The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-04-12

His homeward way led him past John
Parmenter's house, and John was hoeing in
his garden.
"Ws'sl, now, Parson Greeley is goin' to
do pretty good thing for himself amt
he7" drawled Abner, after the usual COM
ments and inquiries concerning crops had
been exchanged, "He knows which side
his bread is battered on. Parsons ginerally
docs"
"What is he going to do2' inquired John
Psrmenter.
you don't mean to cay you hain't heard2
Wa'al, l declare, Won don't know what's
| gOin' on so we'll as back folks docs He's
a-goin to marry Miss COrdilly Brewster.
He's turrible tejus, the old Parson is, and
she'll have to step around lively to fetch up
them boys. But women-folks always docs
set by minister"
After Abner had gone, John Parmenter
dropped his hoe, and stood wiping his fore
head with his handkerchief with bewildered
look.
81 don't know why shouldn't have ex-
pectcd she'd marry, but somehow didn't
l never thought of such a thing. l don't
know why / should feel so about it. If 1
hadn't the courage to ask her when was
young and prosperous, surely ] couldn't
now. / always began TO DO coward the
minute / came in sight of her. never felt
so before any other woman; but then
never cared anything about any other. Any
way, can't rest until find out whether IL:
true or not. Cordelia can't object to telling
an old friend. Madam Rumor r1les this
village, and she's very apt to be mistaken. y
So John set out to call on Miss CoIdelia
AS he passed the bed of cinnamon pinks, be
found that, although it was early in the sea-
son, three had blossomed that very morning
and he made them into little nosegay with
some sprays of the fragrant southernwood
And he was in such haste that he forget Il
conceal them from the public gaze by bi
of paper, as-feeling that it was somewhat
ridiculous for a stout old bachelor of forty
five to be carrying about little bouquets,
had done on other occasions.
The doctor was driving away from Mis-
Cordelia's door as John approached it, th,
} horse going at his old-fsshioned jog, as i
there were nothing In the world that wa
worth hurrying for.
II hope she isn't illp thought John, an:
then sudden suspicion siezed bin. Her
might be another rival, and more formid
able than Parson Greedy. Were rival
: springing up around him like mushrooms
! when he had never thought of the POSSIBLE
ity of the existence of one7
, Miss COrdelas cheeks were very mucl
} flushed and they grew redder still at sigh
: of Johns nosegay.
JohH. strange TO say, did not blush o
} stammer as he presented 1t. Rivals SCENE,
J to be wonderful stimulus to his courage.
. "Cordelia, / heard that you were goin:
! to marry ParsoD Greedy. 1t isn't true,
litP"
There was something in the tone of hi
voice that made Miss Cordelia start Wa
John going to speak, after being dumb S
long?
mo, it isn't true" said Miss Cordelia, an,
cast down her eyes.
"Nor-nor anybody else?" John wa
stammering now. Was his courage goin
to fail2
mo, nor anybody else," said Miss Coz
della. "That is"
Trypho:a, coming into the kitchen fron
the back yard at that mament, saw a sigh
which caused her to drop the cropplC
crowned rooster, but just deceased, into he
| pan of dough.
"Elviry Kimball needn't have knocke
me up at fve o'clock this mornin' to inquir
if that green silk dress hsd a train. 1 shoul
4 think it did have a ;rsin7" said Tryphos;
; grimly.