Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1885-05-07


Harry in all the various devices by
which he daily sought to annoy his
fathers wife.
When Belinda was first apprised of
! the honor designed her, she burst into
paroxysms of laughter, not dreaming
her father could be in earnest. When
convinced of this, however, the girl re-
fused, with angry disdain, to see "Old
Moneybags," as she called him, and
hitherto had treated with the ut
most scorn and contumely. OF course
she had lover-pretty girls do, all
the world over, and Belinda was very
pretty. Her beauty certainly was not
inherited from her parents. 1t was
natures gift to her favored child. upon
whom the partial dame likewise be-
slowed loving heart, bright intel
lect, and-a spicy temper.
Matters had thus gone on for several
weeks. Greenberry's wizened old phiz
could be seen every evening in DIR.
Hackemup's parlor. Very seldom, how
ever, was Belinda there. Neither the
Doctors coaxing and threats nor Juli-
ana KeZiah's sneers could induce her to
treat politely her superannuated wooer.
At last DIR. Hackemup, fearing the old
miser would change his mind, grew
desperate, and. calling his daughter to
his presence, bade her prepare for her
wedding in month, laundering forth,
in reply to her indignant and emphatic
refusal:
Cease this contumacious behavior,
and prepare to become Mrs. Greenberry
Gordy. AS to that audacious mendi-
cant, John Heron, should he dare to
darken my door, will Immediately and
at once convert his corpus into car
cass, anatomiZe it upon the dissecting
table, and wire the skeleton in ter
rorem."
Unawed by this terrific threat, the
girl tossed her pretty Danged head re-
belliously, and shooting defiant glance
at her father and stepmother, rushed
from the room, leaving the discounted
match-makers in q most uncomfortable
state of suspense.
Although Belinda presented such a
bold front to the enemy. still her youth
full heart was boiling over with out
ragged pride and wounded affection.
Hastily seeking her own room, she
DChllCo u hObC W bilC OiCh
against whom her father had uttered
his dire threat, and dispatched it by
Harry, who ardently espoused his sis
ter's cause. AS a result of the note,
Mr.. Heron presented himself at the
side gate of DIR. Hackemup's yard at 8
o'clock that evening, where he was met
by Harry, who conducted him at once
to little tumbledown summer house,
in full view of the parlor windows.
There he found Belinda awaiting him,
a.@l,----i-:i- l----- --6-----h---.r---t-1--- -.i-s-
parlor white with rage but outwardly
smiling, while DR.. Hackemup and
Juliana Keziah made night hideors
with shouts of Belinda and Belindiah,
these refractory lovers, with Harry on
guard, remained serene, discussing the
past, present, and future.
Furious was the scolding bestowed
upon Belinda next morning by her irate
parent for her impertinent absence.
To his surprise she received his re-
proaches meekly. To his delight and
astonishment, when evening brought
Greenberry as usual Belinda greeted
her suitor quite graciously, and when
he, emboldened, ventured to allude to
their marriage. the young lady merely
smiled and bridled as most young ladies
do.
This was almost too good to be true,
but as Mrs. Hackemup said to the
Doctor:
"The only way to do Is to take time
by the fetlock. and hasten tho we'd
ding"
Accordingly she had a conference
with the bride elect early the next
morning.
Nov, Belindiah," said she, seeing
that you have concluded to act like a
sensational person, I am willing to take
charge OF your trowso. l depreciate
your sententions in regard to Mr.. Cor.
dy, for while your pa and 1 were spark
ing we became quite familiar with
Romeo and intended to read Juliet. l
have insisted upon the Doctor giving
me blank mango for dispensaries, so we
will begin our shopping instantier."
Belinda was nothing loath. Even
though the destined bride of old Money
Bags, still she had no objection to new
dresses. So they sailed forth. In
spite of Belinda's youthful grace and
beauty, Juliana Keziah threw her en-
tirely in the shade. This j. X. was not
slow to perceive, and the qualification
induced by the knowledge increased
her air of Importance.
you see, Belindiah," said she, inn
pressively, as they left store where
she had been, as usual, the cynosure,
"there is q great difference between the
born airistarchus and the made airistar-
chus, and these tradespeople notice it
at once. l could have told them that
my mother was always considered q
grand dam. She danced with Gen.
Washington at Queen Victoria's we'd
ding"
The days passed rapidly by. Belinda
was quite gracious to Greenberry, al
though she often absented herself from
home, ostensibly to visit Mr.. and Mrs.
Somers, between whom and DIR. Hack
emup there existed slight coolness
since the latter's marriage. Jack Her
ON never intruded himself upon the
Doctors wrathful vision, so all went
merry as the marriage bells which were
to ring SO shortly.
About week before the wedding, as
the entire Hackemup family Including
Greenberry) were enjoying (?) an even
ing together, Juliana Keziah expressed
great desire to attend a public meet
lug TO be held tho ensuing evening in
honor of the nomination of the Repub-
lican candidate, Peter Columbisu.
"You know" said she, "there is moth
ing / would enjoy so much as to attend
the qualification meeting, / wish you
would take me with you."
"WhyY" said Harry, who never