Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-09-26

Saratoga trunk with her new tinery, and
set out on her journey.
As the weeks passed on, Hazel and
Aunt Comfort enjoyed themselves in their
home in spite of the evil representations.
And indeed, though the dissatisfied kim
folks still shook their heads over Hazel
and her doings, they were very well
pleased 70 drive out to the farm on sum-
mer afternoons, and eat their I'LL of ripe
blackhart cherries, or drink tea from Ha-
zel's lowered china tea cups; or TO spend
the day, and dine on fried chicken, green
peas, new potatoes and other early regc-
tables, raised by the industry OF Hazel
and Aunt Comfort with little help from
Cousin John and his hired hand Mike.
"Married? No, nor l never expect to
be-" solemnly asserted Mr.. Nicholas By
croft, as he fastened the hasp Of his trunk
and took down his breech-loading rifle to
see that it was in order.
Mr.. Nicholas was making final prepl-
rations for his journey to Texas, where
he was going into stock raising on cattle
ranch of several hundred acres.
"Gct married., indeed" he continued
muttering to himself. "There ain'tmore'n
one girl in hupdced III have, an like
as not that one wouldn't have me. If
there was a girl, now, that thought OF
anything besides a-curling her hair and
dressing hcrselfup in silks and furbelows,
an had any idea of what home ought to
be, | dunno but might; but, pshaw if
there is any such girls, I've never come
across 'em, an never expect to. III be
an old bachelor and live by myself, like
Uncle Tom"
"Bless me, Hazel, ;" cried Aunt Comfort,
one bright summcrmornins here your
Cousin John an Aryilly a-comin' ont in
the spring wagon, an 4 man with 'em.
Who Kin it be: faint the minister,
know, fur he's more grizzlcd lookin' an
haint got p'intcd mustache like this
one"
1t was baking-day, and Hazel was in
the kitchen, her sleeves rolled up and her
cheeks flushed to a bright, damask red.
81 hope the best table cloth is clean,
whoever it is" she returned, pcepng
into the oven at pan of cherry-tarts, that
were almost winning in their own Grim
son juice.
The stranger with the "p'inted mus
tache" proved to be Mr.. Nicholas By
croft, who had stopped on his journey TO
spend week with his Cousin Arvilla,
John Mulford's wife.
Mr.. Bycroft's visit to the Cherry Farm
was by no means his last one aud for some
reason or other, his weeks visit stretched
to month, and the month had almost
doubled itself and still lac fingered at his
Cousins near Dripping Springs.
One summer night he stood with Hazel
on the lattice porch at Cherry Cottage, the
soft mooubeams differing down through
the scarlet bean-vincs overhead.
"There ain't another woman IN the
world | ever wanted to marry, llazel-
only youu' whispered Nicholas, earnest
ly. 81 want a wife that can help me make
home and enjoy it after it is made. Think
of my big ranch out in Texas now. shall
live there lonely old bachelor all my
days, unless you go with me. Say, Hazel,
will you go?'
And SO, much to the delight of Cousin
Johns folks, and the surprise of other re-
lations, the wealthy cattle rancher carried
Hazel oif 10 be mistress of his Texas home.
Aunt Comfort was left in possession of
Cherry Farm, rent free for the rest of her
days; and here, Melzena Mulford was
glad to seek an asylum when she returned
from the seashore, with only remnant oi
her legacy lcf:, and with no prospects OF
marriage settlements OH hand.