Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-10-22

You ought 'os ssay atycAr, lhen - year
you stay" It frr.t. .flllI .,,s
but wherea" said Meta
with u.s." said John Perkins. '.I've
taken q notion TO you, Meta The first
time ever set eyes on you, said to
myself. Here's the gal for mel and IL
you'll marry me, Meta, I'll do my best
to take care of you and be good hus-
band to you"
Marry your' repeated Meta, and
she looked timidly into John Perkins
honest gray eyes, and then she added.
"Yes. Mr.. Perkins, l will.'
"Shall we go right to the parson'sP"
said John. ~ ,lrfI .-. ..I.. ..
tarI--I suppose So" said Meta.
"It's the best way," said John. IF
begin a job. generally like to 60 on
with it
So they were married. Meta went
back to Mrs. Briggs house until her
young husband could break the news
to his uncle. Mrs. Briggs received the
bride with some faint semblance of
welcome. Pane. .. t..a ...r.
John Perkins is likely fellow"
said she. land 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 was not calculating" said
Meta, Indignantly. Il never thought
of such thing, until John asked me
to be his wife," f'
~That do to tell, )" said Mrs. Briggs,
with a dry chuckle.
Meanwhile. John went bravely to his
uncle. a aa
Uncle" said he, Il guess you'll
have to spare me bigger room after
this.
Deacon Perkins, a ,dried-up, wither-
ed old man, with strong likeness to
the chimpanzee tribe. looked up from
his account book with a snarl, which
revealed a set of ragged, yellow teeth.
"a bigger room?" said he. "What
forP" - -....... ...... F..
There's at least q dozen rooms in
the house you don't use," said John,
sand besides if this was mere
incidental fact-''l've been getting
married" ....E....
The deacon dropped his spectacle
case, and as John picked it up and
handed it back to him, he added
ITO Meta Milton"
The deacon's little eyes glittered like
very small gas lamps, seen through a
November fog. .... ....-.
You've married her, have you?" he
| said.
"Ycs, 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
liver
DO you really mean it, uncleP" said
| John. .. "
''Am in the habit of joking?" said
Mr.. Perkins, with an ugly grin, that
made him look more chimpanzee-like
than ever .'If you're so very inde-
| pendent. you can 60 and hang out your
flag of 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 a
rich mans favor. l5-i r.tE
"Just as you please, SIR" said he.
"But won't you let me bring Meta to
see you?" ,r
"No, l WON'T" said the deacon.
'.Oh. John, / have ruined your said
Meta, when he came back to tell the
| tale. a8 ar
Ruined me pussp" said he, cheer
fully, 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. I'm more independent
now than 1 have been for ten years. If
| Mrs. Briggs will let us stay here for a
/ few days ...
* couldn't possiblyr' said Mrs.
Briggs, freezing visibly. "If your good,
pious uncle discountenances you, it
amt for me to set myself up ag'in his
! Judgment aH
Very well," said John; "Farmer
Drake wants hand to clear up the
maple hills this winter-rll engage
with him. My Meta shall have good
home somewhere!'
When Mrs. Briggs heard that John
Perkins had drented the little one-storied
cabin by the railroad, and furnished it
| for his bride, she shook her head fore
bodingly. -..-
.'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 came home to it
every night, with face as cheerful as
Il wish it was palace, puss, for
your sake" said he.
II couldn't be happier, John, if it
was" Meta brightly answered.
.And you don't mind your Cousin
Br rs passing you in the street, with
~ >peaking to you"
/ Not in the least, if you don't mind
-,,'acon Perkins returning your letters
unopenedP"
He is an ill-tempered old crab,"
said John, with hearty laugh.
"And she," merrily retorted Meta,
sis II 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 u cent of capital" said
one neiglibor.
"And she amt no management and
never had, said another.
"Buys baker bread, and makes her
pie crust with butter instead O. drip
pins, F" said Mrs. Briggs. ''Did any
one ever hear OF such shiftlessness! /,