The Mineral argus., 1883-10-18
NOT GROOMSMAN.

woman about thirty -fve-looked up from
her knitting, and answered with pleasant
smile:
"About half-past eight, 1 believe, and,
rising, began 10 put her work away.
CATERS question had been for the last
six years the signal for retiring TO rest, and,
although it was fall an hour and half be-
fore the usual hour, Madeline never thought
for n moment of hesitating TO obey.
Something has occurred, she thought,
and he will tol me before long," for CAT
fer had lookeS at his watch at sight, and
few minutes sSler, and at quarter past had
changed his o,c,il, and couged uneasily, and
now he asked:
"What time 10 it?"
Madeline was the orphan daughter OF ah
old schoolmate; q lfer had taken her home
with him when she was only ten years old,
and his sister had cared for her with moth
erly solicitude, until she was vooed and
won by Frank Reynolds and went to dis
tant city to live. CATER had made terri
BILE to-do about her marrying, called her an
urgnteful good or-nothing, and declared
1t was proper punishment for taking her IN
the beginning; but, nevertheless, spared no
expense on the wedding trosseau. And
when, about nine years after, she came
back to her old home. widowed and child
less, she was tenderly welcomed by the
lonely man, for the grass waved over the
grave Of the good, true hearted sister.
For six years she had kept house Tor him.
cared for him, humored him, and made
everything bend to his comfort. as few
daughters ever do. Lovers she had IN
plenty: those who would at any moment
have laid heart, fortune and hand at her
feet: and when CATER heard that Madeline
had refused them, he chuckled at their dis
comhtUre and smOothsd her soft, brown
hair, telling her she was a good girl, every
way worthy Of their love, only he knew that
she would never leave him.
He had grown 50 accustomed % seeing
her happy, contented face by the opposite
side Of the ire, with some kind Of work in
her hands, that occupied neither brain nor
attention, but left her always free to listen
to him when be spoke, or play chess when
the vhim seized him, that be felt no tear
at the attentions she received. He seldom
spent an evening from home unless Mad
shne was with him; and be had never left
his native city since she came home. He
was thinking Of an this tonight. as be
watched her folding her work 80 carefully.
"What are you going 10 DO, MIdehneF
be asked at last.
aGoing TO put away my work. she an
swered. simply.
" lhL AEe Nll HuLllIH II away lNEE
You asked me the Time, and that is
[ equivalent 10 saying I am tired OF YOU,
Madeline; 90 TO bed. 30
NO Il amt said CATER. grufiiy; come
, back here, want 10 talk with v0u-there,
/ let that knit;A,- work alone. What Is 1t.
I that YOU are IN such a hurry 10 finish it?"
stockings, answered Madeline. senten-
l tiously; stockings for Madeline Reynolds.
Haven't YOU any more that you make
[ such a fuss about this pair"
Yes, have pair on. l believe, and IN
I case Of emergency I could borrow Of YOU.
CATER sat for few moments in perfect
/ silence; at last. with a violent effort and
with very much the air of man who mad
I inst made up his mind to have tooth puileJ
said:
-Maddy, I am going away.
Going awayl" she repeated. Where to,
pray2'
The tone Of surprise in which the gues-
tion was asked fully satisfied Gaifer Of the
importance of The reyelatisn.
Yes! ] am going to New YORK; Bonne-
hue is going to be msrried ON New Year
Day, and wants ne 10 be grOomsman
Who would have thought old Bonnehu,
would nave got married at last; why, he
AZ least ten wears older than I. and I au
most fifty. You see. Maddy, child. yUur
old bachelor friend Is not too old 10 get
married yet. Dreadful pity leap year Il
most over; here I am. a hale, hearty man
in the prime Of life, with plenty OF mopel
70 support a wife, and no wife forthcom-
ing. Bot what makes YOU so quiet--d0n
YOU want me- to g02-
NO, said Madeline, g4aveiy, Il would
rather you would not go, had made diif-
erent oaiculati0ns for New Year 8; in fact.
rather think Of getting married myself
Madeline. are YOU cTnzy?" aud Cafe
fairly bounded IN ans chair with astonish
ment why, what will k6o0ms Of th'
house2 what will become Of me2 II
starve, hnOW I shahi'
You miRht live with me, remarze,
Maddy, in the same grave, business lik
tone.
You know very vel, said CATER, testi
", that i never could live with anOthe
man in the house, I should pat hm out be
fore the honeymoon was over. Aud Wh
may the happy man be2 some blind old do
tardi some oOnesited dandy? some LAM
mendicsntf some lazy vagabOnd who sing
! love dltnes 10 caTs away Caters money
or-oT-"
Caller did not stop for breath, but fo
lack OF sufficiently expressive words 10 con
yey hls destatiOn Of the projected union.
No, said Madeline; @he is nOt blind o
lame, or seeking after yOar foltune. Sh
, hesitated for amOment, and then cOntin
ued slowly. he is neither very Young NO
very DID, very KIND or very Gross, very
good o. very bad, very noh non very poor
but think he likes me.
( of course he has told yoa 80 in MOI
Affecting tones muttersd CATER ironi
callv.
No. sue said quietly, ne has not.
= Madeline, are you crazyl or going INTO
I dotagef Why did y0a not tel me thai 70
. we're 30 anxious 10 get marriodf aud
. would nave aavsEtised in an the daily pa