The true northerner., 1881-07-15

dreamed that he would marry Mollie
Hawkins, whom, of all the girls of her
acquaintance, she most thoroughly dis
liked.
ST do not think I can live happily
with Mollie, Ned. You know have no.
where else to go, and you ought to con-
slider my wishes little"
"Why, of course you can, if you'll be
reasonable. You've only To turn every
thing over, just as it stands, to her, and
YOU can make yourself comfortable. I'd
be thankful to anybody that would take
everything out of my hands and guaran-
tee me "a support, without effort on my
part, during the remainder OF my nat
ural life"
"You don't know what you are talking
about, Ned. 1t was never the design OF
nature that any person should live In
that way"
"I know it wasn't 80 designed for
men, but with women it's altogether
different"
Mollie Hawkins, who had been an
assiduous attendant upon Ned's father
during his long illness, appeared on the
scene mt this juncture, as she had done
for fortnight past, to know If she could
be of any service during the day.
"Mollie." said Ned. rising. Moth
or, allow me to Introduce your new
daughter"
"My future MISTRESS" thought Mrs.
Huntline, rising to salute her, and try
ing hard to smile through her tears.
"Mr Huntline is awake now, and
seems easy" said the nurse, entering
the dining-room on tiptoe, and helping
herself to the coffee with the air of u per-
son to the manor born.
'Eat your breakfast, nurse, while we
visit the chamber together" said Mrs.
Huntline.
CT will 60 and procure the license and
the preacher" said Ned. Father Is
rational now, and he may grow delirious
if we wait longer"
The other sons of the family were
too far away to be summoned to his bed
side.
The dying man greeted his prospect
i've daughter with wan smile of well
come.
"She will be Your legacy, mother, "
he whispered. "Ned has the property
and you will have her, and may you all
be happy. Where's Ned ?"
"Gone for the preacher, father. He
will be here presently" said Mollie,
STOPPING to kiss him on the forehead.
Mother" exclaimed the dying man,
81 have provided as we'll as / could for
your support. You will have no more
care and no more work during the re-
mainder of your days"
"And no more liberty" was the poor
wife's silent echo, but she made no audi
bic reply.
"Tm going long road, mother, but
the journey will soon be over. Don't
weep for me. Well meet again in the
morning of new existence"
Ned entered with the license and the
minister, and the dying mans attention
was engrossed to his latest moment of
consciousness in witnessing the cere-
mony that was to unite the young peo-
pie till death or divorce should part
them.
"Talle good care of mother, Mollie, "
was his parting iniunct on.
The death damp gathered on his fore.
nead, the death-rattle sounded in his
throat and all was over.
The funeral obsequies passed off qui-
etly, and Ned Huntiine and his new wife
returned to the old homestead to take up
their new life, and Mrs. Huntline re-
turned also to her doubly-bereft exist
ence, since she was both homeless and
widowed.
The new Mrs. Huntline elbowed her
mother-in-law from her place at the head
Of the table, where she had presided for
over thirty years. The old Mrs. Hunt
line accepted the situation. She did not
interfere with any of the' new-fangled
airs that took the place of the old-fash-
ioned regulations. She glided in and
ont of the rooms like ghost, and grew
more and more conscious that she was
considered a burden as the family's ex-
penses increased.
Ned Huntline did not prosper in his
business, and, as the years rolled on, the
| homestead was mortgaged to meet the
demands of his creditors. Little respon-
sibilities were added to the household in
annualreinforcements, and the old adage,
A fool for luck and poor man for
children" was amply verified.
Mrs. Huntline's legacy did not prove
financial success. She was compelled
| to act as child's nurse even more con-
stantly than when her own babies were
growing. She had been a servant with
out wages in her husbands lifetime, but
she was n servant of servants now. The
Chinese cook would not tolerate her in
the kitchen. nor could he prepare her
food to her liking.
The Junior Mrs. Huntline grew more
and more cold-hearted and exacting.
Adversely pressed hard upon Ned, who
gradually grew to think with his wife
that his mother was burden and in the
way. Interest accrued upon the mort
gage, and there was no money to meet
the debt. Ned grew morose and unclvil.
and when his mother, who had toiled
beyondher strength in caring for his chill
dren, was laid low with a rheumatic fe-
YER, he inwardly confessed that her room
would be more acceptable than her COM
pany. The anxiety and poverty and
noise and discomfort preyed upon her
spirits. and her recovery was slow.
Mrs. Huntline was just able to sit up
and occupy chair at the breakfast table