The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1881-03-11

cousin pllence.
Nov, Tom Lowey," said Miss Si-
lence, brandislling the big iron spoon
with which she stirred the lard, don't
make foo of yourself over pretty
| lace. Butter your bread before You ent
it. There's Melissa Bonney, whose
fathers worth"
"That's enough" interrupted Tom,
and, before Miss Silence could stop him,
he was ont Of the kitchen door and
walked brislzly down to the gate.
Law sakes what peculiar creatures
men are Talk Of bein' peculiar why,
| amt circumstance to that Tom
Lowey. He'll marry that Prissy Car
roll now, It it's only to show me he
didn't care for my money. And,
with q sigh, Miss Silence went back to
her lard.
"Christmas gift, indeed Y she NUT
tered, after standing for some time in
deep thought; II think see myself
eating humble pie to Martha Baldwin
But, somehow or other, her conscience
did not feel quite SO easy as it had felt
before Toms call.
An hour later Tom was sitting in the
Widow Baldwin's small parlor with his
arm around very trim waist, and very
lovely golden head resting on his
shoulder. 1t was very evident that the
closest economy was necessary with the
Baldwins, for the carpet was patched
and worn, and the muslin curtains
washed threadbare, and the furniture
| Ill SAD need OF yafnlSn and new hair
cloth.
" / wish saw my way clear to take
you out Of this, Prissy," said Tom, with
a sigh, "but clients are scarce enough
in Wolfboro. !"
Now, Tom, where's the need to
worry? couldn't leave Aunt Martha,
anyway. We are both young enough to
wait.
"You're too good for this world,
Prissy,n said Tom, with kiss on the
dimpled white chin.
"There's some one knocking let me
60, cried Prissy, bpringing up and rum
ming to the door.
Ii was no visitor, but the hired man
from Miss Silence's farm, with the spring
wagon, which he had brought to convey
Tom to his cousins home, for Miss 81
lence had, not ten minutes after his de-
parture an hour previous. overturned
kettle of lard by accident, and been ter
ribly scalded.
"Where's my hat?" cried Tom, in
great excitement, while the man was
telling how he had wasted time by go
ing to the office first, and, not finding
him there, had hunted him up.
Let me go with you, Tom ! know
can help, cried Prissy, as her lover
was springing into the light wagon.
Oh, Prissy, if you only would.
"Wait until / get my bonnet and
shawl and tell Aunt Martha. / won't
be gone minute" and Prissy rushed
into the kitchen, where her aunt was
ironing.
"Go, by all means, said Mrs. Bald
win, when she had grasped the meaning
Of the girls incoherent explanation.
"Stay as long as you are needed, and
don't worry about me.
Miss Silence made no remark when
Prissy entered her room with Tom. She
was in great pain, and was thankful to
see even this member of the hated Bald
win family.
For three weeks Prissy was chief di-
rector at the farm, and managed SO clev-
erly that Miss Silence had no chance TO
find fault. But the grim spinster had nc
word OF commendation for the young
girls untiring industry.
81 calkerlate to pay you for what you
have done,n she said one day, as she
watched Prissy making bread. You
needn't think you're workin' for moth
in"
II don't want any pay, Miss Silence,
said Prissy, with trembling lips; " an
only too glad to do what ! can, be
cause" She hesitated and turnet
scarlet
because you're in love with Tom,
. finished Miss Silence. "Oh, you needn'
.. blush: ] know all about it, and, il h
chooses to break his head agin ston
! wall, | amt a-goin' to stop him. !"
At the end Of three weeks Miss Silenc
was able to be about again, and Prlss
; went home, declining the $50 bill fo
her services. But she had not bee
gone three hours when the hired ma
n came from the farm, with two lare
/ baskets, which he sat down on Mr.
4 Baldwin's kitchen floor.
6 Compliments Of Miss Silence, an
i she sent these in place Of the money,
It and was driving off in the spring wago
il before Prissy could recover sufficient
v from her astonishment to ask him an
g questions.
Il The baskets were full Of good thing
g Of every sort, and Til was a roy
Christmas dinner for the Baldwins Il
st next day, much to the JOY Of the CHI
ID dren, who had contemplated, ruefull
m dining on mush and potatoes.
Prissy sent note OF thanks to Mi
"A Silence by Tom, but she never receiv
q an answer.
II Time moved on, and Toms law bul
ness improved SO much that he persu
IN ded Prissy, against her better iudgmel
n to marry him.
n Miss Silence did not grace the impt
h. tant occasion with her presence.
be "I've no time to be gallivanting of
er weddings" was her excuse, when IL
Ia reproached her for this slight.
Tx "She is such a peculiar woman,
a must not expect her to act like ott
IS, people; but she has q good heart
nf ..s.ta of har nrfaar xrava " said PFigs