The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-05-28


nome with her.
But IL seemed II was not that | had |
been late at church or absent from the
Sewing Society this time. Neither had
a bow too many or a bow too few on
my Sunday bonnet. Worse, though;
MIR. Brodhead had been 10 her.
my dear" she began. as sweet and
rs cold and rs stiff as dish Of frozen
custard. :. want TO have a serious talk
with you on n serious subject, and per-
haps may as well say At once. Mr..
Brodhead has solicited the good Offices
Of Mr.. Corliss and myself between you
and himself. He seems 10 be a very
earnest admirer. but very difiident
one. What should You say TO the idea
Of entertaining proposal Of marriage
from him?'
II Couldn't think Of such thing for
a moment, Mrs. Corliss. have no ex-
pectation or wish ever TO marry am ,
one" said l. feeling very much an
noycd.
Mrs. Corliss sighed severely. "Mar- |
riage is divinely institu- |
ton" SAID she. 'and not to be lightly |
set aside without due consideration and |
prayer. You are not now prepared TO
give final answer to so important a
matter. 1t comes upon you suddenly.
Take time. my dear friend, 70 think il
over carefully, prayerfully. and with
view TO what is your duiy."
Mrs. Corliss shut her lips tight, as
though TO keep her teeth in. and then
kissed me good-night-a soft, clammy
kiss, which made me feel as though
wanted lump Of sugar. Accordingly.
went in the house and ate one. and
thought no more about Mr.. Brodhead
for month and day.
At the end Of that time Aunt Kent
asked me To 90 down and do up her
caps, Aunt Kent was dear, good old
lady, who lived in little yellow and
white cottage at the END Of the grave
ward, where her husband and seven
children were lying in one 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 little cream-colored
grey hound. 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 a checked sock
for young Mrs. Cables first baby, with
such look Of peaceful repose on her
face that one would be willing to 90
over the same weary path Of suffering,
II it should lead at last into such land
of rest.
II don't know when I've felt sor-
ricr.- said she. when | was settled al
nv work by her side, = than did fol-
somebody who came TO me last week II
love affair. He is man of whose
love any woman might be proud, but
he is SO full OF humility and self-distrus
that he doesn't even dare open the sub
! ject to the young woman herself. Ans
, | don't know but it will cost him hi
life. He saws he is sure il would If sh'
should refuse him, and l guess he is sur
! about it,
| In an instant Mr.. Brodhead fashe'
into my mind. and my heart grew harde
than the meeting-house steps.
.Vhy, Aunt Kent" said !. . II Is to
absurd. He has already been 10 tn
+ minister and to the minister's wife, ant
: then to the deacon and TO the deacon
I wife. to ask them to intercede for him
r wouldn't have man anyhow after b
! had made such goose Of himself"
) Aunt Kent opened her eyes in mil
: astonishmen.. and then I remembers
4 she named somebody. Then stoppe
suddenly and felt my cheeks begin
G burn.
!, Dear child said she, tenderly
!, "when YOU have seen a few more
i the ups and downs Of life. you will thin
!. more Of good mans love than you WI
az these outside manners. MIR. Bros
e head told ME he had been in his strait
J. some Of our mutual friends, but he SUI
/ posed they had not spoken with yo'
d And we must not Judge him by Il
q standard we would apply to some pc
It pie. He is shrinking to timoronsnes
+ especially with ladies. And he says
,r Is conscious that he always appears h
n worst before you. Poor man! IL
1t seen him sit at church with his ey
N fixed on the ribbon of your hat, rs
m fluttered a little in the wind, and locke
10 50 hungry and so hopeless, my hea
ID Just ached for him."
This time my face flushed with ang
y as well as shame.
N IL feel Inundated. Aunt Kent" 81
1 /. II hope nobody else has seen hi
e. make such silly spectacle OF himself
:. Bella. my dear. you are wrong
,e interposed Aunt Kent, gently. ~
k must take people as they are, not as
H. would have made them The man
Of cast in delicate, sensitive mold. a.
this is nearly or quite q matter Of i
10 or death with him. doubt II you a
or loved again BY so worthy man, ans
re am sure YOU will not be any more 81
en- cerely. hope you will not be 50 m
guided as to throw away such q trc'
to ure, only for romantic notion"
r. could not laugh at Aunt Ken
tender earnestness, but | shook J
[r. head and felt immovable from I
al bump Of firmness down to my bs
st soles. And thus ended the third !