The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-05-27

Brown in as delicious daZe ms she was her
self.
$40, Jo" SAID the widow to her brother.in-
law, raising his detected head and shaking
him energetically by the shoulder; kate, my
sister, my dear ones, prepare yourselves. Don't
let II come upon you too sudden"
Il Good heavens,' cried poor Plllikin, leap
ing to his feet what has happenedY What
is ii now?"
-'Its--it's not the Mr.. Brown with the bill,
Jo."
"Who is 1t? what is it? Mlsfortunes never
come alone I'm prepared for anything"
"1ts--it's-oh, DO, it's Brown of Nevada"
Great heavens!" said 10, springlng to the
door.
And he didn't buy his goods of Scrim-
mage; he went there 10 meet friend and he
wW 6uyhiS goods Of you AS HE ALWAYS DOES, "
sand the young widow, in n crescendo that at
last reached shrill treble; but 10 was already
wringng the Eand of Brown,
Apart from the fact that you have not gone
back on me, Brown" SAID poor Plllikin, 81
don't mind telling you that your presence is a
reprieve from all sorts of miseries; but how
the deuce did you hnd me out"
why, one of your general statesmen over
there-l forgot his name--told me you and
Hardscrabble had some words about my going
IN Scrimmage's. He said you were so cut up
dutut IL duu uiuu appear NC WcIi Whch
you LETT the store; so thought I'd take cab
and come over. 1t was a pleasant night that
is not a very pleasant night, but hadn't any
thing to dO--that is, | had lots of things to do
but hang it, | wanted to come, and | am glad
| did"
$50 am l. Brown-God bless you, so am | !"
Then poor Pillikln, relieved OF the burden OF
doubt and wretchedness that oppressed him,
and having there before HIM as his voluntary
guest the representative Of a worshlpful amount
Of trade-poor Pilllkin gathered together his
scattered dignity and selt-esteem, and began
to discuss matters of business with serene
and serious enthusiasm that bespoke the hap
piness of the occasion.
As for Brown of Nevada, he couldn't keep
his mind upon what Pllhkin was saying, he
was so taken up with the rustling of drapery
outside.
The two little women were flying around
down stairs IN the Kitchen and up stairs in
the dining room. The children had their
bread and milk, and were washed and put 10
bed: the widow flew down to the kitchen and
made some little dishes, all in the twlnkling
of an eye, their culinary perfection consisting
in the rapidity with which they were got to-
gether and clapped upon the dumb.walter and
hoisted TO her sister in the dIning.room above,
who whsked them upon the table, and what
with the haste and happiness and unexpected.
ness of it all, when they rang the bell and in
vited the gentlemen out to supper, there
couldn't possibly be two prettler or more en-
gaging women IN the universe; and more
appetizing meal Brown Of Nevada never saw
or tasted.
From plying 10 PilllkIn, he began to envy
him. How hollow and cold and altogether
unsatisfactory was the life of bachelorl-|
particularly out in Nevada.
The March wind still roared and howled,
and the March sleet yet beat upon the Pilikln
window.pa nes, and nothing would do but that
Brown of Nevada must stay all night. He
knew il must be the Widows room he slept
in las indeed 1t was, that little woman and her
orphan boy crOwdng IN with the little Pill
kins,) and Brown of Nevada went all around
admiring the pretty knicknacks and worsted
work embroidery, that was Of course the work
of the fair widows hands. He went to sleepl
and dreamed that Pilllkn was so stepped in
pecuniary difficulties that the widow found
the piano and stool and music, and even the
embroidered cover, were only drop in
the bucket; SO in her warm generosity she
threw herself In, and stood upon the piano to
be rallied off by the creditors and friends OF
Pilikin. Brown threw double skies every
time, and had just made arrangements to have
the widow and piano and stool and music and
cover shipped out to Nevada with the rest OF
his goods when the breakfast bell rang. Hell
awoke, and blushed to find what absurditles
a man will dream, and blushed still more
when the soft, innocent eye of the widow met
his own over the potatoes and the mut tins and
scrambled eggs, and the multitude of good
things which he found out afterwards she had
made with her own hands
Her orphan boy was fine little fellow, and
would make splendid man some day if he
could be taken where there was room to grow
But who can picture the air of Pillikin when
he walked into the store the next morning arm
in arm with Brown of Nevada I? Mr..
Hardscrabble was just bullying one of the
heads of stock, and catching a glimpse of this
touching spectacle of amity between Pillikln
and Brown of Nevada, he rushed forward
placed an aftectlonate hand upon the shoulder
of each, and thus lovingly linked together,
the three walked down the store.
And the saying is that whatever you dream
IN a strange bed is sure 10 come true; and |
wonder if, when Brown went back
to Nevada, he'd take all those things he won
at that imaginary rattle-all except the piano
and stool and embroidered cover These the
dear little widow declares she will leave to the
young Pilikins.-Harper'S Weekly.