The Red Cloud chief., 1880-06-17

Shackclford. I don't deny that. But
the idea of making 4 proposal Of this
sort through middle menr 1t is too
abSurd!' / said. laughing, aud put on
my hat.
SO | went home to nv classes in EN-
broidery and drawing. and wax work
70 making Aunt S-sannah's caps and
grandfather's coffee. Ny life was full
of monotonous work in those days; and
sometimes | had a strange. uncomfort-
able impression Of a machine wound
UP and running without any act Of its
own.
One evening when l was putting
away the silver after supper, aud feel
ing the crcak and crank OF the wheels
more than usual. ~ though the machine
needed Oiiing, the front gate slammed.
and steps came along up the walk.
Il knOwcd some one was coming.
I've knowcd all day some one was talk
ing of coming" said City Pullen. who
Ito accommodate as she often told
us, had kindly consented 10 rule over
our kitchen aud Us with 4 rod Of pine
tin the form of "A crutch.)
As City had no home, no money,
and only one foot Of her own, but as
good IA four ears and two tongues, il
might seem sometimes that the accom-
mediation was two-sidci. However.
things are not Whist they seem.
.. knowcd il was Mr.. CUrlissr' pur-
sued City, triumphantly. as grandfather
opened the door and disclosed the iig-
urcs of u minister aud his wife. II
can tell his step a far off ~ | can hear
it. Did YOU EVER notice his eyes?' she
continued. They look like two holes
burned in n blanket. And he holds his
head just Ike Deacon Shackelford's old
white horse"
And hen she disappeared into the
kitchen with her crutch and tie cat.
while Aunt Susannah put in her teeth.
put on her black silk apron, and went
with her meeting step into the parlor.
When | followed her soon after, | found
her talking in aS steady Il flow rs the
waters camc down At Lodore, TO Mrs.
CorlisS, who sat bv the woodbine win
dow, with hands folded in black Melted
mitts across her lap. and her tea colorcd
curlS shaking their heads, aS it were. at
the world and its vanities; while grand
father, who had been senior deacon for
fifty years, and who had no idea even
the church cdilicc could stand without
him, WAS already i'll deep discussion
with Mr.. CorlisS upon the question
then absorbing and disturbing us, a. 10
whether our Sabbath School should
hereafter be called Il Sunday School.
Il a never consent Ia nave a reli@-
ions organization known by a heather
name" grandfather WAS saving. as |
heard him say half a hundred times be-
fore.
And Mr.. Corliss, with his serene
white head bent toward him. was think
ing bow he could braid in one the fossil
lied fathers and the versatile sons of
the church.
SO there was nothing for me TO do
but To sit and smile and listen; for
grandfather and Aunt Susannah were
not the persons To yield the floor when
it was once theirs by priority.
MIR. CorliSs. is il not time for us to
go?" said Mrs. Corliss, at early star
rising. with her measured dignity.
Certainly. my dear" replied Mr..
CorliSs, rising at once, with his head
still bent to catch grandfather's last
sentence.
BELLA, put on our hat and walk
out with us a little way. 1t j. Il charm
ing evening said Mrs. CorliSs, turning
TO me after taking a ceremoniouS leave
of Aunt SuSannah.
OF course | Wen for my hat. |
should as soon think of insisting of
breathing in an exhausted receiver. aS
of refusing to follow n suggestion Of
Mrs. CorliSs. Or so | supposed then.
But L trembled in my heart, and began
to run over in my mind all my little
oyer-dones and under-dones. She had
such Il Lady Superior way that. though
| really loved our minister's wife. | al
ways felt a sense of guilt, and never 1t
home with her.
But it seemed it was not that had
been late nj church or absent from the
Sewing Society this time. Neither had
/ Il bow too many or q bow too few IN
my Sunday bonnet. Worse, though;
Mr.. Brodheai hal been tn her.
Ny dear she began, As sweet and
as cold and as stiff as Il dish of frozen
cuStard, ii want to have a serious talk
with you IN a serious subject. aud per-
EapS | NAV rs well say at once, MIR.
Brodhead has solicited the good offices
of Mr.. CorIisS and myself between you
and himself. He seems TO be a very
earnest admirer. but 4 very d~ifiiicnt
one. What should Won say to the idea
of entertaining "a proposal of marriage
from him?'
couldn't think of such n thing for
a moment, Mrs. Corliss. have no eX-
pectation or wish ever to marry any
one" said |. feeling very much an
noyed.
Mrs. Corliss sighed severely. MAR
rage is a diyincly-appointed institu-
ton SAID she, land not to be lightly
set aside without due consideration and
PRAYER. You are not prepared to
give a final answer To so important a
matter. 1t comes upon You suddenly.
Take time, my dear friend, to think ii
over carefully, ~prayerfully, and with a
view TO what is your duty"
Mrs. CorlisS shut her lips tight. rs
though to keep her teeth in. and then
kissed me good-night-a soft, clammy
kiss, which made me feel rs though |
wanted a lump of sugar. Accordingly.
| went in the house and ate one. and
thought no more about Mr.. Brodhcad
for a month and a day.
At the end of that time Aunt Kent
asked me to go down and do up her
caps. Aunt Kent was a dear. good old
lady, who lived in Il little yellow and
white cottage at the end of the grave
ward. where her husband and seven
children were lying in n pathetic
row. under the beds of heart's-ease and
forget-me-nots. But when they went
she adopted all the world into her
warm, motherly heart. So though she
lived alone, with n little cream-colored
greyhound, she had a large family, and
whoever was sick. or sorry. or needy.
went to her, as well rs whoever wished
for sympathy in health and gladneSs.
Dear Aunt Kent, when | went in
there she was knitting n checked sock
for young Mrs. Cables first baby. with
such n look of peaceful repose on her
face that one would be willing TO 90
over the same weary path of suffering.
if it should lead at last into such a land
of rest.