Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1885-11-27
stiaed with INDIGNATION and anger.

coming suddenly out upon the drive /
found myself directly i'll front of Mr..
Wells, who was slowly driving out.
Politely lifting his hat, he stopped his
horse for me to pass, but found il
utterly impossible to move a step with
out first giving vent to some of my an
CRY feelings.
"Sr," L said, marshaling nv courage
and endeavoring to appear undismayed,
us it indeed possible that You are so
lost to every manly sentiment of regard
for the esteem and respect of your fell
low beings as TO compel woman to
marry you, and that when you know she
abhors the very ground you walk upon
You know as well as i can tell you that
Nellie and John love each other dearly,
and IL. she were married TO YOU n thou
sand times, she will always love him
just the same"
With that | was satisfied. and with
ont waiting for reply | rushed back
into the house. Uncle and Nellie were
bending over Aunt Margaret, who had
swooned away. When at last she re-
turned to consciousness, il seemed MS il
she would break her heart with weep
]
lie. But Nellie kept up so bravely and
tried hard to appear as If she didn't
think it would be much of II sacrifice
after all, that gradually we all grew
calm and began to make ready for the
wedding. What moclery it was l
thought, but something must be done to
make things look a little cheerful. i
gathered some fresh flowers for the
vases and arranged things about the
house with as much neatness and care
as my dropping spirits would permit Of
Promptly at o'clock there came q
knock at the door. We were all stand
ing around in Aunt Margaret's room
looking rs wretched as possible, Nellie,
dressed in plain white muslin, trying
to look cheerful but making miserable
failurc--when, to our great surpriseI
Mr.. Wells, unannounced, walked into
the room, accompanied 10y ns nephew,
John Atherleigh.
Miss Nellie" he began, without
waiting TO be spoken TO, my feelingl
have undergone a great change since !
saw YOU this aftern Don partly owing to
a certain little affair. You can asi)
your Cousin Margie here about it som9
n
greatly changed that should not b5
even willing 10 marry you now. OF
course | haven't been blind 10 the fact
tina, Won and John have loved each 9TH
er all along; and now if YOU are willing
to exchange grooms. why it will all b
right. | couldn't think of having a
wife who would be in love with young
scape grace like this as long as she
lives. / have made over IA deed of the
place equally divided between YOU and
John. 1t shall be bridal present from
the old uncle. am able to give it YOU
know. Now are you willing to make
the exchange?" And the poor old man
actually smiled as if in scorn of himself.
"Are Won willing. Nellie?" John ask
ed, holding ont both hands to her. How
she slipped her hands into them, and
cried as if her heart would break but
we all knew they were tears of Joy. Very
quietly / stole over to Aunt Margarets
side and whispered, Nellie is saved; the
old miser has surely turned to a saint.
at is my dream, my dream!" Aunt
Margaret said has not the little black
dwarf indeed become an angelo"
II guess we had as we'll have it all
over and be done with il, Mr.. Wells
continued, rubbing his hands together
as if we'll pleased with himself and ev-
erybody else I've been with John
and got the license the deed is all made
out, and the preacher is already in the
parlor'
You may he sure the sorrowful faces
of few minutes ago frightened up at
this strange turn of affairs, and joyful
" enough we all repaired to the parlor,
where Nellie and John were united in
marriage. You should have seen dear
Aunt Margaret's iace when she kissed
the bride. Didn't We all kiss her.
though-no, not ALL Mr. Wells-I
mean never to call him miserly old
wretch or say other ugly names again.
However, don't think he hal anything
to do with this piece of mercy. l re-
gard it as a special interference of
Providence. But am getting away
from the subject. Did he kiss her?
No. But this is the reason why. Mel
lie went straight mp, and, putting both
arms around him, kissed him right
heartily. / am sure, had he been the
bridegroom, she would never have
kissed him like that.
What perfect picture of self-satisfac-
tion the old man was after that, but he
had the good grace TO remain only a
little while after the cel emony. OF
course we were all dying TO talk about
the strange things that had happened.
could not help thinking. as we all east
kind, grateful glances after his retreat
ing figure. how much happier he must
be than if he had got the unwilling lit
tie bride, with the knowledge that she
and everybody else was miserable about
it. How happy we would have been
after that. except for poor, erring Joe.
Uncle went TO the city the next morn
ing and did not return for two days.
His face was dark and solemn when
he came into the old house again, but nc
one dared to question him. 1t was late in
the evening. and we had waited sup
per for his coming. Very quickly We
gathered around the table and bowed
our heads, while Uncle asked a bles-
sing. Suddenly shadow fell across
the doorway, and when we raised our
heads imagine what surprise we felt
there stood the truant boy Joe. Aunt
Margaret sprang to her feet.
Don't come to meet rue yet, moth
err" he said, until ! show You that ]
have not forfeited al claim TO your
respect and love; that everything was
not so bad as you have thought.
, didn't steal that money, or ever meant