The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-05-22

air of conviction, as she darted into the
kitchen to lift the boiling kettle from
the crane.
But you don't mean that you won't t
marry me, Dolly 7" pleaded Mr.. Wiggin,
anxiously, following to the door. I've
been dotin' on seein' you at the head of
things in my house"
Martha is grand manager" said
Miss Dolly, coolly. "David needn't
think he can buy me with set of new
buildiugsp' added she, mentally, snap
ping down the lid of the pug -nosed tea
pot. "I never did have the name of
being cropping!"
''I telf you Dolly, I won't have
Martha; / don't like her turnl" cried
Mr.. Wiggin, testify, balancing himself
on the threshold, yet not daring to step
over it.
Miss Dolly gave her undivided atten-
tion to winging the hearth.
you know you was always the
woman of my choice, Dolly" pursued
Mr.. WJggin, as tenderly as he could con-
sistently with the distance between them.
"And we were both young"
"Pshawp snapped Miss Dolly, scorch-
ing her wing; that's beyond the mem
ory of man."
Mr.. Wiggin's position was becoming
painful. He grasped door-post in
either hand, looking wretched enough to
slay himself ON the spot, after the fash.
ion of Sampson. Evidently he had moi
touched the right cord as yet. Miss
Dolly was not to be won by the attrac-
tions of wealth or position, nor even by
tender illusions to the past. He would
appeal to her kindness of heart.
al used to believe you had some
feelin', Dolly" said he tremulously
"but you don't seem to have any fol
me. Here / am left alone in the world
children all paired of, 'thout's Matilda
and she'll go before the snow flies; hous'
empty"
al suppose you can have home will
any one of your boys, and welcome, pu
in Miss Dolly. family, still futterinl
about the chimney like swallow.
Yes, if worse comes to worst, I sup
pose / can" assented Mr.. Wiggin
mournfully, any thing but consoled b!
this reflection. cit would break M
down terribly, though, you may depend
to give up my place that l set SO mucf
by, and crowd myself on to m.
children"
No response save the Gathering Of th'
tongs.
| "And it's dreadful melancholy bust
ness for man at my time of life to dral
along without partner. Pm getting
TO be old, Dolly" and Mr.. Wiggil
brushed his sleeve across his eyes as
ferraled schoolboy might have done
Yes, Pm getting to be old, Dolly" b
repeated, brokenly " and it stands t
reason that haven't many years to live
but did hope we might 60 down hill
together, Dolly, you chirkin me up wit
that spry way Of your'n that 1 alway
took to, and carryin' the heft Of"
Here Miss Dolly gave little sniff
nothing worth mentioning only for th
effect it produced on Mr.. Wiggir
Indeed, had his ears been as old as h
pretended ,,he would not have suspecte
her of being affected by any thing NOR
serious than cold in the head.
Cant you make, up your mind
have me, Dollyw pleaded he, crossin
the threshold in his hopeful eagernesl
81 don't see how Pm going to stand it
you can't"
"Then Martha wouldn't suit?" sal
Miss Dolly, archly, making great pr
tense of wiping cinder from her ey,
"What shame, now, when she neet
the property so muchl !"
Hang the property I'd mortgae
the whole of it rather than not get yo1
DollyI" cried Mr.. Wiggin, with
s vehemence that quite closed her moutl
And SO at last he had Miss Doll
cornered.