River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-06-09


days"
1T is a dull season." said Miss Dolly
with exasperating simplicity. 81 sup.
pose the grasshoppers have eaten most
of your wheat-haven't they-so it'll
hardly pay for reapingY"
Gust So" assented Mr.. Wiggin, dis
comftted. 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, l don't care if | do" an
swered Mr.. Wiggin, after hypocrit-
ical show of hesitancy. 81 had a little
business further on at the blacksmith's.
No hurry, though, as | 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 | 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 be getting long into years,
Dolly, as well as I,-no offence, | hope,
and was wondering whether or no
it wasn't lonesome for you living alone
here, woma- so?'
80, never was one of the lonesome
kind" responded Miss Dolly, briskly,
seating her guest in the patchwork
cusioned rockingham, land, for that
matter, hardly a day passes without
some of James's folks running in"
Eyes, | know; but if you was to
change your situation, wouldn't you en-
Joy life better Think"
Miss Dolly fdgeted at the green pap
er curtains, and intimated that her
happiness would be complete if the
grasshoppers would stop feeding on her
gsrden sauce.
That's Just ii" continued Mr.. Wig
gin eagerly; "you do seem to need a
man to look out for your farming in
terests, now don't you, Dolly! a man
that will be ready and willing to do for
you, and make you comfortable"
Il don't know. said Miss Dolly, dry
". THE year father died | did have
Silas Potter, and he is the most faithful
creature living; but what it'll the extra
cooking and washing had to do for
him, and my work was about double,
and when mud time came, was glad
enough to send him off and hire by the
day. | made up my mind that men
folks around the house cost more than
they come to-"
81 guess we don't understand one an
other" said Mr.. Wiggin, slightly dis
concerted at this unflattering view of
his sex. Il wasn't speaking of hiring
help, Dolly. Materially you would get
tired of that. It's wOrrin' to a woman.
But if you was to have companion,
now-one that could give you good
home, with wood and water under COW
err"
''Shoo! Shoot" cried Miss Dolly, fly.
ing out after an inquiring chicken on
Mr.. Wiggin drew his red handker-
chief from his hat to wipe his glowing
face Certainly he had not felt the
heat so bad through haying
"How's your health, now-a-days?"
asked Dolly, frisking back with look
of resolute Inconsistencies.
Every good; remarkably good /
don't know where you will find man
with a tougher constitution than have
got"
"Ah w and Dolly blushed like SUI
mac in October.
Eyes, I'm well, pursued Mr.. Wiggin,
perseveringly, "and Pm tolerable we'll
TODD, with nothing to hinder my mar
rying again, provided | can see a wo-
man to my mind"
There's the deacon's widow" sug-
gested Miss Dolly, officiously; "she's
pious, economical"
"Shes LETT with means enough to
carry her through handsomely" inter
rupted Mr.. Wiggin, quickly. "Now
I'd rather have a wife to provide for
one that needed home. In fact, Dol
ly, | have my eye on little woman [
want this minute"
He had both eyes on her for that
matter, and Miss Dolly was forced to
recognize the situation, whether she
accepted it or not.
'I've managed to sweeten my tea so
far, David, without calling upon my
neighbors," chirruped she, STOPPING to
lay straight the braided mat, "and |
might as well keep on. don't feel it
a tax as some folks would. But there's
Martina Dunning, she's having hard
time to get along. Why don't you take
her, David? She'd appreciate such a
home as yours"
at would seem as if most any wo-
man might" said Mr.. Wiggin, in an
injured tone; call finished off complete,
painted outside and IN"
''Shed be delighted with it-Pm sure
of it," broke in Miss Dolly, with an air
of conviction as she darted into the
kitchen to lift the boiling kettle from
the crane.
But you don't mean that you won't
marry me, Dolly?' pleaded Mr.. Wiggin.
anxiously following her to the door. II
have been dotin' on seem you at the
head of things at my house"
Martha is a good manager" said
Miss Dolly, cody. David needn't
think he can buy me with new set of
buildings" added she mentally, snap
ping down the lid off the pug-nosed tea
pot. II never did have the name of
being cropping"
Il tell you, Dolly, won't have Mar
tina; don't like her turn" cried Mr..
Wiggin testify balancing himself on the
threshold, yet not daring to step over
it.
Miss Dolly gave her undivided at
tention to winging the hearth.
"You know you was always the wo-
man of my choice, Dolly, pursued Mr..
Wiggin, as tenderly as he could con-
sistentIy with the distance between
them. 'And when we were both
young"
"Pshaw," snapped Dolly scorching
her wing; that's beyond the memory of
man."
Mr. Wlggin's position was becoming
painful. Miss Dolly was not to be won
bv the attractions ofwealth and position
nor even by tender illusions to the past.
He would appeal to her kindness of
heart.
II used to believe you had some
feelin', Dolly" said he TREMENDOUSLY;
"but you don't seem to have any for
me. Here am, left all alone in the
world, children all paired off thout's
Matilda, and she'll go before the snow
flies: house empty
II suppose you can have home with
any of your boys and welcome" put In
Miss Dolly, still fluttering about the
chimney like a swallow.
Yes. if worse comes to worst, | sup
pose | cam" assented Mr.. Wiggln
mournfully, anything but consoled by
this reflection. 1t would break me up
terribly, though, you may depend, to
give up my place that | set so much
by and crowd myself on my children" "