The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-05-23

TODD, with nothing to hinder my marry
ing again, provided / can see a woman
to my mind"
"There's the deacon's widow" sug-
gested Miss Dolly, officiously; "she's
pious, economical"
"She's left with means enough to
carry her through handsomely" inter
rupted Mr.. Wiggin, quickly. "Now I'd
rather have wife to provide for-one
that needed home. In fact, Dolly, l
have my eye on the little woman 1 want
this minute!"
He had both eyes on her, for that
matter, and Miss Dolly was forced to re-
cognize the situation, whether she &C
cepted it or not.
I've managed to sugar my tea so
far, David, without calling on my neigh
bors," chirruped she, stopping to lay
straight the braided mat, and might
as we'll keep on. 1 DON'T feel it tax,
as some folks would. But there's Mar
tina Dunning, she's having hard time
to get along. Why don't you take her,
David? She'd appreciate such a nice
house as yours"
at would seem as if most any woman
might" said Mr.. Wiggin, in an injured
tone; call finished off complete, paint
ed outside and in"
"She'd be delighted with it am
sure of it.! broke in Miss Dolly with
an 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
marry me, Dolly?" pleaded Mr. Wig
gin, anxiously, following to the door.
"I'ye been dotin' on seem 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
buildings!" added she, mentally, snap
ing down the lid of the pug-nosed tea
pot. 81 never did have the name of
being croppingl"
81 tell you, Dolly, won't have Mar
tina; 1 don't like her turn!" cried Mr..
Wiggin, testify, balancing himself on
the threshold, yet not daring to step
over it.
Miss Dolly gave her undivided atten-
ton to winging the hearth.
"You know you was always the wom-
an of my choice, Dolly" pursued Mr..
Wiggin, as tenderly as he could con-
sistently with the distance between
them. "And we were both young"
"Pshaw!" snapped Miss Dolly,
scorching her wing; that's beyond the
memory of man."
Mr.. Virgins position was becoming
painful. He grasped a door-post in
either hand, looking wretched enough
to STAY himself on the spot, after the
fashion of Sampson. Evidently he had
not touched the right chord as yet.
Miss Dolly was not to be won by the
attraction of wealth or position, nor
even by tender illusions to the past.
He would appeal to her kindness of
heart.
81 used to believe you had some
feelin', Dolly" said he, TREMENDOUSLY
but you don't seem to have any for
me. Here 1 am left alone in the world (;
children all paired of, 'thout's Matilda,
and she'll go before the snow flies house
empty"
81 suppose you can have home with
any one of your boys, and welcome"
put in Miss Dolly, family, still futter-
ing about the chimney like swallow.
"Yes, if worst comes to worst, 1 sup
pose / cam" assented Mr.. Wiggin,
mournfully, anything but consoled by
this reflection. at would break me
down terribly, though, you may depend,
to give up my place that 1 set so much
by, and crowd myself on to my chill
dren."
No response save the Gathering of
the tongs.
"And it's dreadful melancholy bust
ness for man at my time of life to
drag along without partner. I'm get
ting to be old, Dolly" and Mr.. Wiggin
brushed his sleeve across his eyes as q
ferruled school-boy might have done.
eyes, I'm getting to be old, Dolly" he
repeated, brokenly; "and it stands to
reason that 1 haven't many years to
live; but l did hope we might go down
hill together, Dolly, you chirkin' me up
with that spry way of your'n that l al
ways took to, and I carryin' the heft
Of"
Here Miss Dolly gave a little sniff,
nothing worth mentioning only for the
effect it produced on Mr.. Wiggin. In
deed, had his ears been as old as he
pretended, he would not have suspect
ed her of being affected by anything
more serious than cold in the head.
Cant you make up your mind to
have me, Dolly?" pleaded he, crossing
the threshold in his hopeful eagerness.
81 don't see how I'm going to stand it
if you can't"
Then Martha wouldn't suit?" said
Miss Dolly, archly, making a great pre-
tense of wiping cinder from her eye.
What shame, now, when she needs
the property so much!"
Hang the property I'd mortgage
the whole of it rather than not get you,
Dolly!" cried Mr.. Wiggin, with vehe-
mence that quite closed her mouth.
And so at last he had Miss Dolly cor
nered.