The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-08-03

she could have married any one 9J JnaJ
period. She ought to be rewarded for
the devotion she had shown to the
family; and, for his part, he felt mag
unanimous enough to give her second
chance to accept him. Such was the
worthy widower's state of mind when
he asked James Blount, with mock
humility, whether it would be of any
use for him to try and make bargain
with Dolly.
"Thats more than / can tell" Mr..
Blount had answered. "Dolly's puz-
zle, you'll have to find her out yourself"
Mr.. Wiggin smiled in complacent an
ticipation of acceptance, indeed, If 1T
might not seem like reproach to the
memory of his lost Olive, should say
the kind-hearted man rejoiced in this
opportunity of making Miss Dolly's
happiness. Benevolence was in his
face, benevolence was in his spirit, as
he sailed forth at an early day to ac-
quaint her with her good fortune. The
broken harrow which he had strapped
into his wagon to give the neighbors
as plausible one for his trip to the
falls, was by no means typical of men
tai laceration to its owner. His feeling
as he approached Miss Dolly's moss
grown cottage was purely one of thank
fulness that it was in his power to pro-
vide her better home. Not that he
was grateful to his dead wife for leav-
ing vacancy there. Mr.. Wiggin had
mourned faithfully for Olive year and
day.
Miss Dolly was out in the garden
gathering catnip. She had built chip
fire under the tea-kettle and then
whisked off to pick an armful of the
puneent leaves while the water was
boiling. There she was, stopping
beneath the caves of a log-cabin, wearing
a big sunbonnet, and humminG lively
tune, when Mr.. Wiggin drove up.
"Come, my love, haste away"
piped Miss Dolly, cheerily, swapping
away briskly at the stalks.
" Cut short the hours of thy delay
Fly like youthful"
"Fly like youthful" struck in a
wheezy bass.
The sunbonnet tipped back like q
cartbody.
"Sakes alivel" cried Miss Dolly, not
in the words of the hymn, as Mr.. Wig
gin strobe toward her on his slightly
! IQeunhJIC legs.
"I didn't mean to put you out" he
laughed, shaking hands heartily; "but
it seemed kind o material to take part
with you in Invitation
"You always had way of falling in at
the most unheard of time, l remem-
bered," retorted Miss Dolly, saucily,
recovering herself and going on gather
ing catnip.
"You used to say I kept good time,
only too much of it," pursued Mr.. Wig
gin with a sudden inspiration "but
tell you what, Dolly, time never did
drag with me more than it does these
days"
at is o dull season" said Miss Dolly
with exasperating simplicity. I" 1 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 o.
the crops.
! "Walk in and sit down, won't you p
said Dolly, with reluctant hospitality
Her apron was crammed TO its utmos
| capacity. She devoutly wished it hat
been larger.
swell, yes, 1 don't care if do" an
swered Mr.. Wiggin, after hypocritica
) show of hesitancy. 81 had little bust
/ ness further on at the blacksmith's. NJ
J hurry, though, as l know of" and h
| turned to let down the bars for Mis-
: Dolly, who meanwhile slipped through
? the fence, catnip and all. "Bless m,
heart 1 don't see but you are as smar
> as you ever was" said he, admiringly
r as he puffed along in her wake. "Stil
> you must get into years, Dolly, as vel
{ as mo offense, 1 hope-and 1 wa
5 wondering whether or no it wasn't lone
some fer you to live alone here womal
sop
ooh, never was one of the lonesom
4 kind" responded Miss Dolly, briskly
seating her guest in the patchwork
t cushioned rocking-chair, "and, for tina
?, matter, hardly a day passes withou
= some Of James folks running in"
r eyes, know; but if you was t.
: change your situation wouldn't you en-
Joy life better, think ?"
t Miss Dolly fidgeted at the green pape
: curtains and intimated that her happi
Q ness would be complete if the grass
J, hoppers would stop feeding on he
a garden sauce.
r "That's just it" continued Mr.. Wig
f gin, eagerly; "you seem to need ma,
t to look out for your farming interests
r now don't you, Dolly man tina
s will be ready and willing to do for you
:, and make you comfortable /"
y "I don't know" said Miss Dolly
S dryly. "The year father died 1 di
e have Silas Potter, and he is the mos
It faithful creature living but what wit
the extra cooking and washing had t
do for him my work was about double
n and when mud-time came was gla
) enough to send him off and hire by tn
d day. 1 made up my mind that me
). folks cost more than they come to-"
> al guess we don't understand on
Q another, Dolly" said Mr.. Wiggir