River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-09-28
"He's a.comin,o she said. aand such

He's a-comin', she said, and sucn
sight"
At that moment the gate clicked, and
up the walk strobe, indeed, most
astonishing figure. The Major had got
ten himself up in a Continental suit,
which he must have fished out of the
unknown depths of the ancient attics
of Hawthorndean; black velvet coat
with lace ruffies at the wrist, knee
breeches. white satiy waistcoat, slippers
and shoe buckles, powdered wig and
cooked hat. He was six feet tall, portly
and we'll formed, and he looked every
inch signer of the Declaration at the
very least. He was followed by his
colored man, who carried a large brown
paper parcel.
"He's come a-courtin', missus," said
Glory; Eye can see it in his face"
had not the instinct of Glory, and
, doubted; but what his errand was |
was dying to know.
But he disappeared into Miss Lydia
parlor, and / was left outside to tenn.
per my patience as best | could. Pres
emily Glory entered on tip-toe.
"Missus, Missus," she whispered;
''de dos swing open jest de leas' crack,
an It's jess opposite de big murror, an
if ye came out here in de hall, ye can
see it al in de murror, as plain as day,
an it's heap better'n play"
1t was a temptation, but believe me,
dear reader, resisted it. Only as
Glory ran back to her peeping, | fol
lowed to pull her away and send her
out of doors-that was simply my duty
and there ne was on his knees before
her, and she with that wrapt seraphic
look upon her face which no woman
ever wears except upon the most vital
ly interesting occasions. But, Glory
disposed of, | went back to my sewing
and waited as best I could, the conclu-
sion of the momentous interview. The
Major came out at length, as smiling
as May morning, leaving the brown
paper parcel behind him.
1t was very still in Miss Lydia's room
for a quarter of an hour, and then she,
too, emerged from her retreat. Spread
over her hands was gown of cream
colored brocaae embellisheo with the
loveliest roses in full bloom, with blue
forget-me-nots trailing here and there
among them. 1t had an ample waist,
elbow sleeves and train yard and a
half long.
"My dear Grace" said she, "the Ma
Tor has brought me his mothers we'd
ding gown to be married in."
at is beautiful" said; "but who is
to be the bridegroom"
She smiled as angels do and looked
affair; delicate futter of pink hung out
in her cheeks to deprecate her re-
creancy, as she whispered in a tone of
gentle but consummate triumph; "The
Major himself Didn't he look grand
in his knee-breeches?"
'And Mr.. Applebloom?"
"Major Hawthorne will adjust that
matter"
"That matter" indeed She spoke
as though it were already as remote
from her as the pyramids.
81 congratulate you, Miss LYDIA"
said, growing formal, for she had behav-
ed shamefully.
"Don't blame me-" she murmured.
"Major Hawthorne declares he has love-
ed me since / was child, but never
thought himself worthy of me, the gay
deceiver; and Mr.. Applebloom you
know, is only the acquaintance of a
day."
l wanted to ask her how she had dis
posed of her presentiment, but | did
not dare.
Major Hawthorne subscribed $50 to
the Mieronesian mission, and sent Mr..
Applebloom elsewhere to look for q
wife, and the verdict of Balaam's Cor
ners was that he mad done the hand
some thing.
Fore goodness" said Glory, def dera
weren't cl'ar relation between dem
pigs an providence, den I don't know
nothin'."
Miss Lydia took the same pious view
of the matter and made the Major the
most dainty and dignified of wives
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