River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-11-26
THE MARRIAGE PORTION.


Win see her where there is mo night!"
-
THE MARRIAGE PORTION.
There lived about five or six miles
from Easton, Pa, a few years since an
honest farmer named Henderson who
had two very pretty daughters-Ellen
and Maude. The first was about twenty
years of age, while the latter was bare
ly nineteen. The farmer was thrifty,
well-to-do, though by no means rich;
but the family lived in excellent style,
and the daughters had received a good
education.
Both of the girls were pretty. but
Maude was perhaps the handsomer.
There was no lack OF attentive young
gentlemen at the farm, though the
neighborhood was not very thickly set
tied; but beauty draws us with sim
gle hair" and the young ladies were
the centre Of gay little circle of
friends.
By and by it came about that an
earnest, handsome and sturdy young
farmer fell desperately in love with
Maude, and proposed to her. On her
part she loved Harry Masters above al
the young fellows she knew, and she
told him frankly that he might speak
to her father. In the meantime she
confided the matter to her mother-a
kind hearted, sympathetic parent-who
sa4 no objection to the choice of her
daughter; but all was left for the father
to decide.
Henderson was very straightfor-
ward and open-mouthed man-that Is,
he said exactly what he meant, no
more or less, and that he uttered freely.
When Harry Masters called him one
side and told his especial errand as TO
Maude, the father said:-''Well, MIR.
Masters, Maude is young. | wanted
Ellen to. be married first; she's the old
est, and | have got marriage portion
of one thousand two hundred dollars to
give her; but haven't laid by anything
vet for Maude.
Il have got pretty well beforehand,
! Mr.. Henderson, for man but twenty
four years old, and we shall be able TO
do very well, | have no doubt. F"
You mean you II take Maude with
out any marriage portion?' said the
/ father.
Yes. sir, very gladly
"Well, it's pleasant to hear you say
/ so, because il shows your honest atiec-
ton, MIR. Masters; but III too proud to
/ let Maude marry until | can give her
thousand or two toward housekeep-
ing"
1T il not worth waiting for, sir, as
long as we really don't need it and
/ both are content.
Then, again, I'd rather Maude
wouldn't marry until her si' ter is mar
ried because she is older-do you seeP
1t will actually make her an old maid.
1t isn't fair, Mr.. Masters, Elem is very
popular with the gentleman and will
get married, and then shall begin to
gather up marriage portion for
Maude,
IL trust that is the only objection,
Mr.. Henderson, said Harry Masters.
"Why, yes, you are promising and
respectable young man, and come of
good family" said the farmer, "but l
can t let Maud go until | have got to-
gether 3 respectable marriage portion to
give with her hand.
Perhaps you will think more favor
ably about il" said the lover, ''Ill
speak with you again"
"All right, Mr.. Masters"
Harry and Maude were very fond of
each other, and talked over the matter
very seriously. Maud could not blame
her father, and did not herself like the
idea of going to Harry without
proper portion to contribute toward
their joint partnership in domestic
life.
Never mind, Harry" said the hand
some young girl, ELLEN will soon be
married, l have pretty good reasons
for knowing.
''Ah, but your father says he wants
time to pick up marriage portion for
you, and that will be three or four
years, perhaps :
That's good while is it not, Har-
ry?" said Maude, just blushing little
for fear it sounded 3 little fresh and
bold
IL y dRtSs Sdltl lllC 1OtAO"'
Think of waiting three years-why
we snail be old folks by that time.
Not quite as bad as that, said
Maude.
I'm sure my hair will be gray by
that time!'
Nonsense, Harry. Now you are jok-
ing"
Il was never more in earnest in my
life, said he, as he stole kiss from
her pretty lips and ran away, so as not
to hear her chide him for his holiness.
"Maude," said her father, coming in
to the house from the barn, Il wish
you would ride the sorrel mare into
Easton and get this one hundred dollar
bill changed at the bank.
The sorrel mare was brought up to
the door, and Maude was soon on her
way at an easy band gallop toward
Easton. She had an excellent seat,
and was good horse-woman. As she
knew this very well she would not have
objected to have Harry see her just
now; but ne had gone few moments
before in an opposite direction.
When Maud rode into EaSson she
rode directly to the bank, but she was
unfortunate enough to find that it was
already closed. After few moments,
thought she resolved to get the note
changed at the grocer's, or at some of
the other stores, and went Immediately
to do so. Fate seemed to go against
her, for no one had small change
enough to accommodate Miss Hender-
son.
At one of the stores where she
stopped very gentlemanly looking
person took out his pocket and said he
thought he could change it for her, and
she handed him the bill; but he re-
turned it to her, saying, after all, he
had not so much money. He seemed
to regret this, however, and even fol-
lowed Maud to the door and assisted
her to mount her horse.
She was forced to give UP her
errand, as she did not like to run about
among strangers asking them to change
her bill. especially as no one seemed
able to do so. She therefore turned
her horses head once more toward