The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-08-26

Buu Will buuueH iusplThUiOn 'DuJ
tell you what, Dolly, time never did
drag with me more than it does these
days"
at is dull season." said Miss Dolly,
with exasperating simplicity. al sup.
pose the grasshoppers have eaten most
of your wheat-haven't they-so it'll
hardly pay for reaping?"
"Just So" asserted Mr.. Wiggin, dis.
comfted. He had not travelled five
miles in the heat to discuss the state OF
the crops.
"Walk in and sit down, won't you p"
said Dolly, with reluctant hospitality
Her apron was crammed to its utmost
capacity. She devoutly wished it had
been larger.
"Well, yes, don't care if do" an.
swered Mr.. Wiggin, after hypocriticaI
show of hesitancy. ." had little bust.
ness further on at the blacksmith's. No
hurry, though, as 1 know Of" and he
turned to let down the bars for Miss
Dolly, who meanwhile slipped through
the fence, catnip and all. "Bless my
heart 1 don't see but you are as smart
as you ever was," said he, admiringly,
as he pulled along in her wake. "Still
you must get into years, Dolly, as we'll
as I-no offense, L hope-and 1 was
wondering whether or no it wasn't lone
some for you to live alone here woman
so3S'o 3So, no-
kind" responded Miss Dolly, briskly,
seating her guest in the patchwork.
cushioned rocking-chair, "and, for that
matter, hardly day passes without
some of James folks running in"
"Yes, 1 know; but if you was to
change your situation wouldn't you en-
Joy life better, think ?"
Miss Dolly fdgeted at the green paper
curtains and intimated that her happi-
ness would be complete if the grass.
hoppers would stop feeding ON her
garden sauce.
"Thats just it, continued Mr.. Wig
gin, eagerly "you seem to need man
to look out for your farming interests,
now don't you, Dolly q man that
will be ready and willing to do for you,
and mako you comfortable ?'
"I don't know" said Miss Dolly,
dryly. "The year father died 1 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. made up my mind that men
folks cost more than they come to-"
81 guess we don't understand one
another, Dolly" said Mr.. Wiggin,
slightly Disconnected at this unflatter-
ing view of his sex. 81 wasn't speak
ing of hiring help, Dolly. Naturally
you would get tired of that It's wor-
ryin' to woman. But if you was to
have companion now-one that could
give you good home, with wood and
water under cover"
"Shoo shool" cried Miss Dolly.
flying out after an inquiring chicken on
the doorstep.
Mr.. Wiggin drew his red handker-
chief from his hat to wipe his glowing
heat 50 bad through haying.
SLOWS your health NOWADAYS ?"
asked Dolly, frisking back with look
of resolute unconsciousness.
every good; remarkably goodl 1
don't know where you will find man
with Stougher constitution than have
got.'
"Ah" and Dolly blushed like
sumac in October.
"Yes, I'm well," pursued Mr.. Wig
gin, perseveringly, "and I'm tolerable
well-to-do, with nothing to hinder my
marrying again, provided I 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" interrupted
Mr.. Wiggin, quickly. "Now, I'd rather
have wife to provide for-one that
needed home. In fact, Dolly, have
my eye on little woman 1 want this
minute"
He had both eyes on her for thai
matter, and Miss Dolly was forced to
recognize the situation, whether she ac-
cepted it or not"
"Pve managed to sweeten my tea sc
far, David, without calling upon my
neighbors," chirruped she, STOPPING to
lay. straight the braided mat. "and !
might as well keep on. l don't feel it
a tax az some people would. But there's
Martha Dunning, she's having a hard
time to get along. Why don't you take
her, David? She'd appreciate such a
nice home as yours"
alt wonll seem as il most any woman
might" said Mr.. Wiggin, in an injured
tone; "all finished oilcomplete, painted
outside and in"
"She'd be delighted with it. Tn sure
If it," broke in Miss Dolly, with an air
of conviction, rs she darted into the
Kitchen to lift the boiling kettle from
the crane.
I" But yon don't mean that you won't
marry ue, Dolly" pleaded Mr.. Wiggin,
anxiously following her TO the door.
81 have been dotin' on seein' you at
the head of things at nay house."
"MurthA is grand manager" said
Miss Dolly, cody. David needn't
think he eau buy me with a new set of
buildings I" she added, mentally, snap
ping down the lii of the pug-nosed tea
pot. 81 ever did have the name OF
being cIopins."
~ tell you, Dolly, / won't have
Martha; | don't like her turn !" cried
Mr.. Wiggin, testify balancing himself
ON the threshold, yet not daring to steI
over it.
Miss Dolly gave her undivided atten
tion to wringing the hearth.
"You know you was always tn,
woman of my choice, Dolly" pursued
Mr.. Wiggin, as tenderly as he coult
, consistently with the distance between
"And when We were both young"
!, "Pshawl" snapped Dolly, scorchinl
, her wing, "that's beyond the memor.
! OF man."
Mr.. Virgins position was becoming
painful. Miss Dolly was not to be wol
by the attractions Of wealth and pc
sition, nor even by tender illusions {
the past. He would appeal TO her kind
ness Of heart.
81 used to believe you had some fee
. ing, Dolly" said he, tremulously; "bt