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

im. Such was the worthy widower's
tate of mind when he asked James
,lount, with mock humility, whether
/ would be of any use for him to try
nd make bargain with Dolly.
"That's more'n / can tell" Mr.. Blount
lad answered. "Dolly's puzzle.
You'll have to find out for yourself
Mr.. Wiggia smiled, in complacent
of acceptance. Indeed, If
t might not seem like reproach to the
memory of his lost Olive, l should say
hat the kind-hearted man rejoiced in
his opportunity of making Miss Dolly's
happiness. Benevolence was in his
ace, benevolence was in his spirit, as
le sailed forth at an early day to &C
quaint her of her good fortune. The
broken harrow which he had strapped
INTO the wagon to give the neighbors
plausible reason for his trip to the Falls
was by no means typical Of mental lac
Grafton in its owner His feeling as he
approached Miss Dolly's moss-grown
cottage was purely one of thankfulness
that it was in his power to provide her
a better home. Not that he was CRATE
full to his dead wife for leaving vacan-
cy there. Mr.. Wiggin had mourned
for Olive a year and day.
Miss Dolly was out in the garden
gathering catnip. She never used it
herself, but there were nervous old la
dies in the village who looked upon this
herb as the substance pleasant dreams
are made of, and Miss Dolly dried it
every year, and often left little bundles
of it when she made visits of consola-
ton. She had built a chip fire under
the tea-kettle, and then whisked off to
pick an apronful of the pungent leaves
while the water was boiling. There
she was, STOPPING beneath the caves of
a log-cabi sun-bonnet, and humming a
lively fugue tune, when Mr.. Wiggin
drove up.
''Come, my beloved, haste away"
piped Miss Dolly, cheerily, swapping
briskly at the stalks.
'Cut short the hours of thy delay;
Fly like a youthful"
"'Fly like youthful" struck in a
wheezy bass.
The sun-bonnet tipped back like a
cart-body.
"Sakes alive" cried Miss Dolly, not
in the words of the hymn, as Mr. Wig
gin strobe toward her on his slightly
rheumatic legs.
Il didn't mean to put you out,
laughed he, shaking hands heartily
+" but it seemed kind O. material to take
part with you in Invitation
You always had way of falling in
at the most unheard-of-time, remem-
ber," retorted Miss Dolly, saucily, re-
covering herself and going on gather
ing catnip. She was so years old
now, and hoped she had her wits about
her.
You used to say I kept good time,
only too much of it," pursued Mr.. Wig
gin, with sudden inspiration; +" but 1
tell you what, Dolly, times never
dragged with me more than as it does
these days!"
6" 1t is dull season" said Miss Dolly,
with exasperating simplicity. I sup
pose the grasshoppers have eaten most
of your wheat-haven't they-so it'll
hardly pay for reaping?"
Just So" assented Mr.. Wiggin,
He had not travelled five
miles in the heat to discuss the state of
the crops.
"Walk in and sit down, won't you? ?"
said Miss Dolly, with reluctant hospi-
tality. Her apron was crammed at last
to its utmost capacity. She devoutly
wisbed IL had heen laroar
Well, yes, don't care if 1 do an
swered Mr.. Wiggin, after hypocritical
show of hesitation. az had little
business further on, at the blacksmith's.
No hurry, though, as l know of" and
he turned to let down the bars for Miss
Dolly, who meanwhile slipped nimbly
through the fence, catnip and all.
Bless my heart! 1 don't see but
what you're as spry as ever you was"
said he, admiringly, as he pulled along
in her wake. "Still you must be get
ting into years, Dolly, as well as mo
offense, hope-and 1 was wondering
whether or no it wasn't lonesome for
you living alone here, woman, SOP"
80, L never was one of the lonesome
kind" responded Miss Dolly, briskly,
seating Der guest in the patchwork
cushioned rocking-chair; "and, for that
matter, hardly day passes without some
of James folks running in"
eyes. I know; but, if you was to
change your situation, wouldn't you en-
Joy life better, think?"
Miss Dolly fidgeted at the green
paper curtains, and intimated that her
present happiness would be complete if
the grasshoppers would stop feeding on
her garden sauce.
"Thats just it," continued Mr.. Wig
gin, eagerly; "you do seem to need
a man to look out for your farming in
terests, now don't you, Dolly? man
that'll be ready and willing to do for
you, and make you comfortable?
Il don't know" said Miss Dolly, dry
ly. "The year before father died / did
have Silas Potter, and he is the most
faithful creature living; but, what with
the extra cooking and washing had to do
for him, my work was about double, and
when mud-time came 1 was glad enough
to send him off and hire by the day. 1
about made up my mind that men folks