Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-12-15

| . set OF ragged, yellOW tootn'
"a bigger room?" said he. ""na'
for?'' -.
There's at least dozen rooms In the
house You don't use," said John, land
besides''-as If this was mere inciden-
tai fact-"I have been getting Married
The deacon dropped his spectacle case,
and as John picked it up and handed II
back to him. he added:
ITO Meta Milton"
The deacon's eyes glittered like very
small gas lights. seen through Novem-
Der fog. |.
said.
Eyes, SIR" said John.
swell. them" said the deacon, 'vou
can take her somewhere else and support
her, for I'll never see nor speak to either
of you again as long as live"
.:Do YOU really mean it, uncle?' said
John. ~
IAN in the habit of jokinge" said Mr..
Perkins, with an ugly grin, that made MIN
look more chimpanzee-like than ever.
eff you're so very independent. youc
90 and hang out your flag OF freedom
your leizure!'
This was rather hard on John, who had
always been taught to regard himself as
his uncle's adopted child.
But he was too proud to sue for rich
mans favor.
Just as you please, SIR" said he.
.sBu. won't you let me bring Meta to
see vou?''
mo, | WON'T" said the deacon. -,
ooh, John, I have ruined your SAID
10 hoob to toll tho tale
Ruined me puss?" said he cheerfully,
mot bit of it! You've been the making
of me. 1t amt good for nobody to hang
on the coat-skirts of rich man. Pm
more independent now than 1 have been
for ten years. If Mrs. Briggs will let us
stay here few days
II couldn't possibly :" said Mrs Briggs,
freezing visibly. ''If your good pious
uncle discountenances you, it amt for me
to set myself up ag'in his Judgment"
Very WE'LL" said John; Farmer
Drake wants a hand to clear up the maple
hills this winter-I'll engage with him.
My Meta shall have good home some
whereof
When Mrs. Briggs heard that John
Perkins had rented the little one-stOried
cabin by the railroad. and furnished it for
his bride, she shook her head forebOding-
ly.
''If Meta can put up with hole like
that, she hain't no proper PRIDE" said
she.
But Meta was as happy as lark.
1t was humble home, but it was her
own. And John come home to it every
night, with face as cheerful as the dawn.
- v1,icb II Eor
sake" said he.
81 couldn't be happier John, if it was,"
Meta brightly answered.
"And you don't mind your cousin
Briggs passing you in the street, without
speaking to you?"
"Not in the least, if YOU don't mind
Deacon Perkins returning your letters I'M
opened"
"He is an ill-tempered old crab,'' said
John with hearty laugh.
land she," merrily retorted Meta, sis
a venomous old gossip"
While the public opinion of Yellow
Plains unanimously condemned Mr.. and
Mrs. Perkins to the poor house in the
course of brief time.
'He hasn't cent of capital" said one
neighbor.
"And she amt no management and
never had" said another.
buys bakers bread and makes her pie
crust with butter instead o. drippin's" said
Mrs. Briggs. Ibid anyone ever hear of
such shiftlessness l, for one, wash my
hands of Them
Until one day Deacon Perkins died sit
ting in his chair, with his spectacles on his
nose.
"Well 60 to the funeral, Meta" said
John to his wife. "Of course he has left
all his money to the Gattawooche Indian
Mission, as he always said he would But
he was my uncle after ALL"
Every well," said Meta. "We'll 60"
All the neighborhood was there of
course. The richest man in Yellow Plains
did not depart this life every day. But
everyone looked coldly upon the young
couple as they entered, and Mrs. Briggs
studiously evaded them.
When the burial services were over,
Mr.. Briggs sdled up to the lawyer, tat
man with shining bald head and white
moustache.
"It's about the mortgage. Squire
Coyte," said he. "The one that Deacon
L tIklHS lstu vi our IdrIIl. no nope lne
Gattawooche Indians won't be particular
about takin' it up jst yet, because times is
hard, and amt noways prepared. The
interest is little behind, to be sure.
but"
"What have the Gattawooche Indians to
do with itP" said the squire crisply.
"Why, they're the heirs, folks tell me-"
said Mr.. Briggs uneasily twiring his
thumbs.
''Not at ALL" said Mr. Coyte. The
Gattawooche Iudian will was DESTROYED
long ago; and Mr.. Perkins never made
another The heir to all the property is
the next of kin, his nephew, John
Perkins,"
Public opinion changed as quickly as
only public opinion can do. when this
piece of news became bruted abroad.
Everybody discovered all of sudden
that they had always sympathized with
the dear young couple-that John Perkins
was a noble fellow, and his wife Meta,
one OF the salts of the earth.
And Mrs. Briggs came humbly to the
red brick mansion on the hill to see Meta,
and to beg her to intercede with her hus-
band IN their behalf
"About the mortgage" said she, THAT
Deacon Perkins had on our farm. It's
overdue. and Briggs hasn't been as regu-
lar with the interest as | could have
wished; but | do hope, Meta, he WON'T
be hard with u.s."