The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-04-23

is filled up; and it's very hard to get
work anywhere at this time Of year.
The doctor said ought to stay year
at least in the country; but Mrs
Briggs has got another girl and"
Here John Perkins suddenly arrest
ed the course of the roan-cob. and be-
gan turning him scientifically around.
"Dea- dear~ said Meta, shave we
got into tue wrong road??"
"No. said John Perkins. "Not as
l know of. But if the doctor said you
ought to stay a year, then a year you
stay"
"But where?" said Meta.
"With us!'' said John Perkins. "I've
took notion to you, Meta. The first
time l ever set eyes on you, said to
myself, Here's the gal for mel And
if you'll marry me, Meta, I'll do my
best to take care of you and be good
husband to you"
"Mavy your repeated Meta. and
she looked timidly into John Perkins
honest gray eyes, and then she added:
"Yes. Mr.. Perkins, / willy'
"Shall we 60 right to the parson's?"
said John.
"I-I suppose SC" said Meta.
"It's the best way" said John. "If
1 begin job, l generally like to so on
with it."
So they were married. Meta went
back to Mr.. Briggs house, until her
young husband could break the news
to his uncle Mrs. Briggs received the
bride with some faint semblance of
welcome.
"John Perkins is likely fellow"
said she, "and the deacon is the richest
man in Yellow Plains. 1 will allow,
Meta, that you haven't done badly for
yourself. If you'd told me what you
was calculatin' for"
"But l was not calculating" said
Meta, Indignantly. 81 never thought
of such a thing, until John asked me
to be his wife,
"That'll do to tell" said Mrs. Briggs
with dry chuckle.
Meanwhile, John went bravely to
his uncle.
"Uncle," said he. 81 guess you'll
have to spare me bigger room arter
this"
Deacon Perkins, dried-up, with
cred old man, with strong likeness to
the chimpanzee tribe, looked up from
his account-book with a snarl, which
revealed set Of ragged, yellow teeth.
"a bigger room?" said he. "What
for?"
There's at least a dozen rooms in
the house you don't use," said John,
"and they'd be all the better for being
occupied; and besides" s"-as if this was
a mere incidental fact-"I've been get
ting married."
The deacon dropped his spectacle
case, and as John picked it up and
handed it back to him, he added:
"To Meta Milton"
The deacon's little eyes glittered like
very small gas-lamps, seen through a
November fog.
you've married her, have you? p
said he.
Eyes, sir" said John.
"Well, then" said the deacon, "you
can take her somewhere else and sup.
port her, for I'll never see nor speak
to either one of you again as long as
l livew
"Do you really mean it, uncle ?" said
John
"Am I in the habit of joking?' said
Mr.. Perkins, with an ugly grin, that
made him more chimpanzee-like than
ever. off you're so very independent
you can go and hang out your flag oi
freedom at your leisurer'
This was rather hard on John, who
had always been taught to regard him
self as his uncle's adopted child.
|
But he was too proud to sue for
rich mans favor.
"Just as you please, sir," said he
"But won't you let me bring Meta t.
see you?"
"No, WON'T" said the deacon.
"Oh, John, have ruined your sale
Meta, when he came back to tell th'
tale.
/ Ruined me, puss?" said he cheer
, fully-"not a bit of it! You've beer
, the making of me. 1t amt good fo
} nobody to hang on the coat-skirts of
, rich man. I'm more independent nov
than 1 have been for ten years.
, Mrs. Briggs will let us stay here for
, few days"
81 couldn't, possiblyp' said Mrs
Briggs, freezing visibly. "If you
, good, pious uncle discountenances you
it amt for me to set myself up ag'il
r his judgment"
/ "Very well," said John; "Farme
. Drake wants hand to help clear u
e the maple hills this winter-fll engag
/ with him. My Meta shall have goo
home somewherel'
q When Mrs. Briggs heard that job
! Perkins had rented the little one
storied cabin by the railroad, and fuI
= nished it for his bride, she shook he
head forebodingly.
"If Meta can put up with hole lik
!; that, she hain't no proper PRIDE" sal
n she.