River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-09-06
sJOnN,s FOLKS.

JUHN'S EULhSs
I hope, my dear, You won't object TO
Johns folks2" seid the bride, timidly.
Johns folksl" repeated the tall. black
eyed young man, who had lust been made
happy" and was now sitting beside Mrs.
Frederic Fame. in the railway train, steam
ing toward Owl Mountain Not in the
least, ny love. Why should / object to
them2"
"Oh, don't know" said Mrs. Fame,
some people dc, you know But, of course,
it seems hard TO turn them out, after all
these years, and"
Stop half minute, my dear, said Mr..
Fame. j am not quite sure that under
stand you. Who are Johns folks? And
who, if | may take the liberty to ask, is
John2n
Mrs Fame turned pink, and looked hest.
tatinPly down at her lace bordered pocket
handkerchief, as if uncertain whether a
tear or two would not be appropriate.
"Oh, Fred" said she, what question
Just think minute. And of course they
always expected to have home with mel"
"OhF' said MIR. Fame, making up his lips
into whistling position, as he remember
ed that Mrs. Fane's first husband had been
named John Quincy Adams Larkins. "Yes,
comprehend Are there many of 'em,
my dearf"
Well, hesitated Iilias, again coloring,
there's Johns stepfather--a dear old gen.
tleman, but little peculiar, He's an es-
capped Mormon"
"A-what2" sad MIR Fame.
"a Mormon, exclaimed the bride. He
joined the community, and then he didn't
like them as we'll as he thought he should,
SO he ran away and married Johns mother
An of oh mn 4
him to leave the scenes endeared by her
presence"
"Ahp said Fame. "A sentimental old
patty"
"He's very agreeable, added Lilias, if
you only let him have his own way in ev-
erything.
DO you know, my dear. that is char.
acteristic IIhaye observed in others" grave
ly remarked Mr.. Fame
Then there's Aunt Grace, went ON Lii
lias. She's an excellent housekeeper-in
fact, she is cleaning nearly all the time. Ii
does get little uncomfortable now and
then; but it's Aunt Grace's way, so / put
up with it. And Johns two sisters-Dor-
cas- and Keturah-are water cure people.
They like the place because there is cas- =
eade at the back, and a river close by"
"Ahi" said Mr.. Fame.
And Cousin Ferdinand that's all" add
ed Lilias, with sigh of relief.
That's all, chr" said the bridegroom.
Cousin Ferdinand is very agreeable,
said Lilias. Hes waiting.
"Waiting?" echoed Mr. Fame.
For the millennium" explained Lilias
He's been waiting these many years"
"0hI" said Mr.. Fame. He's crazy, ehP'
We'll, confessed Lilias, "he is little
peculiar. But we're used toit, and we don't
notice it now"
"And are these people all to live with us2'
asked Mr.. Fame gloomily.
"If you don't object, said Lilias, timid-
mot in the least, my darling, said the
young husband. Your will is law to me. y
$50 kind of you, dearl" said Mrs. Fame,
apparently much relieved.
And then the train stopped at 0 vi Noun.
tain Station, and the young pair got out.
But during the long drive to Laurel Farm
-Tarkins Farm it had been when Lilias
first came there but she had adopted the
more euphonious name-Mr. Fame turned
matters over in his mind.
His mother-a shrswd old prophecies OF
evil-had warned him that he couldn't ex-
pect to marry a rich young widow who was
pretty and attractive into the bargain, with
out some quId pro quo of annoyance or
trouble to balance his bliss.
And here it was, the first thing. Not the
ghost of the departed Larkins-that, he
thought he could have endured-bnt five
substantial requests, fastened to the old
farm like limpets to a rock, balnac1es to the
hull of ship.
And Liias evidently expected him to
adopt them into his affections, and tolerate
their various eccentricities, even as she had
done. Liias was such pretty, dove eyed,
confding little thing! She should not be
tormented at all events, he resolved. Ii
"John's folks" were to be met and con-
quered in q single combat, he would do ii
alouer
And SO he looked down with smile on
her innocent face, and replied pleasantly to
her timidly hazarded observations, studl-
ously yelling the current of his thoughts;
for. as they neared the old home, Lilias was
evidently growing nervous.
1t was a fine old brick house, as Mr.. Fame
could see. in the cold December moonlight,
surrounded with alternate rows of leafiess
naples and evergreens, and Johns folks
were all assembled at the door to welcome
the new married couple. First and fore
most stood the escaped Mormon" tall,
venerable gentleman with q flow
ing beard and suit of pepper and salt,
with red necktie and turnover collar.
Welcome, my children welcomed"
said this relic of the past, with an air as
patronizing as il the whole house belong /
to him. II shall use every effort to mh4e
your STAY at Laurel Farm agreeable.
You're a little late - glancing responsibility
at the clock and / am afraid the roast
fowls will be spoiled. 1t always disagrees
with me to eat overdone poultry; but, Of
course, this will not happen again"
''Oh, no. indeed, pal" said Ll'ias eagerly.
Aunt Grace stood in the background "a
grim. bony female-with heI face tied up
in handkerchief and a dress of badly
dyed merino stuff, made in q most outland-
sh fashion.
@YouIl have TO sleep in the garrett cham
Der to- night, Lilias, said she, Rloomily
i've had yours whitewashed and cleaned
and 1t amt dry yet.
But it was kalsomnied only last fall,
Aunt Grace2" said Lilas piteously.
II can't help il, " said Amt Grace, with
spifie. Cleanliness is next to goodness
and amt one to live in the dirt You
wouldn't ask me or your step pa to turn out
of our rooms, would yon?'
"Oh. no, nor cried Lilias eagerly.
Dorcas and Keturah sat knitting on either
side of the fire, evidently in very III
humor.
1--WE are invited to tea to Miss Deacon
Plumbago's to- night, said the elder sister.
"But Keturah thought we'd ought to stay
and welcome you fust said Dorcas;
And the trains late, and we shant be IN
time to go there now, noodliy added Ke-