Smyrna times., 1883-10-10
Mr.. Marigold's Mistake.

y
decidedly, while she twisted he,
top of her head.
Meg's eldest sister and sister-in-law
looked decided disapproval at their
relatives refractory announcement
You know, Meg dear" began Mrs
Joe, the eldest brothers wife. but MEG
cut her short in decided tones.
Yes, know all you can tell me and
more too. l know I'm an old maid y
she was 25-''and I know YOU are all
too poor to support me and too nroud
10 let me support myself. For ali that
! shan't marry Simon Marigold, if he
IS as rich as cream and l as poor as
Jobs turkey; 80 there, now!'' And
Meg bounced out to weed the carrot
bed, while the discOmfitted relatives
sn0ok their heads more disapprovinglv
still, and made comments on the
obstlnacy of human nature in general
and some folks in particular.
Shes a-thrOwing away her best
chance" declared Mrs. Joe. mournfnllv
Simon Marigold is ketch for any-
pody," asserted Sister Jane, with that
Dig farm OF his. Such good pervider
as he is, too"
But if she don't love him. Won
Know" ventured Mrs. Archibald the
youngest sister, who was suspected of
being romantic.
"tlddlesticksw declared Mrs. Joe.
emphatically. Folks can't live on
love, and if Meg throws away such n
chance of being settled comfortably
smell live to rue it. That's all | kin
say go : NJ"
Now, look here, gals" Grandma
Larklns came down from the attic with
a hank of blue-dyed yarn, which She
proceeded to wind into a ball. "Jest
let Meg alone, and I'll promise it will
all come right in the end. Gals of her
age often does hev them uuare notions
out she'll get over 'em bime-by. The
gal kind o. fancies she likes some ono
else better IAN Simon, but lust leave
ner alone an she'll get over It and set
tie down with him on the Marioold
pod" F'0 " "
In the meantime Meg was still at
work in the garden, diligently pulling
tAe weeds in the carrot bed. 1t might
nave been that she had no other time
70 weed carrots, and it might also have
been that Eben Doolittle had NO other
way OF getting home except by the
well-worn cattle-path which led past
Grandma Larkins' kitchen garden and
around by the pasture bars. At ali
events, ne soon came sauntering by,
ana leaned on the gate-post for chat
And to think" said Meg to herself.
"hen he had sauntered on. with n
reshly plucked rose in his buttop-hOle
10 think OF my marrying Simon Mari
Alas, poor Simon! He was not male
md intellectual, with a developin@
nustache and violet eyes. He never
scented his handkerchief with extract
II pond lily, nor wore buff kids. nor
carried cane-far from it.
Simon MarigOld was broad-shoulder-
n and sunburned. And his ewes
hough clear and honest, undeniably
ray.
oh, no." thought Meg, blushing up
o the roots of her very frizzy bangs.
L could never, never marry him."
AS the days spend on Grandma
began to look worried and to
Dose little faith in her own predic-
ions.
IF it wasn't fur that there shiffless
loolittle," she sighed, "a comm here
IL the Time an a-drummin' on his
she might take Simon Mari
old yet"
Well, Eben?"
MIR. Marigold gave one or two broad
weeps with his scythe among the lnsb
Ed clover he was cutting. then hung
ne gllstening blade on'a stubbv ner2
mmon tree and turned with n heated
ice toward his cousin.
Eben Doolittle was not heated. His
ummer coat looked cool and LIGHT
nd his white pocket handkerchief was
eaylly scented with pond lilv.
u s'pOse you want that MONEY y
lld Mr.. MarigOld, and drawing ont
IS leather pocketbook, he counted out
lOO In crisp bank bills, and handed
lem TO his cousin. II s'pose it's all
'ttied, Eben," he said anxiouslv.
Eben's placid features showed M
1xlety, no care whatever.
"Well, no."
lie cody but the bank bills in his
cketbook before he condescendsd to
Iplain further.
haven't asked her vet, because 7
anted to get the money first. A fell
w don't like to get married without
cent in his pocket"
ON are on,.a |
ghtw '''i
."Oh, of course" Eben was should
ing the light gun he carried, getting
ady to start. "Of course it'll be ali ,
ght. She'll drop into my arms like a
re, ripe peach when l ask her."
Mr.. Marigold's gray eyes shot a
cam OF disapprOval at his nonchalant
usin. !
Well, Eben, wouldn't talk that ,
ay OF the woman 1 loved" he said !
avely. " would be so proud of her
We l would hardly dare to own II
ZEN to myself" ~
Eben laughed, but made no answer
" You needn't mind paving that :
Oney," added Simon, as he took his :
ytthe from the tree, IF you'll try and
MOB happy ana comfortable:
It don't-don't expect me to come to .
Q wedding, Eben, for I-really / |
uldn't." =
"All right" returned his cousin. t
T
And Simon Marigold returned to his '
owing, while EbeR stalked off across [
9 meadow with his gun lightly swung 8
er his shoulder. 4
=
"Simon." =
The futtering grapevine screen that I
'erhung the fence and the low per- /
nmon tree was put aside, and Meg 4
lrkins, blushing like a June rose, t
spped out. v
The astonished mower gazed as If 3
'trifed. q
ooh, Simon, I heard all--all Won +
81 - IT, nwolasx,,ad NTH to- = =,