The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-09-13

he had gone out with Uncle Abner to rtie
with the OK team into the woods. II don't
s'pose he gets six dollars a week, to judge
by his talk. / thought p'r'aps might be
induced to change my widowed condition, il
he was likely fellow, with good income.
But guess | shan't waste none of my atten.
tons on him!
He seems very quiet and pleasant : said
Marah.
Sand he steps about awful spry for a
sick man." remarked grandma, who sat
knitting in the chimney corner.
"oh," said Mrs Flint, he isn't real sick,
He's only little down with malaria
and over-work. He'll be all right by spring;
you Just see if he WON'T"
At the end of the first week, when he
offered to pay his board, Mrs. Flint gave it
back to him.
You needa't mention it to your employ
er, Mr. Johnson said she (John johnson
was the name on the boarder's valise). 81 But
we was thinkin', me and Marah, that p'r'aps
you wasn't very well off, and so we'd make
you present of the board"
You are very kind,n said the young
man, with slightly flushed face, but -
It's Marahs present, not mine,n added
Mrs Flint, bluntly I'VE told her she
should have the money for the board But
she thinks you need it more'n she does"
81 do not know how / shall ever thank
her." said the boarder, fervently. But lie
did not argue the point any further
And Mrs. Flint confdentially informed
her niece that she believed the board
money was quite an obia~t to Mr. johnson.
poor fellow"
While Cousin Louisa elevated her Roman
nose and remarked that "she didn't take
much stock in paupers. II folks couldn't
support themselves decently," she thought,
they'd ought to go to the poor houses
Marah, however had all her sympathies
thoroughly enlisted in behalf of the silent
young guest. She mended his stockings on
tho sly,-she saw that his linen was kept in
good order,-she made little dainties to
tempt his rather feeble appetite, from time
to time. A 8
6 You are very good to me, he said, one
day, as he saw her swift needle gliding ia
and out of a pocket handkerchief of his,
which had got torn among the bushes from
which he had been gathering scarlet Wild
berries. She smiled. 81
I'VE are both solitary and alone in the
world" she said. "Only that you are
friendless, and have my good uncle and
aunt to rely on"
- 81 I
weeks ago, said he. "For l venture now
TO count you among the list of my friends.
g have even dared to hope"
What ?" she asked, without looking up,
while the color deepened on her cheek, and
her eyes were intenty fixed on the cleaning
progress of her needle.
"That II | can provide humble home in
New York on my return you will not disdain
to share it with me. Tell me, Marah, do
you think you could care for me?n
The tears sparkled into Marah's eyes.
Have betrayed myself p she said.
Have allowed you to discover how dear.
" love you Y'
And | loved you, Marah." be said.
gravely, when first / looked upon your
faeen
So Marah Flint promised to be the wife of
the young man from the store
Mrs. Flint sighed and shook her head, and
said she didn't know how ever she should
manage without Marah. Grandma express
ed herself to the effect that Marah would
make the best little wife in the world. I'M
Gle Abner said 6 he sposed gals would get
married, and they couldn't expect tokeep her
forever" Cousin Louisa said :" she thought
the gal was crazy, to marry poor clerlSing
fellow like that"
The young man smiled as he sat beside
Marah, in the light of the huge burning logs
which cracked upon the evening hearth.
81 don't call myself second Rothschild,"
said he, "and ! am certainly oonversant
with all the duties pertaining to q clerks
Office. But, after all, perhaps 1 am not
quite candidate for the almshouse. For /
have not claimed all the names in this house
to which am entitled l am John john
son. it is true, but am also John johnson
Marchland, the head of the firm of March
land a. Co. And l nm Marah's third-cousin
into the bargain"
Jerusalem I" exclaimed honest old I'm
Gle Abner "Apd what brought you here !"
WE'LL" said Mr. Marchland, 81 had
heard Miss Nellis speak of my cousin Marah,
and felt sort of curiosity to see her just
as she was. / had been sufficiently disgust
ed by the airs and graces of city young la
dies to wish for a genuine wildwood blossom,
80 came to the old Connecticut farm. and
here have succeeded In finding my IDEAL
sBless me !" cried Mrs. Flint. $50 our
little Marah will be rich lady after all, and
wear silk frock every day, and keep a hired
girl to do the kitchen work ~
'.She deserves 1t ALL" said grandma.
"Laws-amassy !" said Cousin Lonisa.
While silent little Marah was perhaps The
most astonished of all. She felt like tho
heroine of fairy tales, whose sober, brown
coated peasant-lover is turned suddenly into
the beautiful young prince, all sparkling with
diamonds
Bnt she was very happy. Ard i was as
grandma said she had deserved it-ShSr
len y, zone.