The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-05-29
s.iflcd with indignation and SINGER.

We keep on hand full line Of Legal BlankH.
stiAed with indignation and singer.
/ Scarcely conscious. of where was go
ing, 1 wandered among the trees some
distance down toward Che gate. When
coming suddenly out upon the drive !
found myself directly in 'front.' Of Mr..
Wells, who was slowly driving out.
Politely lifting his hat, he stopped Iis
horse for me TO pass, but found il
utterly impossible TO moves step with
out !irst giving vent TO some of my an.
CRY feelinga
"Sir,ns said, marshaling my courage
and eHdexvoring to appear undiSmsyed-
"ls it indeed possible that you are co.
lost to every manly sentiment of regard
for the esteem and respect Of your fell
low beings IS to compel woman ia
marry yoa, and that when you know she
abhors the very ground you walk upons
Ycti know as we'll ~ can tell you that
Nellie and John love each other dearly.
and if she wefc married to you . thou
sand times, she win ssways love him
Just the same" ..-
With that was satisfied. sud with
out waiting for reply 1 rushed back
into the house: Uncle and Nellie we're
bending over Aunt Margaret, who had
swooned away. When at last she re-
t.rned to consciousness, il seemed as if
she would break her heart with weep
ing, first abous Joe then about Nell
lie. But Nellie kept ttpso bravely and
tried hard to appear as II she didn't
think it would be much of q sacrifice
after all, that gradually we all grew
calm and began to make ready for the
wedding. What moclkcry it was l
Thought, but something must he done to
make things look little cheerful.
gathered some fresh flowers for the
vases and arranged things sbO,t the
house with as much neatncss and care
as my dropping spirits wonld permit of.
Promptly at o'clock there came q
knock at the door. We were all stand
ire around in Aunt Margaret's room
looking ITO wretched as possible, Nellie,
dressed in plajn white muslin, trying
to look cheerful but making q miserable
failure-when, to our great surprise,
Mr.. Wells, unannounced, walked into
the room, ACCOMPANIED by .hls nephew,
John Athefleigh. :,
"Miss Nellie" he began, without
waiting to he spoken to, "my feelings
lave undergone great change since !
saw you this afternoon partly owing to
| certain littls affair. You can ask
your Cousin Margis here about it some
time. But my feelings have been so
greatly changed that shon]d not be
even willing to marry You now. OF
course haven't been blind to tic fact
that you and John have loved each 9th
er all along; and now il you are willing
to exchange grooms, WHY it will oil be
right. I couldn't think Of having
wife who would be in love with young
scape-grace like this as long as she
lives: l have made over deed Of the
place equally divided between you and
John. Il shall he bridal present from
the old uncle. lam able to give it you
know. Now arc you willing to mako
the exchanged" And the poor old man
actually smiled as if in scorn Of himself.
care you willing, Nellie7" John ask
ed, holding out both hands to her. How
she slipped her hands into them, and
cried as if her heart would break but
we all knew they were tears of Joy. Very
quietly stole over to Aunt Margaret's
side and whispered, Nellie is saved the
old miser has surely turned to saint.
''It is my dream, my dream" Aunt
Margaret said; has not the little black
dwarf indeed become an angelo"
81 guess ws had as we'll lIave it all
over and be done with it" Mr.. Wells
continued, rubbing his hands together
as if we'll pleased with himself and ev'
erybody else. "I've been with John
aud got the license the deed is all made
out, and the preacher is already in the
parlor."
You may be sure the sorrowful faces
of few minutes ago frightened up at
this strange turn of affairs, and joyful
ly enough we all repaired to the parlor,
where Nellie and John were united in
marriage. You should h.ve seen dear
Aunt Margaret's face when she kissed
the bride. Didn't we all kiss her,
tlough-no, not all. Mr.. Wells-I
mean never to call him miserly old
wretch or say other ugly names again.
However, 1 don't think he had anything
to do with this piece of mercy. re-
gard it as q special interference Of
Providence. But am getting away
from the subject. Did he kiss her
No. But this is the reason why. Mel
lie went straight up, and, putting both
arms around him, kissed him right
heartily. 1 am sure, had he been the
bridegroom, she would never have
kissed him like that.
What a perfect picture Of self-satisfac.
tion the old man was after that, but he
had tho good grace to remain only q
little while after the Gel emony. OF
course We were all dying to talk about
the strange things that had happened.
could not help thinking. as we all cast
kind, grateful glances after his retreat
ing figure. how much happier he must
be than if he had got the unwilling lit
tic bride, with the knowledge that she
and everybody else was miserable about
it. How happy we would have been
after that, except for poor, erring Joe.
Uncle went to the city the next morn
ing and did not return for two days.
His face was dark and solemn when
he came into the old house again, but no
one dared to question him. 1t was late in
the evening. and we had waite'' 'p-
per for his coming. Very or \
gathered around the table
our heals, while Uncl"
sing. Suddenly 81
the doorway, and
heads imagine
there stood
Margaret
"De
err"