The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1885-05-28

stifed with indignation 9. and anger.
Scarcely conscious Of where I was go-
ing, Iwandered among the trees some
distance down toward the gate.s When
coming suddenly out upon the drive 4 4
found myself directly in front Of Mr..
w ellis, who was slowly driving cont.
Politely lifting his hat, he stopped his
horse for me- to pass, but IL found.it
utterly impossible to- move q step with.
out first giving vent 5to GONE Of myaan-
CRY feelings. s.ss s.,sysI
"Sir,p Ilsaid, marshaling nv courage
and endeavoring TO appear undismayed,
lis it indeed possible that you are SO
lost to every manly SEM ment Of regard
for the esteem and respect of yeurs7fel
low beings as to- compel woman to-
marry you, and that when you know she
sabhors the very ground you walk uponf
You know as well as I can tell You that
Nellie and John love each other dearly,
and if she were married to you "a thou-f
sand times, she will always love him
inst the same" Il
With that ]. was satisfied, and with-
ont waiting for q reply rushed back
into the house. Uncle and Nellie were
bending oyer Aunt Margaret, who he'd
swooned away hen at last she re-
turned to consciousness, it seemed as if
she would break her heart with weep
ing, first about Joe then about Nell
lie. But Nellie kept upsso brayely3 and
tried hard to appear as IL she didn't
think it would be much of sacrifice
after all, that gradually we lldgrew
calm and began to make ready for the
wedding. What a. mockery it was Il
Thought, but some hing mist be done to
make things look 9 little cheerful. !
gathered some fresh flowers for, the
vases and arranged things about the
housewife as much neatness and care !
as my dropping spirits would permit Of. !.
Promptly at o'clock there came
knock atsthe door. I'VE were all stand. =
ing around in Aunt Margaret room
looking as wretched as possible, N ellie,
dressed ii q plain white muslin, trying
to look cheerful, but making . miserable
failure whens to- onr great surprise,
Mr. Wells,s announced, walked into
thereon, accompanied by his nephew,
John Atherleigh.s ss fsssss;;ss!ss.s,
Miss N ellie, he began, without
waiting to be spoken to, 9my feelings
\ have undergone,a great change since J.
Esaw yon this afternoon partly owing to
| a certain little affair. You can ask
your Cousin Margie here about it some
time. But my feelings havess been sos
greatly changed that should mot ba
even willing to marry you now. L OF
course haven't been: blind to thefact
that you and John have loved each 9TH
er all along; and now if yon are willing
to exchange groolms, why IL Will Fall be
right. couldn't think Sof having a
wife who would be in love with a young
scape-grace like thissas long as she
Il lives, have made over q deed Of The
place equally divided between you and
1 John. It shall be q bridal present from
the old uncle. 4 am able to give it You
know. Now are you willing to make
the exchange? r. And the poor old man
actually smiled asif in scorns Of himself.
tts'Are you willing, N ellie ~ John ask
ed, holding out both handsto her, How.
she slipped her hands into them, and
/ cried as if her heart would break; but
we all knew they we're tears of Joy. Very
quietly I stole over to Aunt Margaret'a
!. side and whispered, Nellie Is saved the
old lniser has surely turned to 4 saint.
Tt Is my dream, my dreamp Aunt
4 Margaret said; has not the little black
dwarf indeed become an angel ~.
4 guess we had IS well have It all
over and be done with il, = Mr.. Wells
continued, rubbing his hands together
4 as if we'll pleased with himself and ey.
erybodY else I've been with John
and got the license; the deed is all made
!. ont, and the preacher is already in the
parlor.ss u. |
\ You may be sure the sorrowfuI faces
Of q lew minutes ago frightened up at
/ this strange turn Of affairs, and joyful
\ " enough we all repaired to the parlor,
where Nellie and John were united III
i marriage. You should have seer: dear
Aunt Margaret's face when She kissed
tile bride. Didn't we all kiss her,
q though no, not all. Mr.. WelIs-II;;
Il mean never toscal him q miserly old
Il wretch Or say other ugly names again.
7; However, I don't think he had any thing
to do with this piecelof mercys re-
gard it as Q special interference OF
4 Providence. But I nm getting away
{ from the subject. Did he kiss her ?
81 No. But this is the reason why. Mel.
{ lie went straightup, and, putting both
arms around him, kissed him right
heartily. T am sure, had he been the
4 bridegroom, she would never have
kissed him like that. ..:s:st - -:
What perfect picture 81 self-satisfac.
ton the old man was after that. but he
4 had the, good grace to remain only a
4 little while after the ceremony. OF
course we were all diving to talk about
Il the strange things Tint had happened.
4 Icould not help thinking asswesa ll cast
L kind, grateful .glanc es after his retreat
I ing figure. how much happierh must
4 be than II he had got the unwilling lit
!; tie bride, with the knowledge that she
q and everybody else was miserable about
II II. How happy We would have been
after that, except for poor, efring Joe.
a Uncle went to the city the next. morn
! ing and did mot return flor two days.
His face was dark and; solemn when
he came into the old house again, but no
one dared to question hin. Il was late III
4 the evening. and we had waited sup
!. per for his coming. Very quickly I've
4 gathered around the liable and bowed
our heads, while Uncle asked az-bles-
4 sing Suddenly Gas shado fell across
Il the doorway, and when we raised our
4 heads imagine what surprise We felt
i there stood the truant boy Joe. Aunt
4 Margaret sprang to her feet.