The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-05-28

Mr. lneOCTdotuo 1oAA0'iAAo "Ss
newcomer in the little village of Crab
Orchard, but his recent purchase OF a
handsome house. and his apparently
ample supply of money, were sufficient
passports to the widows favor, and
the wooing sped on rapidly.
The house was substantial brick.
handsomely finished, with velvet hang
ings, a dado, hand-painted panels and
alcoves.
The floors were covered with cush-
iony carpets, the windows hung with
handsome curtains, the mantles cover
ed with velvet lambrequins.
Mrs. Fennil was quite satisfied.
"And now the cage is ready, when
can 1 claim the bird?' whispered
Theocrastus. tenderly, to the widow,
while Miss Matilda sat at the further
end of the room, looking forlornly out
of the window. "Why not right away
tomorrow persisted the anxious
suitor.
The widow looked modestly reluct-
ant, but finally allowed herself to be
persuaded, and the morrow was set
for the wedding-day. when suddenly
the hall-door was thrown open, and
Nat Norroway strobe imperiously into
the room.
The widow uttered little scream,
and chung to the arm of her lover. who
looked as if he had seen a ghost.
Nat stared coldly at them for mo-
ment.
$50 it is true, Slippery Bill" he said
at last. Sand you have betrayed my
trust and stolen my promised wife. l
wish you joy Of your prize" he added,
contemptuously.
"What tdoyou mean, Mr.. NorrowayY
cried the widow, in alarm. "This
gentleman is Mr. Theocrastus Belle
vile. And what do you mean by
coming into his house in this way"
"Mr. IheocraStuS BelleUille-and hts
house?" retorted Nat, contemptuously
"This gentleman, as you call him, is
Mr.. William Suggs alias Slippery Hit
and this house is mine. l employed
him as my agent to purchase it for mt
before was aware of his real charac
ter"
The widow dropped her suitor's
arm, and sank on velvet covered
sofa in strong Mysteries.
Miss Matilda rushed to her assist
ance, while the q,tandam Theocrastu
took advantage of the confusion AM
stole ANONYMOUSLY away.
Under pretense of owning the house
himself, he had sought to marry tn
widow, who was known to possess
snug sum of money herself.
X \ X X
"I'm glad Nat has forgave me a
last, an sort O. settled down, like h
7 meant to stay" mused Mrs. Fennil
= herself, few weeks later. "But
must git rid of Tilda. It's a littl
p, troublesome to have her round ever
time he comes.''
And she took the first opportunit
. to speak to her sister-in-law on tt
:. subject.
81 thought you was a-goin' to loo
fur another home, Tilda," she begal
:, "Hev you found one yet?"
n Yves" said Miss Matilda, hesita
:, ingly. "But--"
q "Why don't you 60 to it, then
v cried Mrs. Fennil, sharply. 81 don
=, Iced you any more; an if l mar
T Nat, as 1 s'pose l shill, he won't
\, likely to want you round"
"Oh, Henrietta" cried Miss Matilt
|, turning very red. ii uluI ilho
" tell you, but Nat has asked me to ma
in ry him, and"
,d Bang! went the door. The widt
y had fed to her own room; and, mu
distressed, yet with thrill of hap
~ ness at her heart, Miss Matilda ma
lv the simple preparations for her W.
fic ding.
q. There was quiet ceremony tn
th evening at the little country parsona
As - no wedding feasts, nor presents,
,st invited guests. But the newly maj
ht ed couple who issued therefrom felt
od serene contentment with their lot.
nd And Miss Matilda had found
~ home.-Helen Whitney Clark.