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

she could have married any one at bnaJ
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 a bargain
with Dolly.
"That's more than 1 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 it
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 o 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
pungent leaves while the water was
boiling There she was, stopping
! beneath the caves of a log-cabin, wearing
big sunbonnet, and humminG a lively
tune, when Mr.. Wiggin drove up.
"Come, my love, haste away"
piped Miss Dolly, cheerily, swapping
away bIiskly 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
rheumatic 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, remem-
bered," retorted Miss Dolly, saucily,
recovering herself and going on gather
ing catnip.
"You used to say kept good time,
only too much of it." pursued Mr.. Wig
gin with sudden inspiration "but I
tell you what, Dolly, time never did
drag with me more than it does these
days"
at is q dull season, said Miss Dolly,
with exasperating simplicity. "I 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 ?''
said Dolly, with reluctant hospitality.
Her apron was crammed TO its utmost
capacity. She devoutly wished it had
been larger.
swell, yes, don't care if 1 do" an:
swered Mr.. Wiggin, after hypocritical
show of hesitancy. 4" I had little bust
ness further on at the blacksmith's. No
hurry, though, as I 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 puffed along in her wake. "Still
you must get into years, Dolly, as well
as I-no offense, l hope-and I was
wondering whether or no it wasn't lone.
some for you to live alone here woman
soP"
"Oh, never was one of the lonesome
kind" responded Miss Dolly, briskly
seating her guest in the patchwork
cushioned rocking-chair, "and, for that
matter, hardly a day passes without
some uf James folks running in"
eyes, know; but if you was tc
change your situation wouldn't you en-
Joy life better, think ?"
Miss Dolly fidgeted at the green paper
curtains and intimated that her happi
ness would be complete if the grass
hoppers would stop feeding on hel
garden sauce.
"That's just it, continued Mr.. Wig
gin, eagerly "you seem to need mar
to look out for your farming interests
now don't you, Dolly a man thai
will be ready and willing to do for you
and make you comfortable ?"
"I don't know" said Miss Dolly
dryly. "The year father died 1 die
have Silas Potter, and he is the mos
faithful creature living but what with
the extra cooking and washing I had tt
do for him my work was about double
and when mud-time came was glaC
enough to send him off and hire by the
day. / made up my mind that meI
folks cost more than they come to-"
81 guess we don't understand one