Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-09-19


The deacon dropped his spectacle case,
and IS John picked il up and handed 1t
back 70 him. he added:
- TO Meta Milton.
The deacons little eyes gliftered like
very small gas lamps seen through No
yember fog.
You've married her, haveyou?" said he.
4" Yes, sir, said John.
Well, then, said the deacon, " you can
take her somewhere else and support her,
for I'll never see nor speak to either one of
you again as long as / live ~
" Do you really mean it, uncle?" said
John.
" Am in the habi. of joking said Mr..
Perkins with an ugly grin, that made him
more chimpanzee-like than ever. L
you're so very independent, you can go
and hang out your flag Of freedom at your
leisurerf
This was rather hard on John, who had
always been taught to regard himself as his
uncles adopted child.
But he was too proud to sue for rich
mans favor.
" Just as you please, sir" said he. But
won't you let me bring Meta to see you ?''
" No, won't :" said the deacon.
"Oh, John, l have ruined you" said
Meta, when he came back to tell the
story.
Ruined ne, puss p said he, cheerfully
=" not bit Of it, You've been the max
ing of me. II amt good for nobody TO hang
on the coat-skirts Of a ricn man. | am
more independent now than | have been
for ten years. If Mrs. Briggs viii only let
US stay here for few days
" couldn't possibly?' said Mrs. Briggs,
freezing visibly. Ii your good, pious
uncle discountenances you, it amt for me
to set myself up az in his judgment"
% Very well, . said John: Farmer Drake
wants a hand to help clear up the maple
hills this winter-IlI engage with him. Ny
Meta shall have good home somewhere
When Mrs. Briggs heard that John Per-
kins had rented the little one-storied cabin
by the railroad and furnished it for his
bride, she shook her head forebodingly.
" If Meta can put up with hole like
that, she haiit no proper pride. said she.
But Meta was as happy rs 2 lark.
It was a humble home, but it was her
own. And John came home to it every
night, with d tuce as cheerful as the dawn
. wish ii was q palace. puss, for your
sake" said he.
| couldn't be happier, John. if it was"
Meta brightly answered.
And you don't mind your cousin
Briggs passing you in the street, without
speaking to you?'
" Not in the least, if you don't mind
Deacon Perkins returning your letters I'M
opened"
=" He is an ilI-tempered old crab," John
said, with hearty laugh.
And she, merrily retorted Meta, is a
yenomous 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 cent of capital, said one
neighbor
And she amt no management, and
never had, said another.
Buys bakers bread and makes her pie
crust with butter instead o dippin's said
Mrs. Briggs. " Did any one ever hear of
such shiftlessness? l, for one, wash my
hands Of them
Until, one day, Deacon Perkins died sit
ting in his chair, with his spectacles on his
nose.
wen go to the funeral, Meta" said
John to his wife. "Of course he has left
all his money to the Gattawooche Indian
| Mission, as he always said he would. But
he was my uncle, after all"
Very vel" said Meta. Wen go"
All the neighborhood was there, of
course. The richest man III Yellow Plains
did not depart this life every day. But
every one looked coldly on the young
couple as they entered, and Mrs. Briggs
studiously evaded them.
When the burial ceremonies were over.
Mr. Briggs sided up 10 the lawyer, a fat
man, with a shining bald head and white
mustache.
It's about the mortgage. Squire Covte."
| said he. " That one that Deacon Perkins
| had on our farm. l do hope the Gattawoo-
chez Indians won't be particular about
takin it up jest yet, because times is hard
and amt noways prepared. The interest
is little behind, to be sure but
W hat have the Gattawo0chee Indians
got to do with t?' said the squire, crisplv
Why, they're the heirs, folks tell me-"
said Mr.. Briggs, uneasily twirliug his
! thumbs.
Not at all, said Mr.. Coyte. "The Cat
tawoochee Indian will was destroyed long
ago; and hir. Perkins never made another,
! The heir to all the property is the next of
kin, his nephew, John Perkins"
| Public opinion changed as quickly as
only public opinion can do, when this
! piece of news became bTuited abroad
! Everybody discovered all Of a sudden
/ that they had always sympathized with the
/ dear young couple-that John Perkins was
noble fellow, and his wife, Meta, one of
/ the salt Of the earth.
And Mrs. Briggs came humbly to the
red brick mansion on the hill to see Meta.
and beg her to intercede with her husband
( in their behalf
About the mortgage" said she, "that
| Deacon Perkins had on cur farm. It's over
due, and Briggs hasn't been as regular
| with the interest as i could have wished /;
but do hope, Meta, he won't be hard with
US r.
1t was bitter pill for Mrs Briggs to
swallow, but Meta did not exult over her
fallen foe
of course he will not be hard with YOU,
cousin Briggs said she, kindly. Are
we not relations? And now you must sit
down and have cup Of tea with us. and
John will send the box wagon down for
| your husband to come and spend the even
/ ing"
The tears came into Mrs Briggs eyes.
do feel sort o faint" said she. l
never slept none last night, thinking what
would become Of us if the old home was
took away. But Pm all right now, Meta,
/ thanks TO you p
And she said, when she got home to her
| freside
IF ever Goals of fire was heaped on hui
man head, Meta Perkins heaped EN- on
mine this day
She's good gal, said Farmer Briggs
! a. rood cal ~ Helen FORREST Graves