temper,
opened the bag of seed corn as the
squire drove off.
might have brought it BEFORE"
said she. "Promiscd it to us last
fall. i do despise these folks that
are always putting off things. Mer-
cy upon us p! what's this ?" as she
drew out the note ''some receipt
that that shiftless Mary's tucked
away here to get it out of the way
No, it amt. It's love letter !
and to me My dearest Mary and
signed at the foot George Washing
ton Bergamot /; and that's his name.
Well, l do declare Amt he far
gone ! 'All Opposition. I s'pose
he means Mary and my two broth
ers-in-law, that think a woman over
forty haint ne business to marry
But ITA see 'em fur&er afore I'll let
em oTerturn my matrimonial pros
pects-see if l don't. Tell him
with my own lips OF course l
will I'll go right over there at
once. Delay is dangerous And
if he really is in such a hurry"
Miss Polly's finger trembled as she
took her little cork screwy curls cut
of their papers, and pinned on a
fresh collar tied by blue ribbon.
"Blue's the color OF love-" said
she to herself, with n slmper, land
1t was so romantic Of my dear
George to think of proposing in a
bage of seed-corn 70
The sqire was at his supper when
Miss Pepper walked in, flushed with
her long expedition on foot.
"Sit down and have a bite, won't
you ?" said the squire. ''Mary
fetch a clean plate"
Miss Pepper took advantage of
the mouentary absence of her step
daughter-elect to proceed directly to
business.
''George, cried she, almost hYs-
terically, 81 am yours !"
"Eh ?" said the squire.
Forever and ever 20 said Miss |
Pepper, flinging herself upon the
collar of his coat.
Are you crazy ?" said the
sqire, jumping up.
IOu asked me to be your wife,"
said Miss Polly, meltingly.
81 diin'tl" said the squire jump
ing up.
''Then what does this lette mean,
eh ?" demanded Miss Polly. Its
as clear a declaration of love as ever
was writ. And good ground to sue
on"
The squire stared at the sheet of
paper as Miss Pepper waved it tri-
over his head.
''But I didn'5 write it," gasped
he.
"Then who did ?" demanded Miss
Pepper.
Just at this moment Mary, enter
ing with fresh tea and clean plate.
caught sight of the letter.
"It's mine |" she cried with sud-
den dyeing nf the cheek and glitter
Of the eyes. 'My letter How dare
you read it, Miss Pepper ?''
81 got it out of the bag of seed
corn," protested the spinster,
"And I put it there for safe keep.
ng,' blushingly acknowledged Mary
Bergamot. And Mary confessed,
George Lake, papa"
Miss Pepper went home, crying
very heartily, with mortified pride
and disappointed expectations. And
the squire came to the conclusion
that true love would have its way in
spite of all dissenting of the parents.
"Papa," said Mary, ''please may
| have George ?"
81 don't care" said the squire.
And that in his case passed for an
affirmation. But thesquire remains
a widower still, and Miss Peppers
grow ''small by degrees and
beautifully less"
THE AILING MAN.