Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-06-04

it Cor his bride, she shook her head
forebodingly.
"If Meta can put mp 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 came home to it
every night, with face as cheerful as
the dawn.
81 wish it was palace, puss, for
your sake" said he.
81 couldn't be happier, John, If it
was," Meta brightly answered.
"And you don't mind your Cousin
Brigg passing you in the street, with
out speaking to you ?"
mot in the least, if you DON'T mind
Deacon Perkins returning your letters
unopened"
HE is an ill-tempered old crab, :"
said John, with hearty laugh.
"And 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. drip
pins" said Mrs. Briggs. "DId any
one ever hear of such shiftlessness ? l,
for one, wash my hands Of them"
Until, one day, Deacon Perkins died
sitting in his chair, with his spectacles
on his nose.
"We'll 60 to the funeral, Meta. "sald
John to his wife. "Of course he has
left all his money TO the Gatawooche
Indian Mission, as he always said he
would. But he was :'my uncle, after
ALL"
Every well," said Meta. "We'll
CO."
All the neighborhood was there, of
course. The richest man in Yellow
Plains did not depart this life every
day. But every one looked coldly upon
the young couple as they entered, and
Mrs. Briggs studiously eyaded them.
When the burial ceremonies were o.
yer, Dir. Briggs sided up to the lawyer,
fat man, with shining bald head
and a white moustache.
"It's about the mortgage, Squire
Coyte," said he. "That one that Dea-
con Perkins had on our farm. l do
hope the Gattawoochee Indians won't
be particular about takin'it up jest yet,
because times is hard, and L amt no.
ways prepared. The interest is little
behind to be sure, but"
"What have the Gattawoochee In
dans got to do with it ?" said the
squire, crisply.
why, they're the heirs, folks tel
me-" said Mr.. Briggs, uneasily twirl-
ing his thumbs.
mot at ALL" said Mr. Coyte. "The
Gattawoochee Indian will was destroy
ed 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 Lecame bruited a.
broad.
Every body discovered all Of d sud.
den that they had alwaysl sympathized
with the dear young couple-that John
Perkins was a noble fellow, and his
wife Meta one Of the salt of the earth
And Mrs. Briggs came humbly tc
the redbrick mansion on the hill to see
Meta, and beg her to lntercede will
her husband in their behalf.
'About the mortgage" said she
"that Deacon Perkins had on our farm
It's over due, and Briggs hasn't been
as regular with the interest as | could
have wished but do hope, Meta, ht
won't be hard with us ~
1t was bitter pill for Mrs. Briggs
to swallow, but Meta did not exalt o
yer her fallen foe.
"Of course he will not be hard will
you, Cousin Briggs" said she, kindly
"Are we not relations ? And now yol
ffiust sit down and have emp Of tea
with us, and John will send the box.
wagon down for your husband to com,
and spend the evening""
The tears came into Mrs. Briggs
eyes.
II do feel sort o. faint" said she
II never slept none last night, thinkin
what would become of us if the OLE
home was took away. But Pm al
right now, Meta, thanks to you 10
And she said, when she got home tt
her fireside
''If eyer Goals of fire was heaped OF
human head, Meta Perkins heapet
| ,ann on mine this daV.o