Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-09-23

Master Westley, clerk and sexton in
the small village of Woodham. was one
winters morning sitting by his CHEEKY
fireside, watching alternately the rain,
iercely beating against the latticed
window pane, and the brisk movements
of his active little daughter. as che
moved to aud fro. busy about her
household work. Presently she came
IN. bringing hat, great csat, and um-
breila, observing: lyon will he want
ing these soon, father. 1t is nearly
eleven o'clock She had hardly said
this. when loud knocking was heard
at the outer door. followed by the alb
rupt entrance of little. middle aged
man in a state of great excitement, his
face red. lis hair rumpled, his boots
splashcd with mud, and his coat drip
ping with wet.
Why, Simon. what on earth's the
matter?" said the clerk. "You don't
look much like bridegroom"
Bridegroom Mol" the little man
exclaimed with bitter emphasis. "Mas-
ter Westley, you'll hev to tell parson /
can't get married to day."
"Why, how is that?" asked the
CLERK.
~ can't get Mary up" quoth the
indignant and disappointed lover. live
been rsttlin' at her door. and THROWN
stones at the winder, and shoutin' till
I'm as hoarse ss rook; and / m nearly
wet through with the drippings from
the husens (the caves of the house,; 4;
but l can't get her up. She only jest
put her head out of the winder for a
minute. to tell me 'twor no good for me
to stand hocketting (making great
noise) there; for she'd never take the
trouble to put on her best things and
60 out in that powerin' rain jest to mar
~ me-"
"Why. Sim! this is rather bad be-
ginning for people abort to marry
isn't it? I'm afraid the gray mare will
be the best horse in your team won't
she ?" said the kindly old clerk, with q
merry twinkle in his knowing brown
eyes. However, I'd better 60 and tell
Mr.. Howard, or he will be putting his
surplice on for nothing. Shall l say to
him that perhaps the wedding will come
off to morrow, if the weather is finer,
and Mary will get up in timer"
"lf she DON'T" vowed Sim, glaring
vengefully, "she shall never hev an
other chance. I'm fairly sick of her
tricks. We've been keeping company
this twenty years and more, and now
she don't know her own mind q bit
better than mawther (young girl) in
her teens. Bat I won't stand it no
longer. She amt going to treat me
like dog, or Q mat for her to wipe her
feet on. There's Widow Bisgs would
hev me any day, and glad; and moe
comfortable woman she is too! The
wedding ring shant lie long in my
pocket for want OF a wesrer. And
there, Master Westley," said poor Sim,
almost in tears over his frustrated plans
and disappointed hopes, I'D meant this
to hev been sreg'lar jolly day. I'D got
in q barrel OF beer, and . epare-rib OF
pork, and We wor going to hev parsties
and frawns( pan cakes). and mort Of
good things beside, to make . reg lar
speer of it; and now. it's all knocked
on the head, and everybody knows I'm
made fool of into the bargain"
"Cheer up, Sim!" said Master West
ley. at is aggravating, I'll own; but
Mary isn't bad sort. though she has
rather cruggy (crusty) temper. She
has been very true to you; and it would
be pity for two such faithful lovers
as you've been. to part over little tifl
at last. believe Mary is jealous of the
little widow. You knew people did
say cnce you were rather soft on her. u
I" It was big story" burst out Sim.
"Sns tried to hook me, bat I never
gave her no encouragement"
"Didn't you walk with her from
church last Sunday? I heard that you
did and carried little Joey all the way
home; and kissed him when you put
him down at his mothers door,"
"W.h, he axed me to give him q
kiss, go I couldn't do no other wise.
There was no harm in that, sewerly."
Certainly not. Only, You see. as
Mary lives just opposite, and saw it all,
she very likely thought you'd be better
engaged kissing her, instead Of hanging
round the widows door. Depend upon
it, she's jealous; and she's got highful
spirit of her own. and is acting like
this to make you think she doesn't care
whether she has you or NO. If she
thought there was real danger of losing
you. she'd come round in q minute, az
tractable as you like"
| k4rr nan T ~. I, T., n. Al = L q